spring comes to campus
2019-04-22 08:30 Filed in: travel
2019-04-22 SAPPORO, JAPAN -- Blue skies today! I left home late to take pictures along my way to the office. (I usually arrive at the office at 04:00.)
Professor William S Clark consulted for the Japanese government to design and found Hokkaido University.
Behind Clark's bust is a cherry tree that each spring blooms ahead of other trees. Behind that eager cherry tree stands our apartment building. We are on the top floor.
The cherry blossoms were about 20 percent blossoms and 80 percent buds.
A underwater river emerges above-ground and feeds a stream than traverses campus.
Ohno pond is named after an engineering professor who converted a swamp dumped full of trash into an ornamental pond.
They had drained the pond for maintenance. A few hours later, the pond was at full pool (that is, maximum water capacity).
Skunk cabbages are white on Hokkaido Island.
The former entomology department is one of the oldest buildings on campus. The Sapporo Agriculture School (the former name of Hokkaido University) had a love-hate relationship with insects. Insects devour crops, yet are essential for pollination and sericulture.
The School of Science. In a few weeks, fresh leaves will conceal the buildings from view.
Gothic arches (with pointed apexes) were standard design for imperial universities. Not all schools or buildings used them, however.
The School of Medicine.
A convenience store with a mini-restaurant and demo kitchen opened in summer 2018. The person who designed and installed the kitchen also installed ours at our house in Tokyo.
The campus restaurant Trillium. Unlike some faculty clubs in America or Europe, anybody can enter.
My office is 2nd from the top, 2nd from the left, between 2 offices with red triangles on their windows. The triangles mark fire fighter access. The steel bracing on the exterior wall is seismic reinforcement that, alas, is hardly effective.
Professor William S Clark consulted for the Japanese government to design and found Hokkaido University.
Behind Clark's bust is a cherry tree that each spring blooms ahead of other trees. Behind that eager cherry tree stands our apartment building. We are on the top floor.
The cherry blossoms were about 20 percent blossoms and 80 percent buds.
A underwater river emerges above-ground and feeds a stream than traverses campus.
Ohno pond is named after an engineering professor who converted a swamp dumped full of trash into an ornamental pond.
They had drained the pond for maintenance. A few hours later, the pond was at full pool (that is, maximum water capacity).
Skunk cabbages are white on Hokkaido Island.
The former entomology department is one of the oldest buildings on campus. The Sapporo Agriculture School (the former name of Hokkaido University) had a love-hate relationship with insects. Insects devour crops, yet are essential for pollination and sericulture.
The School of Science. In a few weeks, fresh leaves will conceal the buildings from view.
Gothic arches (with pointed apexes) were standard design for imperial universities. Not all schools or buildings used them, however.
The School of Medicine.
A convenience store with a mini-restaurant and demo kitchen opened in summer 2018. The person who designed and installed the kitchen also installed ours at our house in Tokyo.
The campus restaurant Trillium. Unlike some faculty clubs in America or Europe, anybody can enter.
My office is 2nd from the top, 2nd from the left, between 2 offices with red triangles on their windows. The triangles mark fire fighter access. The steel bracing on the exterior wall is seismic reinforcement that, alas, is hardly effective.
ishikari river mouth
2019-04-06 12:00 Filed in: travel
2019-04-06 ISHIKARI, JAPAN -- Noriko and I visited Ishikari city, just north of Sapporo.
A local museum shows ancient artifacts. The area was rich with salmon, and people have lived here for thousands of years.
Salmon do not run thick and heavy these days, but they come enough to support an industry. We visited a salmon factory nearby.
We went for a walk nearby the Ishikari lighthouse, which marks the river mouth.
A boardwalk helps keep mud off our shoes.
A local museum shows ancient artifacts. The area was rich with salmon, and people have lived here for thousands of years.
Salmon do not run thick and heavy these days, but they come enough to support an industry. We visited a salmon factory nearby.
We went for a walk nearby the Ishikari lighthouse, which marks the river mouth.
A boardwalk helps keep mud off our shoes.
kairakuen
2019-04-01 14:00 Filed in: travel
2019-04-01 MITO, JAPAN -- I visited public parks near Mito station on my way back from Tokyo to Sapporo. During the Edo period, Mito was home to one of the three major Tokugawa families, second in prominence only to the Tokugawa shogun. Mito city is rich in history and culture.
Sembako, a small lake near the Mito train station, is a wonderful place to walk and run. Sakura (cherry) trees line the banks.
