100 day memorial photo

 With my family I went to photography studio in Furumachi to take photos of my daughter as a memory of 100 days passed since she had been born.

  In Japan,　people celebrate the hundredth day of thier children birth by hold a ceremony called "Okuizome". "Okuizome"means the first day they eat. In the ceremony people pretend to serve foods to children praying for that they don't have any difficulty to eat all through their lives.

 Adding to the ceremony, it is common to take pictures on the babies at photo studios nowadays.

 Pictures show taking the memorial photos at Stadio Roop in Furumachi.
 Hama san(Cameraman) took a very warm photos  not only on my daughter but also with other family members including me.

Children's Free Swimming Pools

On Children's day ,5th May, Japanese holiday, Children use six swimming pools of Niigata city on free of charge for children.

Here is a list of the municipal swimming facilities of Niigata city

• Yusui Kan, Kita-ku(Nothern ward)
• Shitayama Sport Centre, Higashi-ku(Eastern ward)
• Toyano Sogo Taiikukan, Chuo-ku(Central ward)
• Nishikaigan Koen Shiei Pool, Chuo-ku(Central ward)
• Kameda Sogo Taiikukan, Konan-ku(Konan ward)
• Nishi Sogo Sport centre, Nishi-ku(Western ward)

Albirex NO1 in Eastern Conference

Albirex NO1 in  Eastern Conference

Niigata Albirex BB progressed to the play offs tournament of Professional Bascketball league BJ League.

They beat Sendai by 109-63 yesterday in the final game of the regular season and comfirmed the first place in the eastern conference league for the first time since the league begun.

The play offs are competed by 12 teams from top 6 teams  of both 2 conferences.
As Niigata are at 1st place, they attend it from the Eastern conference semi finals.

The semi fainals are held in 11th and 12 of May, both at Toyano Sogo Taiikukan, Niigata.

Please cheer for the team to win the long awaited championship as an original members of the league.

Enjoyed La folle Journee

I went to classic music event "La Folle Journee" yesterday.
The event was born in France in 1995 and aims to give cizinzens oppotunities to listen to classic music on low price.
Also In Niigata, It has been held since 2010.

I wanted to take my childrens(3 yrs old and 4 monts old) a certain programme in the event named "A Concert from O year."  I'm pleased with the idea of the programme because I have images for classic concerts that it is hard to take little babies to the concerts.

Unfortunately, the tickets were sold out so we didn't enter.
However We enjoy the 15-minite concerts are held in the entrance hall of one of the event site "Ryutopia".

The pciture is the mini live by the local musician.

I hope my little childrens enjoyed and were inspired something from it.
Also hope the event will be held next year and then.

100 yen to Furumachi with Ryuto

If you have "Ryuto", prepaid IC card for bus offered by Niigata Kotsu, bus fare between Niigata Station and Furumachi would become only 100 yen, usually it costs 200 yen.

It is a pilot program conducted for a limited time by Niigata city government.
It starts in 27th April and ends in 30th June.
(Available only Buses handling Ryuto card.)

Suzumaki!

Niigata is famous for rice cropping, especially major rice brand "Koshihikari."
The rice crop starts in spring.
One of the preparatory works for rice planting called "Suzumaki" (or "Sujimaki").
Suzumaki is to sow rice seeds in trays. And then the the trays are placed in a plastic greenhouses.
Depends on areas and varieties, in Niigata, Suzumaki is conducted in early April and transplanting the seedlings into rice fields is done in Japanese spring holidays in early May called " Golden week".

Spring Storm Coming

　Niigata Local Meteological Obsevatory warns the storm wind may come to all over Niigata pref. from 6th Saturday night to 8th Monday.
 A low pressure system will approach from East China sea to Japan sea on 6th night and moving towards north developing to bring heavy wind to Niigata on 7th and 8th.

 Also it warns snowslip and snow melt flood in the river due to temperature increase on 6th and 7th( it will get to over 20 degrees on 6th in many part of Niigata pref.)


 Please be careful going out this weekend.