June 1,
2026 - Tomu "Tom" Yamamoto (山本十夢), live at Kento's Shinjuku, May 31,
2026
13-yr-old wonder
child Tom knocked it outta the park impersonating Elvis Presley in
Tokyo, Japan!
Tomu "Tom" Yamamoto (山本十夢),
live at Kento's Shinjuku, May 31,
2026
(If player above is not visible, you can view video
at YouTube.)
0:00 Tom on TV
1:17 That's All Right, Mama
4:50 Can't Help Falling in Love with You
7:37 C'mon Everybody
10:21 Blue Suede Shoes
12:50 Hey Elvis
(with Mr. Yasumasa Mori & Ms. Maiko Uegaki)
May 25,
2026 - Upcoming, super-spectacular Venus-Jupiter conjunction!
To all my fellow
passionate stargazers in the northern hemisphere... as
you know, Venus is our brightest planet and Jupiter is 2nd-brightest.
You can’t miss them... they outshine ALL the stars! About every 3-5
years, these 2 blazing worlds come together in a way that’s truly
spectacular. They’re gearing up to do that RIGHT now. Their conjunction
will be around June 8 and 9.
In Tokyo our 2 brightest planets are now already clearly visible every
night in the western sky after dark (Venus the brighter one on the
lower right) & on May 12, they were about 30 degrees apart.
And when closest, their distance apart will be just 3-moon-widths
(roughly 1.5 degrees, or the width of your pinky finger held at arm’s
length). It'll be fun to watch them edge closer & closer day by day.
For my Tokyo friends, I recommend doing your stargazing before 8:30, as
Venus sets around 9:30 pm. Let's enjoy watching every night the sky is
clear! Check out Venus & Jupiter rise and set times for your
location here: https://www.almanac.com/astronomy/planets-rise-and-set
A police officer discovered the lower half of a human body near Sengen
Toge pass in the Nippara district of Western Tokyo’s Okutama on Tuesday.
...The droppings and footprints of a large animal were found in the
vicinity, and police are working to identify the body. They believe it
is possible the person died as the result of a bear attack or a
mountain accident.
...Starting on Tuesday morning, a team of about 30 people — including
police officers and members of a local hunting club — searched the
area, as a result of which they found the body at the bottom of a cliff
about 100 meters from the hiking trail... (click link above to read
more)
May 13,
2026 - Mizuki Shinagawa’s Aerial Silks Act Flows Like a Brushstroke -
WOW!
Amazing! I don't recall ever seeing anything like this before...
Mizuki Shinagawa’s Aerial Silks Act Flows Like a Brushstroke |
Britain's Got Talent 2026
(If player above is not visible, you can view video
at YouTube.)
[Aerial silks is a performance art where artists perform acrobatics
while hanging from suspended fabric, using their strength and skill to
create impressive poses and movements without safety lines.]
April 29,
2026 - Golden Week begins TODAY!
Today, Showa Day (昭和の日,
Shōwa no Hi), is a national holiday in Japan reflecting back on the
Shōwa Era (1926–1989) and kicks off the week-long holiday period known
as Golden Week, often abbreviated simply as GW.
Well, GW has another meaning in my life.... not only my initials but
also my nickname, courtesy of my most beloved family and friends since
my childhood days. [Actually, most of my old college buddies just call
me Gee Dub. 😊]
Needless to say, GW is one of my favorite times of the year in Japan
because everywhere you look, my nickname is plastered on countless
advertising signs all over the city. It's nice to be so famous, ha ha.
😃
The sign below I spotted a few years ago at the local KFC. Yee hah, let
the fun begin! 😆
April 6,
2026 - The Freedom
CD #2 by Big Bears
This amazing group, one of the hottest rock bands in Katsushika, Tokyo,
just released their latest album on March 27, 2026. Band leader and
lead guitarist/soloist Hidekazu Okuma is nicknamed "Big Bear" because
Okuma means "big bear" in Japanese.
Lyrics & music, guitar, & vocals: Hidekazu Okuma
Bass guitar: Yukio Sato
Drums: Yoji Tanabe
Production & mixing: Yoji Tanabe
The Freedom CD #2 by Big Bears
(If player above is not visible, you can view video
at YouTube.)
0:00 抱きしめたい (I
Want to Hold You)
5:11 鎮魂歌
(Requiem)
9:44 サラリーマンブルース
(Salaryman Blues)
Mar. 28,
2026 - God's magic colorful paintbrush
It's that gorgeous colorful season again, taking me back to that old
Chicago tune, "Colour My World." 😉 And it never gets old, even after
35 years. 😲 Cheers & thanks always to the guy upstairs with the
magical paintbrush... 🥰👏🙏
God's magic colorful paintbrush
Mar. 5,
2026 - 2026 Cherry Blossom Forecast
Cherry blossoms can be viewed virtually everywhere in Japan, but the
secret of catching them at full bloom is surfing the cherry blossom
front, as it progresses from southwest to northeast across the
archipelago, as seen in the map below.
