The Japanese delivery service Kuroneko Yamato has recently begun introducing bicycles into service for select regions. The bicycles are designed to replace trucks (for smaller packages at least), which should help the company save money and should also be a boon to the environment and Japan's dependence on foreign oil. The bicycles include a battery-assist power unit to help the rider manage a heavy load and a large trailer for holding packages en-route to their final destination. Early in 2009 the company released a series of television advertisements introducing the new bicycle service and advising the public of the company's commitment to "eco" friendly innovation and change.

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I found this old garden along a very lonely road in the high mountains surrounding Shizuoka, Japan. This area is rather remote and I have never seen another person while exploring the area, though there are several tea fields which appear well cared for. Before embarking on this particular hike I asked a man I met at the last village I passed about what I might find in the mountains beyond. He gave me a puzzled look and simply replied in Japanese that I would find...nothing. What I think he meant was that there are no people living in this area, though there does remain much evidence of people who did once call these mountains home. Abandoned houses and farms are found at intervals along the road, along with various structures such as farm sheds, carefully constructed stone walls and even a hidden Shinto shrine I spotted from across the canyon, but which I was unable to reach due to the steep cliffs and heavy brush which seem to guard the shrine from access (don't worry, it's in my plans to reach this shrine eventually!). Numerous trailheads can be found along the road which are marked by old machinery rusting in the dense green foliage. Each of these trails undoubtedly leads to some cleared farmland or terraces long ago cut and cleared from the mountain slopes above. I'm certain that an exploration of any one of these trails would yield a wonderful experience in uncovering the life work of a proud farmer from Japan's past who is now gone and perhaps nearly forgotten.

The concept of forgotten is the subject of this particular video. I shot this footage after spending some time on my return hike examining an old fence-like structure situated near some abandoned buildings along the road. After a while I decided that the fence surrounded a plot of land which must have once been a garden, possibly a kitchen garden for one of the empty homes nearby. The land within the garden plot had been almost completely reclaimed by nature with the exception of patches of pretty yellow and white flowers seen here and there within and outside the fenced plot. The flowers could be found in little clumps within the immediate area though no such flowers were seen anywhere else during my hike. The evidence of the flowers in conjunction with the garden fences and gates gave rise to some whimsical thoughts which I would like to share with you now via the video. I hope that you enjoy this small glimpse into the life of some unknown Japanese farmer who once cultivated this little patch of mountain paradise, and who's memory lives on each spring in the colorful faces of his now-feral flowers.

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Emily has grown a lot since our last bump-a-de-bump video. She no longer rides in a child seat on my mamachari bicycle and instead has a bicycle of her own which she enjoys riding all around our little valley.

The nice man we meet at the end of the video is Emily's grandfather who lives around the corner from us. He uses a very old fashioned wood-fired bath and must light a fire in the burner each evening to warm the water. The bucket full of sawdust he is carrying will be used to help light the evening bath fire. The sound of grandpa chopping wood on the concrete kitchen floor at sundown is a very old and special part of life for our family.

My apologies for the extra bit of footage at the end. This was an alternate ending I had planned to use from another run we had done that same afternoon (Emily and I must have done the Bump-a-de-bump circuit a least 10 times that day) but which I forgot to delete.

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I'm excited to at last take delivery of my brand new 28 inch Bridgestone Bravestar bicycle (please read below to learn more about mamachari bicycles)! The Bravestar is Bridgestone's extra heavy duty mamachari with thick tubing, reinforced joints and extra strong wheel spokes. The Bravestar is also one of the only Bridgestone mamachari which includes a jumbo 28 inch model (very large by Japanese standards). The bike includes many features such as a three speed integrated gear hub with sealed rear brake. The bicycle's front light is powered by a well designed, low resistance front-hub generator while the rear light includes a solar panel for easy and automatic charging. Both lights come on automatically after the sun goes down though the front light includes a special setting which, when used, will cause the light to stay whenever the bicycle is being ridden. Strong wire baskets at the front and rear provide lots of room for object being moved while the extra strong frame ensures that even a very heavy load may not cause the bike to wobble or become too unsteady.

