Kids Triathlon in Kawaguchi, Saitama

A kids triathlon was held near my place on a hot summer morning, in which about 300 local fourth to sixth-graders swam 50 m, rode a bike 4 km and ran 1 km under the scorching sun. The suntanned kids got excited about the competition and fully enjoyed the last event of their summer vacation.

Kids Triathlon in Kawaguchi, Japan [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Aug. 26th, 2012

Tokyo 2012 ~Spring and Summer~

I wanted to make a video that makes you feel like you were traveling in Tokyo. This is why I created this video, a kind of summary of my footage taken in one of the largest capitals in the world and a few surrounding cities. I am happy if you enjoy the virtual travel.

I will keep on making videos about Tokyo and Japan for sure. Subscribe to my blog if you liked this video and want to learn more about my city and my country. :)

Tokyo 2012 ~Spring and Summer~ [iPhone 4S/HD]
All footage was taken with an iPhone 4S from March to August 2012.

Music by DOVA SYNDROME
1. APRIL
2. 微熱
3. 星の降り積もる街

Goldfish Scooping ~Japanese Festival Stall~

Stalls are an essential ingredient for Japanese festivals. Various kinds of stalls catch your heart as you wander into the stall street of a festival. The goldfish scooping stall is one of them. You scoop goldfish with a scooper and take the fish home as a prize. The young and old savor the traditional game at a festival.

I am taking care of the fish my five-year-old nephew got at a summer festival while traveling in Osaka with his family. Fish from these stalls usually don't last long after you take them home. As a kid, however, I remember this one fish I got at a stall survived 3 years. I hope my nephew's ones lead long lives.

Goldfish Scooping ~Japanese Festival Stall~ [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S

Taiko Bands, or Japanese Drum Bands, at a Festival

Taiko, or Japanese drums, are one of the popular activities in my city, Kawaguchi. Many people of all ages join a taiko band and enjoy playing them here.

I came across some of the taiko bands showing their prowesses at Tatara Festival, the largest annual festival in the city, while hanging around the festival site. The audience was listening avidly to their vigorous performances and giving them cheers.

Taiko Bands, or Japanese Drum Bands, at a Festival [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Aug. 5th, 2012

Beigoma, Traditional Japanese Spinning Top Toys

Beigoma, traditional Japanese spinning top toys, were once one of the popular toys among kids with which they competed to see whose spinning top knocks the other ones out of the playing area or whose can continue to spin the longest. It was a pretty common sight in Japan to see kids playing with the moldable toys on streets till several decades ago, but cutting-edge toys have been taking their place and nowadays these classical toys are hardly seen.

Nissan Foundry Inc. is a small foundry located in Kawaguchi City, my hometown, which was once known as the center of the casting industry. Now they are the only beigoma manufacturer in Japan. They run a booth to promote their products every year at Tatara Festival, the largest annual festival in the city, and show the traditional toys to people. This year as well, adults reminisced about their old days and kids enjoyed the old but new experience there.

Beigoma, Traditional Japanese Spinning Top Toys [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Aug. 5th, 2012

Tanabata Festival at Warabi, Saitama

Tanabata Festivals, or Star Festivals, are basically held around Tanabata Day, July 7th. It is based on the Chinese myth about the star Vega and the star Altair. But some festivals in some regions take place in August according to the lunar calendar. It is said that your wish will come true when you wish upon stars on Tanabata Day.

Warabi Hata Matsuri, held in a city next to my city, is one of the festivals which are held in August although the Tanabata Festival takes place in July in my city. I can wish upon stars twice a year. What a lucky guy I am.

