Even Mecha-Godzilla and King Ghidorrah love to relax and sit under the cherry blossoms in April's Hanami season.
I had to pop into Yodobashi Camera to pick something up, so on the way home, I couldn't Passover the chance to join the above Kaiju in their revelry.
Lots of blossoms still in full bloom at Tsutsujigaoka Park and there was a good crowd because a Rakuten Baseball game had just ended. So I grabbed a brew and some chips and settled under a tree to watch the masses enjoy their ball games, mostly soccer and baseball and a little volleyball. No Frisbees though or I might have joined in.
Plenty of blossoms to enjoy. This one is a Weeping Cherry, シダレザクラ.
For the others, use this handy guide and figure out which is which.
I wandered over to the Eagles stadium and alas, their blossoms have all expired.
As twilight started gleaming, I continued my journey and snapped a few photos at my local temple, Mutsu Kokubunji Temple, Yakushida. Click that link to Google Maps and wander over on Saturday. There's a Daihannya prayer reading and later a Handicraft fair.
Today is Maundy Thursday which means that Sunday is Easter. I wonder what the Kaiju have planned that day?
Since my foot and back were feeling better (gout, pulled something), I decided to to go on a walkabout. I picked up a small lunch at 7-11 (first conbini I'd entered in about three weeks!) and went on my merry way. First up, I saw a flower I'd never seen before growing at the trunk of a tree.
As you can see, there aren't that many people about. A handful of kids playing and dog walkers mainly.
What follows are a bunch of cherry blossoms at Mutsu Kokubunji Temple at Yakushido Shrine.
Some kids were feeding pigeons which in most parks in Sendai is taboo though I didn't see any signs prohibiting their action.
At the foot of this monument was a sacrificial panda, a toy car and a decapitated anime character's head.
Unusually, the turtle dispensing holy water was not open for business.
I popped across the road to a parkette that I haven't been to in over a decade.
Lots of stone tablets have sprung up.
The three monkeys are Mizaru, covering his eyes, who sees no evil; Kikazaru, covering his ears, who hears no evil; and Iwazaru, covering his mouth, who speaks no evil.
I heard a lot of helicopters flying around today. Patrols? Practice runs? Something more Sinister?
My old stomping grounds, Seiwa Gakuen High School, the reason I moved to this area over 15 years ago.
It's eerie seeing Rakuten Eagles Stadium with NO people around. Even when there isn't a game there's usually something going on.
I want to discus something with you...
Bluebells?
Maybe not.
I continued on my trek to Tsutsujigaoka Park.
Tsutsuji are Japanese azaleas but I don't think they're in bloom yet. Lots of others flourishing though.
And of course, more sakura...
But first, a warning about tidying up after your pooch. It's fun! (フン fun is the Japanese word for dog poop, click that link for more signs of poop.)
What's missing from this picture? The tons of people who usually abound on a nice spring day.
My lunch, a sandwich and veggie sticks with a miso dip.
A couple of dragsters.
Look! More nonexistent groups of people.
Me doing my best Invisible Man impersonation. (Of those who were out today, very few had masks on. Although granted, they weren't in close quarters.)
Wow, the lack of picnickers is amazing! I suppose the true Hanami parties are at night.
I probably didn't go because I didn't want to ascend the stairs. This time I approached from above, so I only walked down the steps.
Some other guardians.
Daffodils.
I dunno. A little help here...
I see these cabbages all the time, first time I've seen one in bloom.
Another area with blossoms and blooms.
This year's slogan. Now or Never. Not very optimistic.
I picked up some veggies on the way home and got some Yuzu and Raspberry Kitkats on sale.
That's it for today's jaunt. Tonight was the Pink Moon, the first full moon after the first of Spring and the week before Easter. Did I capture a UFO on film??