Kairakuen park was designed during feudal times as a park occasionally open to the public, a remarkable idea at that time. Admission is free, which is a remarkable idea today. By contrast, Shinjuku Gyoen in downtown Tokyo charges admission.
Kairakuen is famous for plum trees. The flowers were past bloom. Sakura, while few in number, were nearing their peak.
A frog statue guards a sacred spring.
At the Koubunkan villa, topped by the Rakujuro lookout room, the daimyo (feudal lord) would meet with and congratulate elderly samurai and common folk. The guests would sit on the room pictured in the foreground, while the daimyo would address them from the room in the background.
In stark contrast to the subdued, tasteful color tones of Kairakuen and Koubunkan, the Toushouguu shrine close to Mito station is gaudy and ostentatious. The Toushouguu enshrines the Tokugawa shoguns.
Sembako, a small lake near the Mito train station, is a wonderful place to walk and run. Sakura (cherry) trees line the banks.
Kairakuen park was designed during feudal times as a park occasionally open to the public, a remarkable idea at that time. Admission is free, which is a remarkable idea today. By contrast, Shinjuku Gyoen in downtown Tokyo charges admission.
Kairakuen is famous for plum trees. The flowers were past bloom. Sakura, while few in number, were nearing their peak.
A frog statue guards a sacred spring.
At the Koubunkan villa, topped by the Rakujuro lookout room, the daimyo (feudal lord) would meet with and congratulate elderly samurai and common folk. The guests would sit on the room pictured in the foreground, while the daimyo would address them from the room in the background.
In stark contrast to the subdued, tasteful color tones of Kairakuen and Koubunkan, the Toushouguu shrine close to Mito station is gaudy and ostentatious. The Toushouguu enshrines the Tokugawa shoguns.
neil stalnaker, artist
2019-03-31 13:00 Filed in: family_friends
2019-03-31 TOKYO, JAPAN -- I visited Neil Stalnaker, a friend who gave me a trumpet lesson once in Sapporo, at his painting exhibition near Tokyo station.
Sakura were approaching full bloom.
Neil began painting a few years ago. His form is free-style, as in jazz improvisation.
Neil signed his artwork for me.
This painting invokes imagery of me holding my trumpet. The painting will hang on my practice room wall.
Sakura were approaching full bloom.
Neil began painting a few years ago. His form is free-style, as in jazz improvisation.
Neil signed his artwork for me.
This painting invokes imagery of me holding my trumpet. The painting will hang on my practice room wall.
test kitchen
2019-03-30 18:47 Filed in: technology
2019-03-31 TOKYO, JAPAN -- I tested our new kitchen. (Note for my students: a "test kitchen" is kitchen that experiments with recipes. Here I played with words -- I literally tested my kitchen.)
Ingredients: yakisoba stir-fry noodles 1kg, moyashi bean sprouts 1kg, sliced pork 300 g. Layer everything in that order in the pan. My new oven takes 2/3 size gastronorm pans (known in Japan as "hotel pans" because they are standard in the hotel and catering industry). The pans are almost square, about 34 cm to each side (353 mm x 325 mm to be precise).
The oven takes up to 6 pans at a time, depending on the depth of the pan. My pan in the picture is 40 mm deep.
After 6 minutes of cooking, take out the pan, pour sauce over the food, and mix.
Dinner is served!
Ingredients: yakisoba stir-fry noodles 1kg, moyashi bean sprouts 1kg, sliced pork 300 g. Layer everything in that order in the pan. My new oven takes 2/3 size gastronorm pans (known in Japan as "hotel pans" because they are standard in the hotel and catering industry). The pans are almost square, about 34 cm to each side (353 mm x 325 mm to be precise).
The oven takes up to 6 pans at a time, depending on the depth of the pan. My pan in the picture is 40 mm deep.
After 6 minutes of cooking, take out the pan, pour sauce over the food, and mix.
Dinner is served!
home repair repair repair repair ...
2019-03-30 11:20 Filed in: technology
2019-03-30 TOKYO, JAPAN -- Repair and renovation work at our house in Tokyo is almost complete.
A grand team of over a dozen people came to reinstall the sink and steam convection oven.
I am experimenting how to direct the hot moist air from the oven towards the ventilation fan.
The attentive cleaning crew beautifies the construction area.
A grand team of over a dozen people came to reinstall the sink and steam convection oven.
I am experimenting how to direct the hot moist air from the oven towards the ventilation fan.
The attentive cleaning crew beautifies the construction area.
home repair repair repair ...
2019-02-20 18:00 Filed in: technology
2019-02-20 TOKYO, JAPAN -- At our house in Tokyo, the contractors are smoothing the sheetrock surfaces and hanging wallpaper.