The Japan Meteorological Corporation (JMC) released its 6th cherry
blossom prediction on Feb. 26, 2026, providing updated blooming dates
for approximately 1,000 viewing locations across Japan. Due to
warmer-than-expected temperatures throughout February, this forecast
shows cherry blossoms arriving earlier than previously predicted across
most of Japan.
This year in Tokyo the cherry blossoms are expected to begin opening up
on Mar. 18, 6 days earlier than average, with full bloom expected 8
days
later on Mar. 26 (5 days earlier than usual). Can't wait!
Feb. 17,
2026 - Amazing Projection Mapping at the 2026 Sapporo Snow Festival
One of the most impressive things I think I've ever seen...
Amazing Projection Mapping at the 2026 Sapporo Snow Festival
(If player above is not visible, you can view video
at YouTube.)
0:00 "A Thoroughbred Crowned with Glory" brought to you by JRA (Japan
(horse)Racing Association). Hokkaido is a major thoroughbred breeding
region with a long history dating back to the Meiji period.
Approximately 98% of thoroughbreds produced in Japan are born in
Hokkaido, with over 7,000 being born each year.
2:26 The Aizu Tsurugajo Castle was a symbol of the Aizu Domain, a clan
ruled by many famous generals and maintaining samurai pride until the
end of the Edo period. The 2026 giant snow sculpture was produced
jointly by Hokkaido Television Network (HTB) and the 18th Infantry
Regiment of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. A total of 3,800
members of the Self-Defense Forces worked on the snow sculpture over a
30-day period, from January 5th - February 3rd, 2026.
Authorities in Fujiyoshida in central Japan have canceled a spring
cherry blossom festival at a popular Mt. Fuji viewing spot, citing
residents’ concerns over congestion and nuisance behavior.
The city in Yamanashi Prefecture on Tuesday announced its decision not
to go ahead with the Arakurayama Sengen Park Cherry Blossom Festival,
an event it has held for the past 10 years, attracting around 200,000
visitors each year with its views to Mt. Fuji.
With the weak Japanese yen and social media content driving a rapid
increase in the number of foreign tourists visiting Japan, however, the
city is struggling to handle an influx of more than 10,000 visitors a
day during the peak cherry blossom season.
Incidents of bad behavior, the city said, have become commonplace and
pose a threat to the livelihoods of residents... (continued at
link above)
A 20-year-old Chinese student who ignored a winter climbing ban on Mt.
Fuji had to be rescued by police after injuring himself, sparking
debate in Japan about charging for such rescues.
The student, enrolled at a vocational school in Shinjuku, Tokyo,
illegally ascended the mountain via the Fujinomiya trail on January 18.
While descending, he fell and fractured his right leg at the eighth
station, prompting an emergency call at midday.
Shizuoka prefectural police dispatched a 10-11 member mountain rescue
team. They located him around 8:30 pm in severe weather with strong
winds and poor visibility. The team sheltered overnight in a mountain
facility before carrying him down on foot the next day... (continued at
link above)
The U.S. Health and Human Services has unveiled a new U.S. food
pyramid, with officials calling it the "most significant reset of
federal nutrition policy in history."
The new dietary guidelines emphasize whole, nutrient-dense foods,
prioritizing protein, dairy, and healthy fats while discouraging highly
processed foods, refined carbohydrates, and added sugars. This updated
pyramid aims to guide Americans towards healthier eating habits based
on modern nutrition science.
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has a simple, clear message: "Just
eat real food."
New U.S. food pyramid
(photo credit: U.S.
Health and Human Services)
Jan. 14,
2026 - Elvis songs sung by Japanese pro singers
These amazing guys shared their vocal talents at a special singing
party in Tokyo on Jan. 12, 2026 in celebration of Elvis' 91st birthday!
I loved listening to these guys & hope to hear them again in the
future...
🎵🎶🎼🎹🎤🎸🪕🎻
Elvis songs sung by Japanese pro singers
(If player above is not visible, you can view video
at YouTube.)
0:00 Unchained Melody, sung by Yay-yay
3:36 What'd I say?, sung by George
Jan. 9,
2026 - Beautiful Mt. Fuji in winter
I just love it when Fujisan puts on her beautiful winter white coat, as
I offer prayers in advance for any idiots (as in years past who sadly
met their maker) who might consider attempting to scale her in winter.
😉🙏
Taken by good friend Rob from the train while passing over the Tama
River, Fri. 1/9 at 10 a.m.
Beautiful Mt. Fuji in winter
(photo courtesy: Rob
Moreau)
Jan.
