Day 295: History...

Day 295: ...writ very large

A return to the Diplomatic Archives was always on the cards today. But I must admit, when one wakes up to a rainy day, it's a bit hard to get going. Fortunately, I spotted a little bit of colour along the way at one of the (few remaining) neighbourhood vege patches. It is one of the aspects of suburban Tokyo I've always liked and there are a few around here (though diminishing). 

In the vege patch

In the vege patch 'too'

The raindrops added a little spot of interest. 

Of the many discoveries in the Archives, this just may be
the Japanese version of what the?!  c.1897

The second part of the day included attending a presentation by the Prisoner of War Research group, a group of Japanese researchers and interested members of the community who are support greater understanding of World War Two through their research and supporting visits to Japan by Australian former prisoners of war. Today, we were fortunate to meet four men, in their 90s, along with their support people (their own adult children in most cases). There is a post coming up on the other blog...

It was a privilege to have been invited along. 

At the end of the day I caught up with an American colleague who is also in Tokyo at present. I could confess that we drank something called a 'Purple Cloud' on the 36th floor of the Intercontinental Hotel in Roppongi but since there isn't a photo....(mwhahahaha).

Perhaps the most unusual thing about the day was that the three events--archives, seminar and hotel--were all in the same district in Tokyo, within walking distance. That very rarely happens with appointments in Tokyo. 

Dessert, because a blog isn't a blog without...

Tomorrow it's back to the Archives...so much more in store...

[Camera : iPhone 6, 10.01am, 10.02am, 1.49pm, 8.55pm]