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• 1968-07-00
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• 2006-03-02
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• Joe

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• Battle Angel Alita, Sorcerer Hunters, S-Cry-Ed, Nausicaa, Full Metal Panic 2nd Raid
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• Not playing the banjo...




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myOtaku.com: bunraku


Friday, March 10, 2006

   Japan's Parks - Acceptance of Nature
While I was in Tokyo (Feb-Jul 2000), I went on a picnic with some of my co-workers. When we got to the park, I was surprised that the grass was all brown. I commented on the color of the grass & their response was "of course the grass is brown - it's winter." This was accompanied by a look as if I had just stated that the sun was bright. I got a lot of those looks while I was there.

I noticed that the Japanese approach to nature is different in many ways. Accepting nature as it was & finding beauty in it is not necessarily a dominant american trait. The local parks and golf courses here are watered regularly so that they stay green year round. Green is prettier than brown, so it will be green - regardless of what nature wants. Kind of arrogant when you think about it. Even with Japanese flower arranging, they focus on the natural & make sure that the arrangements are not symmetrical or look man-made.

I looked through my pictures from Japan & apparently, I was feeling like an American at the time and didn't take any pictures of the brown grass. I did take pictures of a couple of things at a park near the office. One is a of a stylish basketball hoop with a spiral basket & the other is a reflexology walking path. It had different textures & rocks that would stimulate the reflexology points on your feet as you walk over them. Kinda cool, but I didn't feel like taking my shoes off to try it out.
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Coming attractions: I believe my next post will be on bathrooms. Trust me - it will be an exciting topic.

Until next time - bunraku
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