5, 2026 - US cuts the number of vaccines recommended for every child
Federal health officials today outlined sweeping changes to the U.S.
childhood immunization schedule.
The changes create a new framework that keeps all currently recommended
vaccines available and fully covered while moving several vaccines into
a category designed to emphasize shared decision-making between
families and clinicians.
The new recommendations reduce the number of vaccines recommended as
routine for all children to 11 from 17, a move The New York Times
called a “seismic shift” in federal vaccine policy.
Mary Holland, CEO of Children’s Health Defense, called the change “the
most significant change in U.S. vaccination policy in recent history.”
HHS said the change follows a directive from President Donald Trump,
who issued a presidential memorandum on Dec. 5, 2025, instructing the
agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to
review whether other developed nations protect children more
effectively.
After what HHS described as a “comprehensive, evidence-based
assessment,” the department concluded that the U.S. recommends more
routine childhood vaccine doses than peer countries without achieving
higher vaccination rates or greater public trust...
US cuts the number of vaccines recommended for every child
(photo credit:
childrenshealthdefense.org)
Jan. 1,
2026 - Tokyo New Year
Countdown to 2026
2026 in Tokyo arrived 14 hours before the east coast of the United
States!! Here's how they celebrated the New Year countdown with
colorful projection mapping against the Tokyo Metropolitan Government
building (Tochō, 都庁), featuring Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike (小池 百合子)
(in her long white coat):
Tokyo New Year Countdown to 2026
(If player above is not visible, you can view video
at YouTube.)
And may 2026, the Year of the Fire Horse bring you good health,
happiness, & prosperity!! 🎊🎆🧨🎍🎎🥂🗻🎉🍾⛩
2026 Fire Horse (丙午, ひのえうま)
(photo credit:
pixabay.com)
Mt. Fuji climbing season opens with 2 trails, new fee kiosks ease crowds
Mount Fuji climbing season opens with 2 trails, new fee kiosks ease crowdsMount Fuji's climbing season commenced Wednesday as two of the four main hiking trails opened, with hikers making their way to the summit greeted by a clear sunrise breaking through clouds around 4:30 a.m. in fair weather.
Yamanashi Prefecture has set up two self-service payment kiosks for the 4,000 yen entrance fee at the 5th station on the most popular Yoshida Trail this year, to ease congestion for those who had not preregistered. The Subashiri Trail on the Shizuoka Prefecture side also opened on Wednesday, earlier than in past years.
The 2 other trails (Fujinomiya & Gotemba) on the Shizuoka side of the 3,776-meter mountain will open on July 10 as usual...
Mt. Fuji installs new emergency shelters ahead of the 2026 climbing season
As Mt. Fuji prepares for the start of the 2026 climbing season on 1 July, 2 new emergency shelters have been installed on the Yoshida Trail, improving climber safety in the event of a volcanic eruption or other mountain hazards.
The reinforced concrete shelters have been built along the Yoshida descent route near the 7th and 8th stations, and are designed to withstand volcanic debris. Inside, rubber flooring has been installed to help reduce the risk of electric shock during lightning strikes.
The shelters have been built into the mountainside to minimise their visual impact on the World Heritage-listed site. Each shelter measures around 2 metres (6.6 feet) high, 2.5 metres wide and 5.4 metres deep, and can accommodate up to 135 people during an emergency...
Local areas urge limits to off-season climbing of Mt. Fuji
A group of 4 cities and 1 town in Shizuoka Prefecture around Mt. Fuji on June 19 asked Gov. Yasutomo Suzuki to create a system to restrict climbing outside the summer season and to require climbers to bear the cost of rescue operations if they get stranded.
...The request called for "strict action against entrants who do not follow the rules," including thorough enforcement of winter traffic restrictions on prefectural roads, and for mechanisms such as an ordinance to regulate winter climbing on Mount Fuji by restricting unauthorized entry.
It also urged early consideration of a system requiring stranded climbers to pay the full cost of rescue operations during periods when prefectural roads are closed.
Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures are considering charging for disaster-prevention helicopter rescues and restricting entry. ...Charging for rescue helicopter operations would require revisions to laws including the Police Act and the Fire and Disaster Management Organization Act...
Even though the mountain is closed, foreign tourists continue to climb Mt. Fuji... Despite warnings.
When our reporting team went to the site on June 9th, we found that signs and walls in multiple languages, including Japanese, English, and Chinese, had been erected at the entrance to the hiking trail, indicating that passage was prohibited, and that a state of high alert was in place.
The hiking trail from the 5th station of Mount Fuji to the summit is closed to traffic according to the Road Act. However, on the 9th, while I was covering the event, foreign tourists climbing the mountain kept appearing one after another.
