August is a significant time for Japan. It’s the month of ancestor’s spirits returns ( Obon ) and as ritual, family gathers to celebrate their homecoming as summer holiday. Bon-dance and fireworks festival are a parallel concept of this spirits returns. Also, there are Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear bomb remembrance days on 6th and 9th August as well as the V-J day ( end of ww2 the day Japan surrendered ) on 15th. It is clear that summer rituals are based on its seasonal ( lunar calendar ) which cultivated and evolved by families and history.
On the Remembrance Day weekend, it was profound and relaxing to spend afternoon in Takebashi : Viewing the artworks of contemporary Japanese artists ( Makoto Aida, Takashi Murakami, and Yasumasa Morimura ) makes you wonder of diplomacy and peace…with slurping the classic ramen at Akasaka Hanten in Takebashi Palace Building where its near the museum 🍜 FYI : Ramen is a common soup/noodle dish among Japanese and it became globally well known in almost last two decades. Amongst all no doubt ramen is the popular noodle snack. It is another epicure legacy of East.
Modernist architecture buildings of the museum and the palace side building with the surrounding of Imperial palace greenery are worth to visit. Since it’s a business and academic district, weekend seems more quiet than weekdays.
It’s not the only Ukraine and Russia war, but also within our usual life…No war. Have a good ramen instead. It’s better to cultivate and be kind.
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Location Reference
The National Museum of Modern Art Tokyo ( 東京国立近代美術館) Address: 3-1 Kitanomaru-koen, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8322
Akasaka Hanten (赤坂飯店) Address: B1, 1-1-1 Takebashi Palace Side Building, Hitotsubashi, Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo
Imperial Palace (皇居) Address: 1-1 Chiyoda, Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo
Round Pattern 