Local Shopping Arcade at Akabane, Tokyo

Due to the rise of major supermarket chains and large shopping mall chains, local shopping streets have been declining for these several decades all over Japan. However, there are still many shopping streets supporting local people's usual life. Many of them are shopping arcades. Without having to worry about getting wet even on a rainy day, you can get ingredients for dinner, articles for daily use or something else there at reasonable prices.

Local Shopping Arcade at Akabane, Tokyo [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Sep. 5th, 2012

Way-out Parking Lot in Tokyo

In urban areas of Japan, many buildings were torn down after the collapse of the bubble economy in the early 1990s. The following long continuing recession has been constricting the redevelopment of the vacant lots where the buildings once were.

Nowadays you can see numerous vacancies among buildings being used as a pay-by-the-hour parking lot. They usually have an automated payment machine and are unmanned, but the one I came across while hanging around the other day was a bit different. Check the video to see what it was like! By the way, are they open 24 hours a day?

Way-out Parking Lot in Tokyo [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Aug. 29th, 2012

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