Mayor Sudo of Fujinomiya City, Shizuoka Prefecture, has raised his voice in anger over the recent string of mountain accidents on Mt. Fuji in winter. "I would like the penalties to be made stricter. I would like the law to be changed so that rescue is entirely at the individual's expense."
Mount Fuji Crowds Cited as Reason for Climbing in Offseason Despite Dangers
The desire to avoid the crowds has been driving many people to climb Mt. Fuji during the offseason. Analysis of human traffic conducted by The Yomiuri Shimbun and Location AI using data from smartphones of Japanese residents showed a minimum of around 10,000 people climbed Mt. Fuji outside the designated climbing season every year from 2019 to 2025. The climbing season in those years ran from early July to Sept. 10, with the remainder of September totaling the highest monthly number of offseason climbers...
To all my fellow passionate stargazers in the northern hemisphere... as you know, Venus is our brightest planet and Jupiter is 2nd-brightest. You can’t miss them... they outshine ALL the stars! About every 3-5 years, these 2 blazing worlds come together in a way that’s truly spectacular. They’re gearing up to do that RIGHT now. Their conjunction will be around June 8 and 9.
In Tokyo our 2 brightest planets are now already clearly visible every night in the western sky after dark (Venus the brighter one on the lower right) & on May 12, they were about 30 degrees apart...
Human Lower Body Found in Tokyo; Possible Bear Attack Victim
A police officer discovered the lower half of a human body near Sengen Toge pass in the Nippara district of Western Tokyo’s Okutama on Tuesday.
...The droppings and footprints of a large animal were found in the vicinity, and police are working to identify the body. They believe it is possible the person died as the result of a bear attack or a mountain accident.
...Starting on Tuesday morning, a team of about 30 people — including police officers and members of a local hunting club — searched the area, as a result of which they found the body at the bottom of a cliff about 100 meters from the hiking trail...
Poorly prepared hikers beware: Mt. Fuji inspectors waiting on Yoshida Trail
Hikers who aspire to summit Mount Fuji on its most popular trail can expect a “strict” inspection of their clothing and gear at the entry gate for the Yoshida trail, according to Yamanashi prefecture. Inspectors from the prefecture will conduct “3-set gear checks” for hikers on the trail, according to a prefectural news release April 27. Light clothing, such as T-shirts, shorts, and sandals are significant safety concerns.
The 3 items required are hiking boots or appropriate mountain footwear, 2-piece rainwear consisting of jacket and pants, and clothing appropriate for cold weather, such as a fleece or warm jacket. Improperly dressed hikers will not be allowed past the gate. However, stores at the 5th station sell approved items...
Dutch Man Injured on Closed Mt. Fuji Route, Having Fallen While Descending, Fracturing Ankle
A 51-year-old Dutch national fell while descending Mt. Fuji between the 7th and 8th stations on Saturday, sustaining injuries including a fractured right ankle, police said. The Yoshida Route, the climbing path he took, was closed for the winter season from the 5th station to the summit.
According to the Fujiyoshida Police Station, the man began climbing alone at around 6 a.m. on Saturday and reached the summit about 5 hours later. However, he lost his balance while descending. A friend of his in Japan whom he contacted reported the event to the police, which dispatched a rescue team. The team found and rescued the man by around 2:30 a.m. on Sunday.
On April 22, 2 American nationals, a man and a woman who entered the Yoshida Route to ski, were injured on the mountain. They were subsequently rescued.
Hello Gary, I plan to hike Mt. Oku-hotaka-dake & Mt. Yarigatake in August this year. Maybe I go alone. Can you give some advice what I should prepare for
26-year-old U.S. National Falls While Climbing Mt. Fuji
A male U.S. national fell while climbing and skiing on a Mt. Fuji trail on Wednesday, dislocating and fracturing his left ankle, while a woman accompanying him broke her nose, police said. According to the police, the injured pair are a 26-year-old American male photographer and a woman. The woman said she is a 27-year-old American ski instructor, but her age and other details have yet to be confirmed.
One of the man’s friends in Japan received a call from the injured man’s cell phone and contacted the police at around 5:45 p.m. The fire department and police station’s mountain rescue team began a search early Thursday morning, rescuing them by Thursday evening. According to the police, the 2 began climbing Mt. Fuji on the Yoshida Route in Yamanashi Prefecture at around 9 a.m. Wednesday. At around 2 p.m. the man was caught in strong winds near the 9th station and fell, becoming separated from the woman.
The section of the route from the 5th station to the summit is off-limits, as it is closed for the season.
Mount Fuji climbing season opens with 2 trails, new fee kiosks ease crowds Mount Fuji's climbing season commenced Wednesday as two of the four main hiking trails opened, with hikers making their way t…
As Mt. Fuji prepares for the start of the 2026 climbing season on 1 July, 2 new emergency shelters have been installed on the Yoshida Trail, improving climber safety in the event of a volcanic eruptio…
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