CDM Japan 2011 Photo Gallery

Vol. 2  Culture & Play -- 文化と遊びの編

In addition to company visits, we also visited many locations in Tokyo and Kyoto, and submerged ourselves in the Japanese culture through several activities.

1. Ghibli Museum

The museum by Hayao Miyazaki, the director for popular anime feature films such as "Spirited Away" and "Princess Mononoke".

2. Tsukiji Market

[Wikipedia on Tsukiji fish market]
"The Tokyo Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market (東京都中央卸売市場), commonly known as the Tsukiji Market (築地市場), is the biggest wholesale fish and seafood market in the world and also one of the largest wholesale food markets of any kind. The market is located in Tsukiji in central Tokyo, and is a major attraction for foreign visitors."

Early morning Tuna auction, between 5:00 and 6:00 am or so.

3. Ueno Zoo (& Park) and Tokyo National Museum

Ueno zoo is known for giant pandas (two of them currently -- one male, one female) and red panda, and is the oldest zoo in Japan.  It's located inside Ueno Park, and so as Tokyo National Museum.  It was drizzling and cold that day.

4. Shonen Jump Shop and Pokemon Center (in Tokyo)

"Must-go" shops for our students...

Actually this is from Nakano Broadway (a mecca of all Anime goods)

5. Karaoke

Ah yes, karaoke places in Japan have English songs :)

6. Shinkansen & Mt. Fuji

We were very lucky that the day we left Tokyo to move to Kyoto was clear and we were able to see Mt. Fuji (from Shinkansen, the bullet train).  In general, you can rarely see Mt. Fuji, even from close by, because the weather around there is very often overcastting.  The first two pictures are from the hotel window in Tokyo before we left -- you can see Mt. Fuji far back, behind the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building.

7. Osamu Tezuka Museum

Often referred to as the God of Manga, Osamu Tezuka's illustrious career created a huge amount of Manga and Anime (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=883).
His museum is located in Takarazuka, which is about an hour by train from Kyoto.

8. Kyoto Sightseeing

Leaves were still changing colors (although it was in December!), and the scenery was just breath-taking...  We visited three temples: Kiyomizu temple, Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion) and Nanzen-ji.

9. Kimono Wearing & Japanese Dance

We visited Nishikawa-sensei at Kyoto Culture Center again (from the 2008 trip) to give us lessons.  Guys were especially so graceful.. (or not!).

10. Trident school of computing

We visited Trident school of computing (in Nagoya) to have a "friendship event" with their students.  Students from both schools mingled and did two activities together: solving puzzles at the Nagoya Castle, and learning Origami (to make a "kabuto", a Japanese samurai helmet). 

Special thanks to Mr. Ichiro Iwano (an instructor at Trident) and the group of students in his class who organized this event for us.  Also note that the pictures below were taken by the Trident staff photographer.