The entrance to the house is where in-coming equipment is stored. From left to right: the vanity sink, the steam convection oven, and toilet.
The entrance to the house is where in-coming equipment is stored. From left to right: the vanity sink, the steam convection oven, and toilet.
commercial kitchen show
2019-02-19 11:00 Filed in: technology
2019-02-19 TOKYO, JAPAN -- I visited a trade show for owners and managers of restaurants and hotels. Vendors exhibited services and equipment.
Alas, no photography allowed indoors.
I noticed 3 things:
(1) The booths are huge. Some vendors rented space exceeding 30 x 30 meters. They had full-size kitchens and tables for customers. Wow!
(2) The buyers expect respect. Chefs typically work (or should I say slave) for several years before advancing to leadership positions. They are proud and can be haughty.
(3) Many vendors offer food samples but (surprise) you don't get full! Buy from vendors who give you all the food you want to taste and test.
Alas, no photography allowed indoors.
I noticed 3 things:
(1) The booths are huge. Some vendors rented space exceeding 30 x 30 meters. They had full-size kitchens and tables for customers. Wow!
(2) The buyers expect respect. Chefs typically work (or should I say slave) for several years before advancing to leadership positions. They are proud and can be haughty.
(3) Many vendors offer food samples but (surprise) you don't get full! Buy from vendors who give you all the food you want to taste and test.
valentine's day
2019-02-14 10:00 Filed in: family_friends
2019-02-14 SAPPORO, JAPAN -- Valentine's Day!
All the boys got chocolate from Noriko.
Today is the 20th anniversary of my submitting my PhD dissertation. At my department (at that time) we revised our dissertation after the defense. This was the last step before commencement.
All the boys got chocolate from Noriko.
Today is the 20th anniversary of my submitting my PhD dissertation. At my department (at that time) we revised our dissertation after the defense. This was the last step before commencement.
snow festival
2019-02-10 20:00 Filed in: travel
2019-02-10 SAPPORO, JAPAN -- Sapporo has its snow festival in early February each year. Noriko and I walked the streets to see the sights.
The Japanese army builds some snow sculptures. The army signals group built the Helsinki cathedral shown below.
The army's 11th artillery built sculptures of a rock band that comes to life with projected lights and powerful music. (The picture below has low quality because it is a screenshot of a movie I took.)
A freight train traverses the landscape. Night-time sculptures are colorful.
In daylight, the snow statues are all white.
Frozen aquarium.
Pink Frog meets Ice Frog.
The Japanese army builds some snow sculptures. The army signals group built the Helsinki cathedral shown below.
The army's 11th artillery built sculptures of a rock band that comes to life with projected lights and powerful music. (The picture below has low quality because it is a screenshot of a movie I took.)
A freight train traverses the landscape. Night-time sculptures are colorful.
In daylight, the snow statues are all white.
Frozen aquarium.
Pink Frog meets Ice Frog.
azalea
2019-02-05 11:05 Filed in: travel
2019-02-05 NIIGATA AND OTARU, JAPAN -- I took another ferry back from Tokyo via Niigata to Sapporo.
The Azalea was launched in 2014 for the Shin-Nihonkai Ferry line.
Plenty of deck space!
My cabin was slightly smaller than the Kitakami but no complaints. Same off-season discount -- a cabin for 2 for the price of 1.
The TV has an HDMI input port so that I can connect my laptop or digital camera.
The shower has fantastic water volume and pressure.
Pick-and-pay cafeteria. I had beef stew, nikujaga (pork and potatoes in sweet soy sauce broth), veggie salad, and a big bowl of rice.
The Azalea was launched in 2014 for the Shin-Nihonkai Ferry line.
Plenty of deck space!
My cabin was slightly smaller than the Kitakami but no complaints. Same off-season discount -- a cabin for 2 for the price of 1.
The TV has an HDMI input port so that I can connect my laptop or digital camera.
The shower has fantastic water volume and pressure.
Pick-and-pay cafeteria. I had beef stew, nikujaga (pork and potatoes in sweet soy sauce broth), veggie salad, and a big bowl of rice.
home repair continues
2019-02-03 10:42 Filed in: technology
2019-02-03 TOKYO, JAPAN -- Our house repair is progressing. Work halted several times while the construction crew waited for materials to be delivered. We were unable to order materials before start of construction because nobody knew what needed to be repaired until the ceiling, walls, and floors were removed.
We installed sound-absorbing ceiling tiles to reduce sound reflection. The eye bolts are for Noriko. She intends to relax in hanging chairs and hammocks.
