Beginning of Cherry Blossom Season 2011

The Meteorological Agency officially announced the cherry blossoms are in bloom yesterday. We can see various kinds of the blossoms everywhere in a moment.
昨日気象庁より桜の開花宣言がなされました。間もなくあちこちで色々な種類の桜を見ることが出来るでしょう。

Do you know how its color turn out so beautiful?
It is told that the plants get through such a severe winter, the blossoms will come out the most beautiful ones.
どうしたら桜の花の色が美しくなるか知っていますか?
厳しい冬を過ごした木には最も美しい花が開くと言われているそうです。

Then think of recent Japan. I think it is absolutely "covered with severe winter." So when we get through all these hardship, I am sure we will be the best country in the world!!
Until then, we don't give up. Just like cherry blossoms, we are sure we will be back. And we will be much more improved by them!!
現在の日本の状況を考えてみてください。いま正に「厳しい冬の真っ只中」ではありませんか。ならば、この困難を乗り越えたら、私達の国は世界で最も素晴らしい国になるではありませんか!!
それまで諦めないで。必ず復興して桜のように美しく咲いて見せよう。そしてこれまで以上に素晴らしい国にして見せようじゃありませんか!!

The photos show "shidare-zakura" that bloom before "somei-yoshino."
写真は「ソメイヨシノ」の前に咲く「枝垂れ桜」です。

Oh well, I need some power to go for.
Why don't we get some sweets?
Sure!!
とは言ってもパワーが必要ですな。
じゃあ何か甘い物でも?
そうですな!!

Here are some cherry blossom cake.
Have a bite!
はい、桜のケーキです。
どうぞ召し上がれ!

Make us smile with plum blossoms!

毎年この時期は梅見の季節。

いつもなら青梅の吉野梅郷にでも出かけるのですが、ガソリンも手に入りにくいし、体調もイマイチで行かれません。しかも今回の地震の影響で、当地のお客はサッパリで、梅祭りは予定より早く打ち切りになってしまったそうです。キャンセルも続出だそうで、こちらも大打撃ですね。

Generally it's time for plum blossom season to go for. But there are some obstacles in the way. No gas, my bad condition.... Moreover, the earthquake's side effects. In fact, the plum fair that they have been held was ended up earlier than what they have planed. Lots of cancellation as well. One of these days!

そこで、以前行ったときの画像を再編集してみました。こんな時ですから、梅でも眺めて、癒しの一時を過ごしませんか？

So I re-edited the photos I've taken before. Since we have such hardship in eastern Japan. Why don't we enjoy the blossoms to make us smile?

先ずは越生梅林。こちらは吉野梅郷より少し早く開花します。

Here is the photo from O-go-se plum groves. They bloom a bit earlier than Yoshino-bai-go.

                           
そしてこちらが吉野梅郷。

And thses are from Yoshino-bai-go.

そして美味しい梅づくしの食事が頂けるのは梅の里九兵衛。ここで食事をした人は梅の香りのお風呂に入ることが出来ます。
You can enjoy not only the scenery but seasonal plum dishes at the restaurant named Ume no sato Kyu-bei (Japanese language only). They offer you complimentary plum flavored hot bath (Japanese style) there.

個人宅の庭かと思っていまいそうに、梅林が広がっています。

It seems as if someone's private area. Such how plum groves are everywhere.

梅の香りしてきましたか?

Can you smell plum blossoms?

Info about radioactivity 2

I just add some more info about the radioactivity. I have got these data from my friend.
Here is the data of Ibaraki (茨城) that locates neighbor of Fukushima.
http://www.mext.go.jp/component/a_menu/other/detail/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2011/03/18/1303724_10.pdf

Data of Shinjuku, Tokyo(新宿)

The vertical line shows numerical data of radio activity.              
 Its units is "micro Sievert." Do NOT mix up with milli Sievert. 
The horizontal line shows the date.
So as "2011.3.15" means March 15, 2011.

Just have a look of the data.

After March 16, it stays between green line as you see. It surely says the numerical value stays in the safe zone.

I surely understand that we still have to be careful though. Right now, we are NOT in such serious condition.

Here are some additional explanation that are form the guy who gave me these data.

For those who visit here, please allow me to put a comment that those horizontal green lines show the provable distribution of usual radioactivity level, based on statistics obtained from the previous monitoring.

Info about radioactivity

Since nuclear power plant problem in Fukushima, lots of people overreact about it though.
Right now it is NOT serious radiation effects at all.
Here is the data that my friend sent to me.

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mext.go.jp%2Fcomponent%2Fa_menu%2Fother%2Fdetail%2F__icsFiles%2Fafieldfile%2F2011%2F03%2F18%2F1303840_1_1.pdf&h=b56d7

Besides I have a friend who lives in Fukushima.
He has PHD in industrial technology and has lot of knowledge about it.
I could contact with him yesterday and he mentioned that mas media seem
hypersensitive.

Just calm down and see what they are doing.
We are very proud of those who people that work for this hardship. They make desperate efforts at all!!
They are the pride of our country!

311 Earthquake hit Japan

Since the earthquake hit  northeast and east Japan, we have many damages in many situations.
But we have great courage in the face of such tragedy.
In fact we are cooperating each other under such mess.

No looting/plunder at all!!
(and it's just a normal/natural thing)

If you have a chance to donate, it is a help.
But I've heard that there are many swindling money out of people on the web site or so.
I can't believe it!
So if you would donate, make sure it is reliable.

Besides, please send your prayers to us.
Your mental power will be a big help for any of our matter.

Thanks for visiting my blog.
Please send your mental and spiritual power to us.

Just notice you that due to the comment moderation system, your ones won't show up instantly.

Love you all.
Nobue

PS
Thanks for all of your concern about me. I and my family are OK somehow.

Snow again in March

It was a pretty warm day yesterday though. Too bad, it's snowy day in Tokyo. Yep, back to winter again.
So Terry keeps himself cozy with such cute outfit!
昨日はとても暖かだったのに、今日は冬に逆戻り。東京は雪が降っています。
そこでテリー君は可愛いお洋服で暖かくしています。