Sunday December 5, 2009
Minami-ku, Tokyo
Beautiful Fall Sunday Morning
I woke up early the first Sunday of December to absorb the beauty of the Gingko trees of Tokyo that have turned golden. The Gingko tree or "Icho" in Japanese is the "Bearer of Hope" in Japan. Miraculously about six Gingko trees of Hiroshima survived the atomic bombing. When the trees started developing buds almost immediately, it gave much hope to the survivors of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima that the Japanese now regard the tree as the "Bearer of Hope". The six trees of Hiroshima are still alive and are thriving. It is a "must see" when in Hiroshima -especially the one from the elementary school. All the children were killed when the bomb hit. The school building was destroyed but a Gingko tree survived.
In the fall, the leaves of the Gingko tree turn a fiery yellow. In the morning light, the trees look like they are on fire. There are many Gingko trees around the government offices and near Meiji Jingu Gaen. So around 6am on a Sunday, I took a long walk around the Kasumigaseki and Aoyama area to enjoy these gorgeous trees.
Just a short distance from my apartment, on Roppongi Dori, I started seeing the Gingko trees.
But as I passed them, I thought I might be too late as many of the leaves have fallen.
But then as I turned toward Kokkai Gijido, there they were with their fiery yellow autumn leaves.
Gingko Tree in front of the Kokkai Gijido (The National Diet Building)
Perfectly lined up near the Meiji Jingu Gaen.
In the morning sunlight, the leaves look like they are on fire.
The Glorious Gingko Tree – "The Bearer of Hope" to the Japanese