Here I Live
"Tama New Town" where I have been living, was decided to be developed in a hilly prairie located in the distant suburbs of Tokyo. The target was to establish a comfortable 0.3 Million residential area, however, the present 0.14 MM population as of 2001 AD is started to decline. This was caused not olnly by many other residential areas development but also by the life style change in Japan. The three generation families used to be common widely in Japan, and not any more. The grown-up children have gone out as members of society to make new families.
The broad promenade for walking-around, is positioned in front of the railway station, where the department stores, hotels, banks, movie theaters and other facilities are arranged.
The concert halls are equipped at the end of the promenade, and at the top of stairways, the monument "Parthenon Tama", resembled to Athen's Parthenon Doric temple, is arranged. And the Tama central park, famous by "Summer Rock Concert" is located in the rear of this monument.
"Tama New Town" was constructed in accordance with the standards of a comfortable living concept. It was planned that either town-house complex or private house might have los of greens. And small scale public parks were positioned effectively for residents to be relaxed. There are Takarano Park with cherry blossom tree arrays, Karakida Park with a memorial drooping cherry tree, and Ipponsugi Park with a base-ball stadium etc. The environment is getting not safe due to violence reports by young generation and illegal alien, it is not recommended to walk alone inside the parks at night.
Although my town is located in the 20 mile southwest from Tokyo Downtown, weather conditions are not mild. In winter time, the local temperature is lower by 14F, we have had a little big snow fall as shown in this picture taken on 08/1/2001.
In April,we can enjoy nice landscapes with lots of greens. Many streets are named by flowers, and we can see multi-color dogs wood flowers followed by cherry blossoms, and azalea after. This picture was taken in the chance of dogs wood flowering in mid- April, 2001.
The Takarano Park is located in 5min. walking distance from my house. there is a concert hall belonged to a vertain musical institute inside the park. In early April, this park is filled here and there with blossom viewers from the outside of the town.
We can reach the Karakida Park by 10min. walking. This park utilizes the valley lay of the land, and cherry trees, tea bushes, bamboo forest and streams are effectively arranged. Grouped daffodils are in bloom after cherry blossoms.
This drooping cherry tree is owned privately, however, designated as a Tama City memorial tree because of its gorgeousness. Inside park, an old farmer house is reserved for free walking-in.@
The Ipponsugi (meaning Lone Douglas Fir) Park is belonging to the nieghbor Machida City, and we can go there by 10 min. walking. Inside the park, the base-ball satdium is equipped with douglas fir woods, and other facilities, where the memorial retirement game was performed for Mr. Enatu, the Ace Pitcher of Hanshin Tigers Team.@