This page shows archived posts for Gary J. Wolff's blog from
January-March,
2022.
Enjoy...
Cheers,
Gary
Mar. 14,
2022 - 2022 Cherry Blossom Forecast
Only 8 more days till the cherry blossoms are forecast to begin
blooming in Tokyo on Mar. 22! Yay! This is 7 days later than last
year, but 2 days earlier than usual! Full bloom in Tokyo is forecast
for
Mar. 29. Can't wait!
2022 cherry blossom front in Japan
(Source:
Japan Weather Association)
Mar.
11, 2022 - The Beatles: Get Back - The Rooftop Concert
One of the best flicks I've seen in a while, even though the "Get Back"
rooftop concert filmed atop Apple Corps' Savile Row headquarters in
London on January 30, 1969 was only a 65-minute documentary.
Not to be confused with last year's 3-part, 8-hour TV mini-series, this
film was digitally remastered for the HUGE screen and high-quality
sound of IMAX theaters and directed by famous New Zealander Peter
Jackson of "Lord of the Rings" fame. The cinematography was phenomenal…
10 cameras on the rooftop, 3 on the street interviewing puzzled
passersby, and even 1 on top of the building across the street.
The close-ups of the Fab 4 performing live in their surprise,
unannounced last ever public appearance made me so nostalgic, it
practically brought tears to my eyes. And they were all so young &
handsome (all still in their 20s).
Believe it or not, it was my very first time ever to see a flick in an
IMAX theater. With the HUGE screen, high-tech sound system, and my
sensory perceptions in full overdrive… it almost gave me the impression
I was actually there.
Particularly impressive was the professional editing which made good
use of the full width of the floor-to-ceiling IMAX screen to present 3
different simultaneous views of the performance – such as close-ups
each of John and Paul singing, along with a wider shot of the whole
band.
Sadly, as of yesterday it seems the screenings in Japan have now
finished, but for any passionate Beatles fans (especially old folks
like me who grew up with The Beatles), if this film ever comes to a
nearby IMAX screen, you will be remiss and saddened greatly if you miss
seeing it.
The Beatles: Get Back - The Rooftop Concert (photo credit:
thefatangelsings.com)
Feb. 18,
2022 - In loving memory of Thomas Arthur Todd
It's a sad day in Tokyo and Steamboat Springs, Colorado, as one of my
lifelong good buddies has
received his final reward and moved up to the big playground in the
sky. I've known Tom since our college days and will always hold him
dear
to my heart.
Love you, miss you, and rest in eternal peace, my dear friend. C U
again someday!
Thomas Arthur Todd
July 24, 1953 - Feb. 17, 2022
(The above pic was taken at Garden of the Gods, Colorado in Aug. 2016.
More pics of Tom are here.)
Tom (left) & I scaled Gannett Peak, elev. 4,210 m (13,810 ft),
the tallest peak in Wyoming, back in Sept. 1979
Feb.
10, 2022 - Comparing sizes of geographical areas
I've often wondered how the size of my home state of Texas would
measure up to my adopted home for the past 3 decades. Now finally the
mystery has been solved.
Actually, it's not such a big surprise for me, since I learned a long
time ago that Texas (America's 2nd largest state and 1/2 the size of
Alaska) was about twice the size of Japan, but it's pretty cool to now
see it on a map.
MapFight is a web-app to help visualize the comparative size of 2
geographic areas... continents, countries, cities, oceans, etc. I was
turned on to this amazing app a couple days ago by a fellow university
professor, and I'm so intrigued by it, I'm still playing around with
it.
Feb.
6,
2022 - 360-degree panorama
from the summit of Mt. Whitney
Flashing
back to one of my all-time favorite mountain climbing pics, a panorama
from the summit of Mt. Whitney in California (the tallest peak in the
continental 48 U.S. states) taken by my fellow climbing partner Matt
when we scaled it in August 1989. He made it from his 16 sequential
pics
spliced together, back when digital cameras were not yet widely
available.
Jan. 27,
2022 - "How Long Has It Been Since YOU Been Home?"
Blessings to my good buddy, Mississippi bluesman Rambling Steve
Gardner, who hits it out of the park with his 12-string National
Reso-Phonic guitar by posing a very pertinent question as we kick off a
New Year.
This song is Rambling Steve's version of an old Lightnin' Hopkins tune.
More details on this amazing Tokyo musician are here: www.ramblingsteve.info
Keep on spreadin' your Big Leg, X-tra LARGE, My-T-Fine magic, my friend…
"How Long Has It
Been Since YOU Been Home?"
(If player above is not visible, you can view video
at YouTube here.)
[click on CC button for English subtitles (英語字幕)]
Jan.
20, 2022 - Japanese elevator floor location monitor
Wow, now why didn't I
think of this?
Japanese elevator
floor location monitor
(If player above is not visible, you can view video
at YouTube here.)
I was thrilled recently to be notified that my GaryJWolff.com website
has been named one of the 16 top hiking and adventure blogs from Japan
by the highly-renowned Ridgeline Images hiking website.
If you have a very vivid imagination, perhaps you can visualize me
right now patting myself on the back, ha ha.
No, in all seriousness, in the past 12 years I have spent literally
hundreds of hours posting information on the highest
mountains in
Japan, which I hope will be useful for present and future climbers.
It is extremely rare when I get these kinds of kudos or feedback
regarding my website, so this recognition is extremely appreciated.
Thank you very much, Mr. David Lowe!
If you're looking for a good hiking
trail around Tokyo, since 2013
David has published over 100 hike reports from around the Greater Tokyo
Area. And each hike has a detailed description, including photos, how
to get to the trailhead by public transport, hiking duration, distance,
elevation gain, difficulty, as well as downloadable GPX track and PDF
map files.
Jan. 1,
2022 - Hatsuhinode (初日の出), First Japan Sunrise of 2022
Hatsuhinode (初日の出) is the Japanese Shinto tradition of viewing the 1st
sunrise of the New Year to greet Toshigami-sama (年神), the god of the
New Year, with hopes of receiving good luck, well-being, and health.
Before sunrise on January 1, many people will drive to the coast, climb
a mountain, or go to the top of a tall building or structure, like the
Tokyo Sky Tree or Tokyo Tower, to view it. Here's the one which
occurred in Tokyo this morning at 6:51 am with a crisp -1°C (30°F)
temp. Happy New Year!! May we all be blessed this year with "good luck,
well-being, and health."
Hatsuhinode
(初日の出), First Japan Sunrise of 2022
(If player above is not visible, you can view video
at YouTube here.)
(BGM: "Morning Has Broken" by Cat Stevens)
Hi Gary, I love your site as it is so informative. On August 1st, 3 of us will be attempting to climb Mount Fuji. My husband and I are comparatively fit
Hi, I have some questions about reserving a hut on Mt. Fuji. I'll be in Tokyo a few days before climbing season and am attempting to climb on July 1st.
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