![Odaiba Area, Tokyo ~Gundam Returning~ [iPhone 4S/HD] @ohayuni71](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/LqXD3YJpZGo/maxresdefault.jpg)
Uploaded April 2012 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
In 1850s, the US demanded the opening of Japan and starting trades to Western countries to the Shogunate of Japan, which basically did not allow commerce and traveling between Japan and other countries at that time under the policy called Sakoku. Seeing the US military's ships coming to negotiate, the Shogunate saw a threat and decided to build an artificial island to put gun batteries in for the purpose of defense in the bay --- what we call Tokyo Bay today. The island was named Daiba, which means 'Battery place', and is now often called 'Odaiba' with the honorific prefix 'o'.
Eventually the batteries were never used and the Shogunate opened up the country. The island was expanded in the last half century. It has developed dramatically since 1990s and now is a massive island known as a major tourist attraction with a lot of commercial and leisure facilities.
The newest hot spot in the area is 'Diver City Tokyo Plaza', a commercial complex opened on April 19th. You can see a full-length Gundam in front of the brand new facility. It was initially placed at Odaiba and had been taken away for a while, returning to his hometown only recently. I wonder how they ended up calling it 'full-length' when it is originally two dimentional. Or has it really been made into real?
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Apr. 25th, 2012
In 1850s, the US demanded the opening of Japan and starting trades to Western countries to the Shogunate of Japan, which basically did not allow commerce and traveling between Japan and other countries at that time under the policy called Sakoku. Seeing the US military's ships coming to negotiate, the Shogunate saw a threat and decided to build an artificial island to put gun batteries in for the purpose of defense in the bay --- what we call Tokyo Bay today. The island was named Daiba, which means 'Battery place', and is now often called 'Odaiba' with the honorific prefix 'o'.
Eventually the batteries were never used and the Shogunate opened up the country. The island was expanded in the last half century. It has developed dramatically since 1990s and now is a massive island known as a major tourist attraction with a lot of commercial and leisure facilities.
The newest hot spot in the area is 'Diver City Tokyo Plaza', a commercial complex opened on April 19th. You can see a full-length Gundam in front of the brand new facility. It was initially placed at Odaiba and had been taken away for a while, returning to his hometown only recently. I wonder how they ended up calling it 'full-length' when it is originally two dimentional. Or has it really been made into real?
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Apr. 25th, 2012
![Odaiba Area, Tokyo ~Gundam Returning~ [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/LqXD3YJpZGo/mqdefault.jpg "Odaiba Area, Tokyo ~Gundam Returning~ [iPhone 4S/HD]
In 1850s, the US demanded the opening of Japan and starting trades to Western countries to the Shogunate of Japan, which basically did not allow commerce and traveling between Japan and other countries at that time under the policy called Sakoku. Seeing the US militarys ships coming to negotiate, the Shogunate saw a threat and decided to build an artificial island to put gun batteries in for the purpose of defense in the bay what we call Tokyo Bay today. The island was named Daiba, which means Battery place, and is now often called Odaiba with the honorific prefix o.
Eventually the batteries were never used and the Shogunate opened up the country. The island was expanded in the last half century. It has developed dramatically since 1990s and now is a massive island known as a major tourist attraction with a lot of commercial and leisure facilities.
The newest hot spot in the area is Diver City Tokyo Plaza, a commercial complex opened on April 19th. You can see a full-length Gundam in front of the brand new facility. It was initially placed at Odaiba and had been taken away for a while, returning to his hometown only recently. I wonder how they ended up calling it full-length when it is originally two dimentional. Or has it really been made into real?
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Apr. 25th, 2012")
![People Watching the Annular Solar Eclipse of May 21st, 2012 in Japan [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/MAk3fQx6K5o/mqdefault.jpg "People Watching the Annular Solar Eclipse of May 21st, 2012 in Japan [iPhone 4S/HD]
An annular solar eclipse was observed on the Pacific coast of Japan, including Tokyo area, on May 21st, 2012. It was Tokyos first annular solar eclipse in 173 years. People in Tokyo area were able to watch the sun appearing as a ring of fire behind thin clouds. A lot of eclipse events were held all over Japan and people enjoyed the astronomical show.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on May 21st, 2012")
![A Cat Wiggling His Tail [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OaAVxWqeAyk/mqdefault.jpg "A Cat Wiggling His Tail [iPhone 4S/HD]
What do you wanna say with your tail, Leo?
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S")
![Goldfish Scooping ~Japanese Festival Stall~ [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oev2orzmmkg/mqdefault.jpg "Goldfish Scooping ~Japanese Festival Stall~ [iPhone 4S/HD]
Stalls are an essential ingredient for Japanese festivals. Various kinds of stalls catch your heart as you wander into the stall street of a festival. The goldfish scooping stall is one of them. You scoop goldfish with a scooper and take the fish home as a prize. The young and old savor the traditional game at a festival.
I am taking care of the fish my five-year-old nephew got at a summer festival while traveling in Osaka with his family. Fish from these stalls usually dont last long after you take them home. As a kid, however, I remember this one fish I got at a stall survived 3 years. I hope my nephews ones lead long lives.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S")
![People Playing Pokemon GO in Ueno Park, Tokyo [iPhone 6 Plus]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PInnYOs5iyo/mqdefault.jpg "People Playing Pokemon GO in Ueno Park, Tokyo [iPhone 6 Plus]
Pokemon GO, which is dominating the smartphone app market all over the world, has been available for a couple of weeks here in Japan. Although the fever right after its release is gone, millions of people are still getting carried away with the world-changing game. Ueno Park, located in the middle of Tokyo and famous for its beautiful cherry blossoms and lotuses, is now being taken over by Pokemon trainers. You would see tons of people looking into their smartphones there. It doesn’t even seem like they are bothered by the loud cicada-symphony which usually annoys people living in Japan the whole summer. Hopefully they don’t forget it’s the lotus season. Me? I got enough Magikarps to make a Gyarados and some Dratinies while enjoying the stunning views. Still a long way to Dragonite though.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 6 Plus on Aug. 3rd and 4th, 2016")
![Local Bon Odori Festival at Kawaguchi, Japan [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PU1sqqwnFMI/mqdefault.jpg "Local Bon Odori Festival at Kawaguchi, Japan [iPhone 4S/HD]
Bon, one of the Japanese Buddhist customs, is to honor the spirits of ones ancestors. Various festivities and observances take place in Japan during the Bon season, around July 15th.
Bon Odori is one of them, which literally means Bon Dance. It is said that its origin was a folk dance to welcome the spirits of the dead. Nowadays thousands of Bon Odori Festivals, from small to large ones, are held in summer evenings all over Japan and people simply enjoy the dancing rather for the original meaning of the custom.
You will come across some Bon Odori Festival taking place at a small childrens park or anywhere else for the matter. That is, if you live in a populated residential area in Japan.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Jul. 19th, 2012")
