Today is election day in Japan, an election for just the Upper House, half-term. Normally it would pass without much interest (for the vast majority, not me of course) but much is hanging on this result. Should the governing party win (which they will), they are hoping to make major changes to the Constitution which will likely result in Japan losing its status as a country which is restricted to self-defence, it cannot participate in wars, as such.
We will know shortly after 8.00pm local time.
In the meantime, unlike yesterday, today was a fine day, warmish and it seemed perfectly unreasonable to stay indoors awaiting developments (unlike yesterday).
There is a botanical garden in my local neighbourhood, a short bus ride away. I went there today to pass the waiting time away. I thought it might be helpful to start learning the names of Japanese flora. That is going to take a while, easier to memorise all the politicians' names I think.
There was much to see, even though it is summer and so not a lot in the way of flowering plants which tend to all happen in spring. Nonetheless, there was much to see...
 |
| Roses |
 |
| Flower stairway |
 |
| Bamboo |
 |
| Down the garden path |
 |
| Dragonfly |
 |
| Then kindly moved into the sun |
 |
| And another came along |
 |
| Almost the end of the hydrangeas |
 |
| A butterfly fluttered by |
 |
| Pine |
 |
| Yellowness |
 |
| A crowd |
 |
| Enchanted forest |
 |
| Barking up the right tree |
 |
| Creeping moss |
 |
| Bells of mauve |
 |
| lilypads |
 |
| Sun, reflections |
 |
| Spotted moss |
 |
| return of the dragonfly |
 |
| A shy sunflower |
 |
| How to end the day... |
As I reached the end of the pathways, I fell into chat with a local. Turns out, the gardens were created by one of the local wealthocrats 'in lieu' of paying taxes...hmm, a little ambivalent about that but I think I will revisit. I can see they will be very pretty in different seasons.
[Camera : Lumix TZ-85, 3.19pm-4.07pm, 10 July 2016]
