Osaka. Yes, again. Day 3

13:30, Sakai city Alphonse Mucha museum

If I were a woman living in the end of 19th century, I'd spend all my money on jewellery and interior items designed by Mucha and become broke. 

16:55, Nagai Botanical Gardens

Do you love hydrangeas as much as I love them? 

Please start loving them right now.

And irises, since we're here. 

17:25, Bistro house Palpitant

A cocktail with cremant and strawberry. And a glass of Bordeaux. Nothing better after a long walk. 

And it was long. Who knew Nagai park is so huge?! 

21:09, TeamLab Botanical Garden Osaka 

You need to be here. 

My May. Day 5, part 1

14.20, Tropical dream center
How must local citizens be against military bases on their island. This is subtopics. This is the land of flowers, sea, delicious food, fruit, sun and crafts. Not a land of war, even if it's a potential and unlikely event.

My curious April. Day 8, part 1

14.18, Hitsujiyama park
It's a pity not all of the flowerbeds are in full bloom, but at least I know now that there are 'autumn roses' and 'Daniel's cushions'

My curious April. Day 6, part 2

14.07, Tsurugaoka hachimangu shrine
Even though I liked the shrine itself and even got to see a traditional wedding, the place I felt really blissful at was the small Japanese garden, full of peonies this time of year

My Japanese tour 2016. Day 3, part 2

15.00, Nunobiki herb garden

It's a pity we don't have ropeways in my hometown. The same landscape but different destinies...

translation! or explanation? ~ video from youtube about the bouquets for Zuka graduation ceremonies

unfortunately I cannot translate the whole text from the programme but at least I can say that I never stop being surprised and fascinated by the Japanese. first, the very fact of existence of such programmes, that tell us stories about different wonderful people and places. and of course, the explanation of what they do... sounds so deep and full of care...
here, the master is a person who inherited his father's business which is already over 40 years old. not a rare thing in Japan
first, he explains that he loves his job because 'tis interesting to combine his own thoughts and what the client wants, and thus create a bouquet
then the small bouquets are shown. the one with the red roses was created under the influence of 'Versailles no Bara', and the other one represents the brightness of Marie Antoinette (I might be wrong because everybody was speaking simultaneously and 'twas hard to understand what they said... I might be right as well, though)
however, then the secret is revealed, that the master has one more relation to Takarazuka (a usual trick in Japanese programmes, I would say - to start with nothing in particular and come to the point closer to the middle of the programme...). he is the one who makes the bouquets for graduation ceremonies during the last 20 years (again, if I am not mistaken)
this time he is making a bouquet for Asami Hikaru. unfortunately he speaks in a way I can understand only half of his words, but I understood he thinks of her as a person who moves and dances much, therefore he wanted to create a bouquet representing the movement
when the last day comes, he starts his work early in the morning (9 o'clock if I am not mistaken) and he uses some 28 flower branches and properly thinks of how to put them in the bouquet, because 'tis important where to fasten the branches, as it influences the way they bounce when moving. none of the branches and flowers are equal (in size etc.)
then he puts the bouquets into the truck and goes to the Theatre (erm... I know the roads in Japan are good but I did not think he can just out the bouquet on a stand into his car and drive... I thought - what if it falls down or even slightly inclines >___<)
in the evening of the final day he says he is proud to be a part of such an event (or something like this... again, a thing everybody says in such situations, but his words were quite sincere)
coming to the programme itself he shows a copy of the bouquet he created. first, everybody fakes? a surprise - or maybe they are genuinely surprised that the bouquet can be divided into two. the master explains that one part is presented by the Troupe and the other one by a classmate, etc. of course, everybody notices that each part of the bouquets has its own shape as is a separate bouquet, also
the host tries to hold the bouquet and notices 'tis heavy. then they make a scene which was intended to be funny (for me, attempt not successful - because of the song in the background) while the woman says she is so happy to graduate from 'kodomoyaku' (that could be funny if not for the music)
the host ask him if 'tis not hard for him to look after the flowers up to the moment when they are given to the Star, but his answer proves to be a splendid example of having a work that a person likes and of being so responsible for what he does... he explains that 'tis his personal obsession to deliver flowers in perfect condition which are as fresh and beautiful as the Stars themselves, and that the heavy flowers represent the weight of 10 with something years the Star spent on the stage, and also the feelings of all the fans collected together. in other words, the host adds, 'tis the importance of the time in Takarazuka (and importance here was expressed with the word 重み which has the same stem as the word 'heavy' and 'weight')
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p. s. my great thanks goes to those who upload such wonderful videos