My summer vacation is here at last! The taxi will be here any minute now, so I’ll be brief.
Over the next week or so, jpculpjapan will be getting design overhaul, followed by the return of much promised updates from the forests of Akita to the harbors Kobe (and a couple of guides for my friends heading to AIU this summer!)
As always, in the meantime, have a shiba.
Oh, and おめでとう for all my friends and followers graduating state-side.
Today is the day of the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade in Washington, D.C.. This year had a late start due to an abnormally long winter, but last year’s went without a hitch ― as it should, because it was the 100th anniversary of Tokyo Mayor Yukio Ozaki’s donation of the trees as a sign of friendship between our two nations. Even today, hundreds of americans travel far and wide to see the delicate blush-colored petals fluttering in the wind.
To commemorate the 2012 centennial celebration, USPS released a gorgeous set of commemorative forever stamps. To me, the symbolism of having the traditional japanese on the left stamp and the modern americans on the right was a fantastic touch. While we may be different and distant, the people United States of America and the people of Japan will always be together in friendship.
Oh, and just in case you were wondering, America returned the favor three years later with dogwood trees.
Although they have been out for over a year now,
you can still purchase them here.
© 2012, USPS and/or its affiliates
February 14th, AIU President Dr. Mineo Nakajima passed away at the age of 76. A fellow student snapped this photo just before the memorial service.
Clicking the image will direct you to the official announcement and photos of the service.
Photography by Phil Nguyen