The shoddy workmanship of the original owners of the house gives us no end of headaches. Our construction crew fixes as much as they can.
Cross section of our new flooring material. The top layer is decorative. The middle layers support the weight. The bottom sponge layer cushions the floor, so that if people or objects were to fall on the floor, the shock would be reduced. The total thickness of this composite flooring is 19 millimeters. We installed this on top of our existing 2 layers of flooring material. The floor is now over 30 millimeters thick.
The ceiling is ready. The walls need to be papered. The floor is ready.
Glass sliding doors were replaced. The old doors (see above photo) were clear on the top half and frosted on the bottom half. The new doors are a single pane of clear reinforced glass, so the room feels airier and more naked than before.
We installed sound-absorbing ceiling tiles to reduce sound reflection. The eye bolts are for Noriko. She intends to relax in hanging chairs and hammocks.
The shoddy workmanship of the original owners of the house gives us no end of headaches. Our construction crew fixes as much as they can.
Cross section of our new flooring material. The top layer is decorative. The middle layers support the weight. The bottom sponge layer cushions the floor, so that if people or objects were to fall on the floor, the shock would be reduced. The total thickness of this composite flooring is 19 millimeters. We installed this on top of our existing 2 layers of flooring material. The floor is now over 30 millimeters thick.
The ceiling is ready. The walls need to be papered. The floor is ready.
Glass sliding doors were replaced. The old doors (see above photo) were clear on the top half and frosted on the bottom half. The new doors are a single pane of clear reinforced glass, so the room feels airier and more naked than before.
sendai sightseeing
2019-02-02 12:00 Filed in: travel
2019-02-02 SENDAI, JAPAN -- On my way from Sapporo via Sendai to Tokyo, I spent several hours sightseeing the city of Sendai. I have been to this city several times, always for work. Until today, I never had the opportunity to enjoy the scenery.
A hop-on hop-off mini-bus travels to major attractions.
Date (pronounced [date] not [deit]) Masamune founded the Sendai clan. He lost the sight of his right eye due to smallpox (not a war injury) and his eye-patch gave him the nickname "one-eyed dragon". His mounted statue is at the ruins of Aoba Castle.
Also at Aoba castle is a monument for Doi Bansui. He wrote the lyrics for "Koujou no tsuki". Taki Rentarou wrote the music, which became a hymn at a monastery in Belgium. Together they moved Japan's music from Japanese Edo-period style towards European Meiji-period style. I often play their song on my trumpet. I was under the mistaken impression that Doi Bansui was steeped only in Chinese and Japanese classics. I learned that he was also competent in several European languages, a notable achievement even today, and certainly so in the early Meiji period.
Date Masamune and some of his descendants are entombed at their family mausoleum. The structures were destroyed when the United States fire-bombed Sendai during World War II. After the war, the tombs (which themselves were underground) were excavated, and the structures were rebuilt following the gaudy ostentatious style of the Momoyama period.
The highlight of the day was a visit to the Sankyozawa hydropower plant.
Sankyozawa is Japan's oldest hydroelectricity plant. It started with a 5-kilowatt generator. A unit similar to the original is displayed in a glass case.
Today Sankyozawa produces 1310 kilo-volt-amps. The fat disc in the center of the photo is the Siemens electric generator. The tubular apparatus on the right of the picture is the Voith turbine that uses a pair of Francis turbines. The turbine and generator are connected via a flywheel and spin at 429 rpm.
A panel explains the generator's construction.
A hop-on hop-off mini-bus travels to major attractions.
Date (pronounced [date] not [deit]) Masamune founded the Sendai clan. He lost the sight of his right eye due to smallpox (not a war injury) and his eye-patch gave him the nickname "one-eyed dragon". His mounted statue is at the ruins of Aoba Castle.
Also at Aoba castle is a monument for Doi Bansui. He wrote the lyrics for "Koujou no tsuki". Taki Rentarou wrote the music, which became a hymn at a monastery in Belgium. Together they moved Japan's music from Japanese Edo-period style towards European Meiji-period style. I often play their song on my trumpet. I was under the mistaken impression that Doi Bansui was steeped only in Chinese and Japanese classics. I learned that he was also competent in several European languages, a notable achievement even today, and certainly so in the early Meiji period.
Date Masamune and some of his descendants are entombed at their family mausoleum. The structures were destroyed when the United States fire-bombed Sendai during World War II. After the war, the tombs (which themselves were underground) were excavated, and the structures were rebuilt following the gaudy ostentatious style of the Momoyama period.