Tanabata Festival at Warabi, Japan [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Aug. 4th, 2012

Click below to learn more about the Chinese myth and Tanabata!
Tanabata, the Day of the Star Festival ~Zojoji Temple, Tokyo~

And here is the post of Tanabata Festival in my city!
Tanabata Festival at Local Shopping Street, Kawaguchi, Saitama

Tatara Festival 2012, Kawaguchi, Saitama

Tatara Festival, the largest annual festival in Kawaguchi City, my hometown, takes place at Kawaguchi Motorcycle Race Circuit every first weekend of August. The name of the festival originates from 'tatara', the traditional Japanese furnace, since the city was once known as the center of casting industry. The industry has been declining for these several decades and the city is now serving as one of bedroom suburbs of Tokyo, but this festival name reminds its citizens of what the city was like.

A lot of performances and events are held in the festival including mikoshi or portable shrines, fireworks and exhibitions relating to the indigenous industry. Numerous people fully enjoy them in the middle of summer every year.

Tatara Festival 2012, Kawaguchi, Japan [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Aug. 5th, 2012

Itabashi/Todabashi Fireworks Festival 2012, Tokyo-Saitama

Itabashi Fireworks Festival and Todabashi Fireworks Festival take place across the Arakawa River, which divides Tokyo Metropolis and Saitama Prefecture, at the same time every summer. They are often treated as one festival and called 'Itabashi/Todabashi Fireworks Festival'. Over 10,000 colorful fireworks light up the summer night sky and about a half million people enjoy the spectacle every year. The scene of fireworks being set off from two sites across the river like a competition is truly a remarkable sight.

I used to go see this festival when I was a kid with my family and my aunt's family whose house was near the festival sites. Although I went to three fireworks festivals this summer and this one was not as large as Sumida River Fireworks Festival, out of the three, I liked this one the best. It is the one I am most familiar with since my childhood.

Itabashi/Todabashi Fireworks Festival 2012, Tokyo-Saitama [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Aug. 4th, 2012

Finale of Itabashi/Todabashi Fireworks Festival 2012, Tokyo-Saitama

This video is the cutoff version which featured the finale of Itabashi/Todabashi Fireworks Festival. Long version video of the festival will be posted soon.

# The long version has been posted below.
Itabashi/Todabashi Fireworks Festival 2012, Tokyo-Saitama

Finale of Itabashi/Todabashi Fireworks Festival 2012, Tokyo-Saitama [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Aug. 4th, 2012

Handheld Fireworks ~Japanese Kids' Summer Activity~

Handheld fireworks are one of the traditional toys in Japan which are usually enjoyed in summer. Japanese kids look forward to playing with them during their summer vacation. But of course small kids are not allowed to play with them without an adult around.

My five-year-old nephew begs me to play with the fireworks with him every time he comes to visit me during his vacation. This is a kind of video compilation of clips of when he came to visit me the other day.

Handheld Fireworks ~Japanese Kids' Summer Activity~ [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Jul. 19th, 2012

Daikanyama T-Site, Stylish Commercial Complex by Tsutaya

Tsutaya, the largest music and video rental chain in Japan, was the first company which implemented the idea of selling books at video rental stores.

They opened 'Daikanyama T-Site' in the Daikanyama of Tokyo, a stylish commercial complex centering on its large bookstore. You can browse books sitting on a chair or a sofa before buying them at the store.

The facility has various stores: restaurants, cafes, a clinic, a toy store, a dog salon, a camera store, an electric power-assisted bike store, and so on. It would be a good idea to enjoy shopping after browsing and buying books or read a book you bought while drinking good coffee at a cafe.

Daikanyama T-Site, Stylish Commercial Complex by Tsutaya [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Jul. 31st, 2012

Traditional Japanese House at Shibuya, Tokyo

Kyu Asakura House, located near Daikanyama Station, Shibuya, is one of a handful of traditional Japanese-style houses in central Tokyo. It was built in 1919 by Torajiro Asakura, the chairperson of the Tokyo Council.

The quaint house is designated as a nationally important cultural property and is now managed by Shibuya Ward. You can visit and see a part of its buildings and its stunning garden. It is the right place to get away from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo.

Traditional Japanese House at Shibuya, Tokyo [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Jul. 31st, 2012