It was the last park in Tokyo for me to discover - I never go to Ginza aera usually - so, my first destination for this long week-end. Space and sky... and sun... I needed it after last week typhoon. Hibiya Park is really pleasant and peaceful - and free. A few minutes walk from Ginza, its waffle shops and its restaurants.

September-October is the main typhoon season in Japan. Today is a good example.

Hello, Typhoon Roke

Sometimes you just need to go back to the basics of Tokyo lifestyle : Saturday night + friends + drinks + purikura + karaoke = fun.

We live in a dangerous country, they say. A country with earthquakes, typhons, tsunami. Yakuza. Old people. MOSQUITOS. Whatever.

Me and my colleagues we have been invited to this training organized by our area, Shinagawa-ku, in order to learn how to stop a fire and providing first aid to heart-attacked people. For the first part, I already did it with my ETP friends tw years ago, but I was the most interested in learning how to use a AED. It reminds me my friend Chris who sells this kind of little things. Hey ! I can use it now ! (although I don't really want to, it does not automatically save lives...).

We have been very brave and met the volunteers at 8am, on a rainy Sunday morning. I have been waken at 7:00 by a little earthquake, just to be in the mood : Japanese people are sooo well organized.

Our nice volunteer guide

She said I was a good girl when I answered "yes, sure, I love cooking". And she talked about his son whois a lawyer, saying very quickly "and married", with a "sorry" looking smile. Well, I was not going to jump on him, you know.

Most of these firemen are... volunteers. Unbelievable.

Me against the fire (I guess it's a bit more difficult with a real fire ans smoke everywhere)

In case of a big earthquake with many victims like in Tohoku in last March, the doctors have to give the priority to the people they have a chance to save. If the body wears a black card, it means that the person is not going to live very long. So unfortunately, if everyone is busy, no cares will be given. Then the green, yellow and red cards give an idea of the gravity of the wounds, from light to very heavy.

Simulation of level 7 earthquake, like in March. You just can't stand up. Note that the only Japanese of our group quietly check information on his smartphone.

The best part : How to use defibrillator. So if you plan to have an heart-attack, do it near a defibrillator, and when I'm around.

Disaster maybe, but we'll have a group pic at the end anyway. It's Japan !

Yep. Everything is under controle.

Random suprise at the corner of the street - Nishi-Koyama area

The nicest thing about living in Tokyo is that you can randomly find little unknown treasures anywhere you go - even in the peaceful area of Nishi-Koyama, next to my place, where I am used to go twice a week for the swimming pool.

If you plan to come to Japan one day, you have to understand the concept of matsuri. Matsuri is a Japanese "festival" consisting in gathering the greatest number of food stands a possible ; plus cute girls in yukata ; plus something traditional like dances, songs, contemplation of fireworks or wathever. In summer, you have dozens of matsuri all around Japan. They are most of the time totally packed and you come back home with the smell of takoyaki on your clothes. Actually, there is nothing very funny about matsuri, except the very special feeling to be in Japan for real.

In the case of Mitama Matsuri, the beauty of the lanterns alone justify your presence there. Of course, Yasukuni Jinja is one of the most controversial subject in the Japanese International Relations, because it is dedicated to the people who fought on behalf of the Emperor between 1868 (Opening of Meiji Era) and 1951 (end of the war) - about two million soldiers are honored there, including, unfortunately, some war criminals. The Yushukan Museum, just next to the shrine, is also famous for providing very incomplete information about the war crimes perpetrated by Japan in Asia during WW2. As a result, this beautiful place in Tokyo is considered abroad as a symbol of extreme nationalism and even Japanese imperialism ; and the Japanese people themselves are not in favour of their governement's high-level visits at Yasukuni Jinja anymore. To mak it short, Yasukuni is a touchy subject and sometimes people are surprised you go there, even for an innocent matsuri. Whatever.

But let's go back to the basics : as I said, matsuri is made of

Food Stands

Girls in Yukata

And something traditionnal : shrine and beautiful lanterns

Magic, isn't it ?

The lanterns stand for the souls of the dead soldiers. In the middle of the way, a dancing group performs a simple choregraphy and every one can join the dance.

Mitama Matsuri 2011 / July 13th-July 15th / Yasukuni Jinja, Kudanshita Station / Free entrance

Ghibli faces at the baker's shop

At Koishikawa Korakuen, one of my favorite parks in Tokyo. Only 15 minutes by foot from Iidabashi. For 300yen, have a walk in this Eden garden !

Having a picnic at Yoyogi Park almost every week during Spring is a must-do when you live in Tokyo. And bring many beers. This is a must-have. And prepare yourself to play the "Yamanote Game" and its many variations - for the ones who don't know, the Yamanote Game consists in saying the name of the different stations of the Yamanote Line that makes a circle around Tokyo (like Shinjuku, Shinagawa, Nihombashi, Ueno...), one after another ; the first person who repeats the station someone already said, or who cannot answer anymore, has to live the game. You can play the game with names of famous people (actors, sportmen...), capital cities, sports... whatever. It seems simple but not so much, actually. Just try at your next picnic !

今週末は本当にいい天気だから、友達と代々木公園ピックニックをしに行きました。山手線ゲームを始めてしました。楽しかったです。春のピックニックをエンジョイしましょう！

Just can't get enough, as they say... Sakura, sweet blossoming Tokyo, sun, spring... I'm addicted and I just can't get enough.

(Fresh picture from Meguro this morning, on the way to work, go and back... Life could be worse.)