This type of Bicycle is affectionately known in Japan as a "mamachari" and is most popular with homemakers who use the bikes to run errands around town, carry groceries and ferry one or more children to and from kindergarten. Men in Japan also use mamachari though more often these bicycles are used simply as commuter vehicles.

I am a great fan of mamachari as these bikes are normally very durable and well designed for use in navigating the many small, twisty roads of urban Japan. The bikes are also quite comfortable as the riding posture is normally upright and the wide, well cushioned seat is very comfortable even on very long rides. Mamachari perform well in nearly any weather condition and their relatively low cost makes them an affordable alternative for daily transportation. Some mamachari even include special battery-assisted drives to help Okasan (mother) climb tough hills when carrying a full load of kids and groceries.

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Come join me for a pleasant afternoon ride and hike from Shizuoka city to the top of nearby Mt. Ryuso. This particular outing takes us from the busy city to a mist-shrouded peak seemingly removed from the bustle of the Japanese metropolis below. This hike can easily be enjoyed in a day and there are several excellent places to rest and picnic. Expect crowds on the weekends though you will likely enjoy having the mountain to yourself if you pick a weekday for your hike.

My Ryuso is actually two peaks very closely situated to one another. On a clear day Mt. Monjudake (1041m) and Mt. Yakushidake (1051m) are visible from almost any location within Shizuoka city, and provide a backdrop and tantalizing hint at the much higher and more rugged peaks of the Japan Southern Alps beyond. Japanese people have been climbing these mountains for centuries as both peaks are considered holy sites within both the Buddhist and Shinto traditions. The summits can be reached via three separate trails originating from the area around the Abe river (near Gojima village I think), central Shizuoka (at Sengen shrine) and the area between Shizuoka and nearby Shimizu (the route and trail used in this video).

Google Earth Info:
You can visit Mt Ryuso yourself via Goggle Earth at the following coordinates: Lat: 35° 5'2.79"N Long: 138°24'3.47"E

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While walking in the hills behind my house I happened upon a small crab spider (Thomisidae family) enjoying a meal while resting upon a daisy. What I found especially interesting was the small shelter which the spider has apparently made for itself by bending two leaves and attaching these at the tips. The shelter makes a tidy little tent which likely helps protect the spider from the elements as well as from prowling predators.

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This medium size Japanese Huntsman spider gave me a bit of a start this morning when I discovered it near my face as I fumbled for my keys at the entrance to my apartment.

I apologize for the poor quality of this video which was shot in haste and under poor lighting conditions.

The huntsman spider is found in many parts of the world and is notable for its large size and great speed. The spider shown in this video is quite small for the species and likely very young. These spiders have been measured with leg spans up to 250 mm (roughly 12 inches) and make their living by ambushing prey which they actively pursue over open ground. The spiders do not produce a web though they may trail a line of silk as they move which is used to control a fall in the event they find it necessary to jump. A distinguishing characteristic of this spider are the forward-facing two front pairs of legs. The position of the legs gives the body a lower profile compared to many other spiders and may aid the animal in subduing its prey.

Huntsman spiders will move to shelter during wet weather and will often enter homes, sheds and other areas which offer protection and a safe hunting ground. Consequently these spiders are sometimes called rain spiders or housekeeping spiders with the latter term referring to their propensity to rid a home of pests such as cockroaches and flies. Older Japanese who have grown up in the countryside have little or no fear of these spiders despite their large size and may even readily pick them up to move them outdoors. Wikipedia reports that the bite of a huntsman is not dangerous though it may cause swelling and pain. One old Japanese farmer I spoke with told me that he had been bitten by many spiders while working in his fields and indicated that the huntsmans bite was one of the least painful he had known. The Japanese words he used to describe the bite of a huntsman was kimuchi warui which translates as feels strange. My wife Yumiko grew up in an old home where huntsman were seen daily during the warm months. She describes the spiders moving quickly (and unmolested) along the walls while the family ate dinner, perched above the tub while bathing and even walking over her body while she slept. Despite her lack of fear for these large spider she nevertheless calls me (the scared one) to remove them from our apartment whenever one is discovered. Catching these spiders in the house is a difficult job as their good eyesight alerts them to an approaching human and their great speed allows them to seemingly fly from room to room with ease, eluding capture.

