Children, a River, Green Grass and Sun in Japan

Saturday was one of those days to remember. We loaded the kids up on bicycles and traveled a short distance to a wide, green spot on the stream near our house. Tokyo is a funny place. I've seen some of the ugliest places imaginable here, and yet there are beautiful places to enjoy nature right in the city. Someone asked the other day about the name of this river. It's called the Ochiai River (or stream, if you will, based on the size). It emerges from a natural spring just above the point where these pictures were taken.

The signs of the city are all around, but if you concentrate on the right things, like the bubbling water, blooming flowers, river grass and laughing kids, you just feel the tensions of city life floating away. Just keep your mind off the omnipresent power lines, the old man stomping down the river grass to help kids catch minnows and the plastic, green landscaping mat that holds the delicate grass carpet beside the river in place (and digs slightly into your back as you you lay down to enjoy the sun).

Of course, photo moments are in abundance. I hope you enjoy these shots and understand why I truly like the place. I love to see families out having fun together, by the way, and especially fathers playing with their sons and daughters. Men in Japan work such long hours during the week that it's a wonder (and, unfortunately, a rarity for some) when they have time and energy to enjoy their wives and kids.

The kids in these pictures are trying to catch minnows and crawfish in their nets. The river bottom gets torn up a bit in the process as I said, but most of the netting goes on in this small section. Not far from this place in either direction I can park my bike and enjoy the untouched water complete with colorful Koi, ducks meandering in the grassy channels and occasional white ibises (I think that's what they are) stalking the same minnows that the kids are hunting. I don't have the nouns and adjectives to put it all together, so I'll post a picture or two another time.

Posted by jw at April 19, 2004 10:49 PM