The Moon in the Blue Sky 月と青空

Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。

It was around 7 a.m. I looked up in the sky and saw the Moon. The air is cold and dry. It's a typical Japanese winter day.  

The Moon in the sky　月と青空

Algerian Iris (Iris Unguicularis) カンザキアヤメ（寒咲菖蒲）

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

I saw this Algerian iris (Iris unguicularis) in Central Tokyo. The contrast between pale purple and yellow is so beautiful. I thought it strange for an iris to flower in winter, but it's understandable. Algerian irises produce flowers in winter and that's why they're called "iris flowering in winter" in Japanese. 

Algerian iris (Iris unguicularis)　カンザキアヤメ（寒咲菖蒲）

Cranberry (Vaccinium Oxycoccos) ツルコケモモ（蔓苔桃）

Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。

These are cranberries (Vaccinium oxycoccos). I've heard of the berries and must have eaten them but haven't seen them raw. The cranberry produces fruits from September to October in Japan. These cranberries (which look like small apples, don't they?) have survived the winter. 

Cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccos)　ツルコケモモ（蔓苔桃）

Thalictrum Aquilegifolium var. Intermedium カラマツソウ（落葉松草、唐松草）

Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。

These are flowers of Thalictrum aquilegifolium var. intermedium. I wanted to find their common name, but couldn't. The flowers were so tiny with thin petals, swaying in the wind. 

Thalictrum Aquilegiifolium var. Intermedium　カラマツソウ（落葉松草、唐松草）

Grevillea Elegance グレヴィレアエレガンス

Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。

I was walking in central Tokyo. It was raining and I was feeling sad and lonely and then I found these Grevillea 'Elegance' flowers. At first the bright pink caught my eye and then flowers, which look like spider lilies. I took out my camera from my backpack and started photographing them.    

Grevillea elegance　グレヴィレアエレガンス

Chinese Knotweed (Persicaria Chinensis) ツルソバ（蔓蕎麦）

Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。

I've been googling the name of the plant for a week and finally found it. This is Chinese knotweed (Persicaria chinensis). The tiny flowers are so cute! Chinese knotweed is supposed to flower from May to November in Japan, which is why it took so long to find out its name. I see Chinese knotweed only there and have no idea where it came from. 

Chinese knotweed (Persicaria chinensis)　ツルソバ（蔓蕎麦）

Sunset 夕焼け

Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。

I'm an early bird, so I see the sunrise almost everyday but rarely see such a beautiful sunset. I was just standing there smiling. 

Sunset　夕焼け

2024 is the Year of the Dragon! 今年は辰年だ！

Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。

These are stuffed dragons on zodiac trees at Tokyo International Forum. Every December and January, the facility displays trees of stuffed animals of the zodiac sign of the coming year. The trees this year have stuffed dragons because 2024 is the Year of the Dragon🐉.

The Japanese zodiac signs are the following 12 in this order and people born in the year of each sign are said to have the following personalities. (So, for example, if you were born in 2000, your zodiac sign is Dragon, so see 5 below!) 

1. 🐭 Rat - Be adaptable, resourceful, sociable, honest, calm, but nosy
2. 🐂 Ox - Be quiet, patient, at their own pace, but when angry, out of control 
3. 🐯 Tiger - Be romantic, brave, enjoy challenges, but stubborn and restless 
4. 🐇 Rabbit - Be graceful, quiet, sensitive, but moody and easily hurt
5. 🐉 Dragon - Be energetic and competitive, but short-tempered having high pride 
6. 🐍 Snake - Be considerate, funny, caring, but vindictive having high pride
7. 🐴 Horse - Be quick-witted, clever, speedy, clown-like, but self-centered  
8. 🐏 Sheep - Be thoughtful, compassionate, chic, but can't handle pressure well
9. 🐵 Monkey - Be street smart, popular, sensitive, likable, but restless and impatient  
10. 🐔 Rooster - Be intuitive, smart, methodical, but not tenacious and a quitter
11. 🐶 Dog - Be honest, clearheaded, have a strong sense of justice, but negative   
12. 🐗 Boar - Be conscientious, honest, caring, but short-tempered and rush recklessly

Dragon tree for 2024 辰ツリー

Japanese zodiac tree for 2024 干支ツリー

Venus and Crescent Moon 月と金星

Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。

Can you see them? If not, look at the second photo. They are the crescent moon and bright Venus.

Venus and the crescent moon

Namiyoke Shrine 波除神社

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

This is Namiyoke Shrine in Tsukiji. Its name literally means 'protection from waves,' which makes sense because Tsukiji was once a marshy river delta that was reclaimed during the Edo period (1603–1867). You may know Tsukiji as the home of the famous fish market, which operated from 1935 until it relocated to Toyosu in 2018.

The shrine has two wooden sculptures, both of which are over 2 meters tall. One is the head of a female lion (1st photo). You can tell it's female because the teeth are black, which is a Japanese tradition practiced mainly by married women before the mid-19th century. The goddess of eloquence, Benzaiten, is enshrined inside it. The other is the head of a male lion (2nd photo). Namiyoke Shrine is small and not very famous, but I love it for its coziness.

Female lion　雌獅子

Ornamental Kale/Cabbage ハボタン（葉牡丹）

Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。

This is an ornamental kale/cabbage. The ornamental kale is used for New Year decoration in Japan and because it's called "habotan," which means leaf peony in Japanese, I thought the kale was a type of peony in my childhood. Now I'm aware that this is a cabbage, but still intrigued by the gradient colors. 

Ornamental kale/cabbage　ハボタン（葉牡丹）