The highlight of the day was a visit to the Sankyozawa hydropower plant.
Sankyozawa is Japan's oldest hydroelectricity plant. It started with a 5-kilowatt generator. A unit similar to the original is displayed in a glass case.
Today Sankyozawa produces 1310 kilo-volt-amps. The fat disc in the center of the photo is the Siemens electric generator. The tubular apparatus on the right of the picture is the Voith turbine that uses a pair of Francis turbines. The turbine and generator are connected via a flywheel and spin at 429 rpm.
A panel explains the generator's construction.
new kitakami
2019-02-01 10:00 Filed in: travel
2019-02-01 TOMAKOMAI AND SENDAI, JAPAN -- I have been regularly flying back and forth between Sapporo and Tokyo to oversee construction at our house in Tokyo. To break the monotony of airline travel, I took a ferry from Tomakomai to Sendai.
The Kitakami is a brand-new ship that entered service last week for the Taiheiyo Ferry line. She replaces an older ship of the same name.
I got a cabin for 2 people for the price of 1 because winter is off season.
My cabin faces the bow.
Brrr! The deck was cold! Windy and chilly. No trumpet practice on deck!
Brand-new ship. No rust anywhere.
The Kitakami is a brand-new ship that entered service last week for the Taiheiyo Ferry line. She replaces an older ship of the same name.
I got a cabin for 2 people for the price of 1 because winter is off season.
My cabin faces the bow.
Brrr! The deck was cold! Windy and chilly. No trumpet practice on deck!
Brand-new ship. No rust anywhere.
home repair
2019-01-05 08:00 Filed in: technology
2019-01-05 TOKYO, JAPAN -- We have been repairing and remodeling our house in Tokyo. It is partly an irritating process, because the building should have been demolished (it was not built to code) when we obtained it. Alas we are stuck with it. Our contractor team is removing or replacing faulty plumbing, and insulating and sealing the drafty house. I am determined to make the best out of a poor situation.
We ripped out the old ceiling, walls, and part of the floor. We are insulating and sealing all inside surfaces. Already the room feels warmer. The ceiling has been sheet-rocked. The walls will be too, as soon as the electrical outlets are installed. We will add a layer above the existing floor to reduce sound propagating downstairs.
This corner is where the new sink and steam convection oven will go. I am excited to cook for my extended family!
We are aiming for a spacious room where we can cook, laugh, watch movies, and (gasp) play music.
We ripped out the old ceiling, walls, and part of the floor. We are insulating and sealing all inside surfaces. Already the room feels warmer. The ceiling has been sheet-rocked. The walls will be too, as soon as the electrical outlets are installed. We will add a layer above the existing floor to reduce sound propagating downstairs.
This corner is where the new sink and steam convection oven will go. I am excited to cook for my extended family!
We are aiming for a spacious room where we can cook, laugh, watch movies, and (gasp) play music.
archery event
2019-01-02 10:00 Filed in: travel
2019-01-02 TOKYO, JAPAN -- We went to the Oomiya Hachimangu, a shinto shrine about 2 km south of our Tokyo house. After praying for purity for the new year, we watched an archery ceremony conducted on the shrine grounds.
The event consists of 2 ceremonies. In the 1st ceremony, an arrow with a ceremonial whistling arrowhead is shot. The whistling sound wards off evil. In ancient times, the sound signaled the opening of battle. In the 2nd ceremony, 6 archers shoot 2 arrows each. This is a ceremonial competition, where the symbolism within the rituals is more important than the shooting.
The target is large and fairly close to the archers. The objective is to cleanse body and spirit, not necessarily to hit the bullseye (although all 13 shots did hit it).
The event consists of 2 ceremonies. In the 1st ceremony, an arrow with a ceremonial whistling arrowhead is shot. The whistling sound wards off evil. In ancient times, the sound signaled the opening of battle. In the 2nd ceremony, 6 archers shoot 2 arrows each. This is a ceremonial competition, where the symbolism within the rituals is more important than the shooting.
The target is large and fairly close to the archers. The objective is to cleanse body and spirit, not necessarily to hit the bullseye (although all 13 shots did hit it).
happy new year
2019-01-01 00:00 Filed in: travel
2019-01-01 SAPPORO AND TOKYO, JAPAN -- Happy New Year everybody! Best wishes to all of you!
Screenshots from "Dream Girlfriend" (虹色カノジョ). My grand-daughters have been collecting cute outfits.
Screenshots from "Dream Girlfriend" (虹色カノジョ). My grand-daughters have been collecting cute outfits.