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These are kinds of samurai warrior dolls on the flier (armor's flier☆鎧兜(の広告)) on the other day (not exactly the same ones, though).
A suit of armer and a helmet. So cool, so samurai, aren't they?

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Speaking of Boys' Festival, which was recently renamed Children's day, this kind of flier is distributed in Japanese morning newspapers as the day approaches.

"Kabuto" helmet and "Yoroi" armor ads!
Do samurai warriors still exist in Japan? Then, are they looking for a new suits of armor?
No. They are miniatures.

The helmet and armor symbolize strength and courage of samurai warriors. Families with boys display them, or sometimes warior dall called Musha-ningyo, inside the house to celebrate the healthy growth and happiness of boys.

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こどもの日（端午の節句）が近づくと、新聞に入ってくる鎧兜や五月人形の折り込みチラシ。バスでのガイディングの際など、外国からのお客様に見せるとウケるそうです。昨年九州でお会いしたベテランガイドさんが教えてくれました☆

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It's Children's Day. You might see a lot of big carp streamers, called koinobori, flying in front of the house during this season.

Why carp? In Japan, unlike in America, carp are considered to be symbol of strength and courage because they often swim up river. So, families with boys fly carp-shaped streamers outside their house, in the hopes that their son will grow up to be strong and brave. By the way, Children's Day used to be called Boys' Festival or Boys' Day, and still focuses on boys.

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なんで鯉なのー？ 日本とアメリカでは鯉のイメージが違うようで。こどもの日（端午の節句）に男の子がいる家で外に鯉のぼりを飾るのは、鯉の滝登りに象徴されるように、強くて勇敢に成長してほしいとの願いが込められています☆

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It's time to enjoy delicious bamboo shoot!
The bamboo shoot of the photo grew too tall to eat, though...





This is homemade "takenoko zushi", a kind of sushi dish mixed with boiled bamboo shoot and other ingredients.

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タケノコシーズンまっただ中☆たけのこ寿司なりー♪

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Pandaaaaa!! What a PANDAFUL news! Two giant pandas of Tokyo's Ueno Zoo finally went on public display on April 1. The two pandas, "Ri Ri" and "Shin Shin", arrived in Japan from China in February.

They experienced the Great Sichuan Earthquake in 2008 in China and also the Great Tohoku Kanto Earthquake one month ago in Japan...

Well, let's talk about business. The annual rental fee is said to be about 8 million, or $950,000, for the two pandas. When first two pandas, "Kang Kang" and "Lan Lan", came to Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo in 1972, they were free. They were donated from the Chinese government to mark the normalization of diplomatic ties between China and Japan. (Oh, now about politics!) Pandas are not only attractions for visitors, but also something very important for two countries to maintain a good relationship.

"Panda" everywhere! These photos were taken in March, around the Ueno Park.

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上野にパンダがやってきた〜♪　2011年4月1日についに一般にお披露目♪♪♪　となりました☆　2008年4月にリンリンが亡くなって以来、およそ3年ぶりだとか。混雑がもう少し落ち着いたら、会いにいくぞいっ♪♪♪

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