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The only thing I like better than strolling through the Japanese countryside is strolling through the countryside with my wife and daughter. While mommy was cooking dinner this evening Emily and I slipped out with our cameras for a quick stroll among the rice fields near our home. The setting was so lovely and Emily and I decided to team up to share the walk with all of you. While I shot images with the video camera Emily took still shots with the digital and we later melded the two into the simple little video you have here. Thanks for taking the time to join us on our stroll. Emily and I are delighted to have you along.

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My father-in-law and I attend a weekend exhibit of Japanese shoji screen art at the Granship exhibition center in Shizuoka City, Japan.

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The beverage industry in Japan is fiercely competitive with vending machines on nearly every street corner and new and interesting concoctions and campaigns being placed before the consumer every month. One of the most interesting results of this fight for market share is the periodic release by the big names of Coke and Pepsi of unique and interesting variations on their traditional cola flavors. The most recent to appear is Green Tea Flavor Coca Cola which is being reviewed with this video. However, the first prize in the uncanny category must go to Pepsi for their short-lived summer release of Cucumber-flavor Pepsi. As if the name alone was not enough to twist your lips the light green bottle was an eye-opener to every cold beverage fan who happened upon this drink during the summer months of 2007 (I may be wrong about the year).

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I encountered this wonderful spider prowling amidst dense foliage along a farm road in the mountains surrounding Shizuoka City, Japan. There were several other huntsman spiders spotted within a yard of this spider on either side which lead me to believe that the hunting must have been very good. The spider shown in this video is still relatively small with a leg span of roughly 10 centimeters. The spider was especially active and moved quickly and carefully through the leaves before it sensed my presence and became more cautious and less active. The active nature of this spider was in contrast to the two other spiders I saw which were of a different species and which seemed to prefer sitting and waiting for prey to come by.

The huntsman spider is found in many parts of the world and is notable for its large size and great speed. These spiders have been measured with leg spans up to 250 mm (roughly 12 inches) and make their living by ambushing prey which they actively pursue over open ground. The spiders do not produce a web though they may trail a line of silk as they move which is used to control a fall in the event they find it necessary to jump. A distinguishing characteristic of this spider are the forward-facing two front pairs of legs. The position of the legs gives the body a lower profile compared to many other spiders and may aid the animal in subduing its prey.

Huntsman spiders will move to shelter during wet weather and will often enter homes, sheds and other areas which offer protection and a safe hunting ground. Consequently these spiders are sometimes called rain spiders or housekeeping spiders with the latter term referring to their propensity to rid a home of pests such as cockroaches and flies. Older Japanese who have grown up in the countryside have little or no fear of these spiders despite their large size and may even readily pick them up to move them outdoors. Wikipedia reports that the bite of a huntsman is not dangerous though it may cause swelling and pain. One old Japanese farmer I spoke with told me that he had been bitten by many spiders while working in his fields and indicated that the huntsmans bite was one of the least painful he had known. The Japanese words he used to describe the bite of a huntsman was kimuchi warui which translates as feels strange. My wife Yumiko grew up in an old home where huntsman were seen daily during the warm months. She describes the spiders moving quickly (and unmolested) along the walls while the family ate dinner, perched above the tub while bathing and even walking over her body while she slept. Despite her lack of fear for these large spider she nevertheless calls me (the scared one) to remove them from our apartment whenever one is discovered. Catching these spiders in the house is a difficult job as their good eyesight alerts them to an approaching human and their great speed allows them to seemingly fly from room to room with ease, eluding capture.

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I found this charming little stone stairway while walking along a narrow road in the mountains of central Japan. The location was lovely and there was something about the setting which was especially peaceful and I enjoyed a nice rest beside the water. I wondered at the origin of the stone path and how it had been used over the years by the farmers living nearby.

Correction: I incorrectly identified the insect in the video as a dragonfly as it is in fact a damselfly. These two insects appear very similar though they can be readily identified by the fact that dragonflies hold their wings horizontal when resting while damselflies hold theirs in a vertical position.

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