So, my latest adventures at work took me to Japan and Taiwan for some shark tagging and aging. I brought my wife and new baby with me as she has always wanted to see Japan. I had to mostly work but I did get a few sights in. We were mainly in Tokyo and the fisheries institute I visited was in Shizuoka, where they just had a big new modeling expo back in the spring.
After going over tagging techniques and a few lectures, we boarded the research vessel, Seiyo Maru, and went longlining around Sagama Bay looking for blue sharks to tag.
Fortunately, we did get some but we had to cut the research cruise short due to a typhoon coming up the coast.
A big eye Thresher shark
After the work was done and I made it back to Tokyo, I and the family had a day and a bit to explore. One of the districts we checked out was Akihabara, the main electronics, hobby and Manga district. There were lots of hobby stores here but two in particular were Leonardo LG and Leonardo ET. Both are second hand model stores and are quite literally packed wall to wall, floor to ceiling with kits. I should have taken some pics inside but to be honest, I was too busy looking to think about it.
Leonardo ET
I could have brought home 2 suitcases full but settled on 1 kit (A D4Y for about $20)
After that, I hopped on a plane to Taiwan for three days and left the wife in Tokyo to explore further. When I got back we had one morning to kill before our flights so we went to the Yushukan military and war museum. It's not a huge museum but it is very nice and has some really interesting artifacts, a lot of samuri weapons and armor, a kaitan, a zero, one of two last surviving D4Y Judys, a replica Ohka suicide plane, a type 97 chi-ha tank, a couple of cannons and a class C56 steam locomotive. You are only allowed to take pictures in the first entry hall so I only have a few of the things I mentioned.
I thought they might be of interest to the folks here.
The C56 locomotive
For the armor folks, the type 89 15 cm canon (I believe this is the only one left in existance)
Damage from battle
The type 96 15 cm howitzer
Hope you enjoy!
After going over tagging techniques and a few lectures, we boarded the research vessel, Seiyo Maru, and went longlining around Sagama Bay looking for blue sharks to tag.
Fortunately, we did get some but we had to cut the research cruise short due to a typhoon coming up the coast.
A big eye Thresher shark
After the work was done and I made it back to Tokyo, I and the family had a day and a bit to explore. One of the districts we checked out was Akihabara, the main electronics, hobby and Manga district. There were lots of hobby stores here but two in particular were Leonardo LG and Leonardo ET. Both are second hand model stores and are quite literally packed wall to wall, floor to ceiling with kits. I should have taken some pics inside but to be honest, I was too busy looking to think about it.
Leonardo ET
I could have brought home 2 suitcases full but settled on 1 kit (A D4Y for about $20)
After that, I hopped on a plane to Taiwan for three days and left the wife in Tokyo to explore further. When I got back we had one morning to kill before our flights so we went to the Yushukan military and war museum. It's not a huge museum but it is very nice and has some really interesting artifacts, a lot of samuri weapons and armor, a kaitan, a zero, one of two last surviving D4Y Judys, a replica Ohka suicide plane, a type 97 chi-ha tank, a couple of cannons and a class C56 steam locomotive. You are only allowed to take pictures in the first entry hall so I only have a few of the things I mentioned.
I thought they might be of interest to the folks here.
The C56 locomotive
For the armor folks, the type 89 15 cm canon (I believe this is the only one left in existance)
Damage from battle
The type 96 15 cm howitzer
Hope you enjoy!
