OK, I've been here one year.  Well, one year and a week, but you get the idea.

I'd like to start by righting a wrong.  To wit:



...now without Twinkie Man.



Click for the full sized pic.

OK, as you might surmise, the cherry blossoms are back.



They start out looking like that.  Kind of like popcorn on the tree.

Then they go full bore.



I went back to Ageo, my first address in Japan.



...and walked down the same place I took this picture:



A few more blossoms this time.



Even Kawaguchi has its share.  If you can fight off the ponies.



They were, naturally, in front of the bank.

Anyway, by Kawaguchi station...





...as well as Omiya Park, which in addition to the park, has a Peter Max mural.



(Who is Peter Max?  You've seen his stuff...they essentially "borrowed" his style for the film Yellow Submarine.  His official site is here.)

The tunnel of trees.





The best place, however, is still the Imperial Palace.





They also have headless birds.



Well, OK, he was fishing.  Spent a long time with his head underwater, though.

If you want to see all the pictures of the Palace and the park, try here.

Enough niceties.  There are other things to love besides the cherry blossoms.



...or, for the other 10% of you...



Whatever gets you in the zone.



OK, I leave you with Surugi's rendering of her dog.



Until we meet again.

As always, mail me here.