8)Saturday September 11, 2004 Weather:Sunny Mt. Nakazato-fuji

• I visted the acupuncturist twice. After I had massage and acupuncture, it seemed that the numbness of my right leg was killed to some extent for a couple of days. However, the numbed condition came back again after one week. I have no idea what to do next. No way!!
• Nevertheless, I cannot stay home all day on a holiday.
• I decided to walk for a while instead of jogging.
• Seibu Railways Co., Ltd. issues a monthly newsletter called "Seibu Kawaraban". The latest issue introduces an artificial Mt. Fuji named " Nakazato-fuji" whose height is approx. 10 meters.
• I tried to visit there. The Mt. Nakazato-fuji locates approx. 1 km northward from the north exit of Kiyose Station of Seibu Ikebukuro Line, very close to Koganei highroad.
• This Fuji was made by the group who worshipped Mt. Fuji in the 17th century.
  
  
  Mt. Nakazato-fuji Stone Buddha
  
  
  
• After I visited Mt. Nakazato-fuji, I walked alongside Yanase River. The lycorises were in full bloom.
• I walked for 3 hours. Totally 20,000 steps.

7)Saturday August 28, 2004 Weather:Cloudy Visiting acupuncturist

• My right leg still remains numbed and the doctors could not help me. Thus I decided to try to have acupuncture with my last desire.
• However, I have never had acupuncture done and don't know the acupuncturist.
• Finally, I asked one of my running mates and he introduced one acupuncturist.
• I visited him. First, I had a thorough massage, then an acupuncture and moxa treatment for almost one and half hours.
• I do not know if the treatment is effective at this moment. However, I sincerely hope it would be effective.

6)Sunday August 22, 2004 Weather: Sunny then cloudy Women's Marathon Race at Athens Olympic Games

• I was in Europe (London & Paris) from August 20 to 25 owing to business trip.
• I thought that I could not watch TV of women's marathon race. However, fortunately, I could check in the hotel in London before 6:00 PM. (The broadcasting started 4:00 PM.) On arriving in the room, I switched on the TV and started to watch the TV. At that time, the top group runners were running around 30 km.
• To my joy, the top runner was Ms. Mizuki Noguchi, Japanese athlete.
• I could watch that Ms. Paula Radcliffe unexpectedly gave up the race around 36 km point. The BBC repeatedly broadcasted the scene which Radcliffe gave up the race. The scene must be shocked to all the British.
• I was very glad that Ms. Noguchi could be the gold medalist although I once worried that she could be passed by the second runner at the end.
• The BBC stopped the broadcasting when the third runner had goaled and thus I could not watch other two Japanese runners on the TV.
• Next day, a headline of the top page of the Daily Mirror, English tabloid, was "TEARS OF A HERO" and the foto was Ms Radcliffe with tears.
  
  
  Daily Mirror
  

5)Monday August 16, 2004 Weather:Cloudy then sunny Visiting hospitals in affiliation with university

• I visited the hospital in Ochanomizu to see the professor of orthopedics.
• I had never consulted such a noted doctor that I was a little bit nervous.
• The professor explained me about the MRI fotos.
• He said that nothing seemed to be wrong judging from the fotos and that I might start to run although he could not trace the cause of the numbed leg only from the fotos.
• I was a little bit disappointed to hear his conclusion. I thought I could have more helpful advices. It was a waste of time!
• All I have to do is to wait patiently until the numb on my leg is gone?

4)Saturday August 7, 2004, Weather : Cloudy The result of MRI examination

• I still continue to have medicine and also refrain from running. However, the condition of my right foot is the same as usual.
• I went to doctor today to hear the result of MRI examination.
• In conclusion, there is no noticeable bad part of the waist. The cause of numbness was not traced.
• The doctor said I might run although I had numbed leg. However, I cannot agree to the doctor until the cause of numbness is traced and my right leg becomes normal condition.
• Anyway, I was introduced a doctor of the hospital in affiliation of a university. The way to the solution is still far away! I am getting tired of.

3)Saturday July 31, 2004 Weather : Sunny occasionally showers MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) Examination

• The condition of my right leg is still the same.
• I went to the doctor on Friday and was introduced the general hospital in Tanashi to get MRI examination on my waist.
• This is my first examination by MRI. The price of MRI device is said to be from Yen 10 million to 40 million.
• The merit of MRI is no effect on the body since no radiation such as X-ray is used. The demerit is that the time of examination is longer than that of CT examination and the noisy sound during the examination.
• It is not suitable for claustrophobia since the patient is put into the narrow tunnel during the examination.
• Actually, I was put into the small tunnel and could not move for almost 20 minutes with a metallic sound. It was hard to stand it. The sound was so noisy than I expected. The examination fee was so expensive.
• Anyway, I sincerely hope that the cause of my problem will be traced and my right leg will be recovered soon. (Te result will be found in this weekend.)

2)July 27, 2004 to July 28, 2004 33 Temple Pilgrimage of Saigoku (Western Part of Japan) --- Part I

• Tuesday July 27, Weather : Sunny & Hot 13th Temple: Ishiyama-dera Temple, 12th Temple: Iwama-dera Temple, 14th Temple: Mii-dera Temple (Ohtsu City, Shiga Pref.)
  
  
  • I decided to go in pilgrimage to some of 33 Temples of Saigoku during the summer holidays (July 24 to August 1) by lodging at the mansion of my running mate in Osaka.
  • First, I visited Ishiyama-dera Temple. I took on the JR express train from Shin-osaka Station bound for Maibara. I took off at Ishiyama Station and changed to the Keihan train to Ishiyma-dera Station.
  • It took almost 10 minutes from the station to the temple. It was so hot although it was before 8:00 AM.
  • It was early in the morning and thus I could enjoy the quietness in the temple.
  • I prayed to the Kannon (The God of Mercy) in the main temple.
  • The Ishiyama-dera Temple is the place where Ms. Murasaki Shikibu wrote "Genji Monogatari" or "The tale of Genji" in 10 century.
    
    
    Main Gate Entrance Pagota
    
    
    Main Temple Bottom of Main Temple
    
    Moss
    
    
    
  • I came back to JR Ishiyama Station and tried to go to Iwama-dera Temple next. However, I first had to look for bus stop. According to the lady at the sightseeing information desk, there was no direct bus to the temple. The bus was available only to the foot of the mountain where the temple is built. (The direct bus is only available on 17th of every month.)
  • Therefore, I was forced to go up and down the road on foot under the flaming sun for 1 hour and 20 minutes. I sweated from every pore. Of course, no one except me was walking.
  • The height was the top of the mountain is almost 450 m. There was the biggest Japanese Judas tree there.
  • The Kannon of this temple is called "A sweaty Kannon" since she is believed to be always running around the hell all night to save the people. Was that the reason why I was also all in a sweat?
    
    
    Entrance Main Temple Japanese Judas tree
    
    
    Japanese Judas tree Lotus
    
    
    
  • Again I took on the Keiha train to the Mii-dera Temple. The Keihan train is very similar to the train of Enoshima Dentetsu, "Enoden".
    
    
    Keihan train Keihan Biwako-lake waterway
    
    
    
  • I walked to the Mii-dera Temple from the Keihan Mii-dera Station alongside Biwako-lake waterway.
  • I was surprised to learn that the site of Mii-dera Temple was so huge. In order to toll the famous bell, you have to pay Yen 300 per one toll.
  • You can see a lot of images of Buddha at Golden Building.
  • Kannon-do Building is the 14th temple of Saigoku. You can see the Biwako-lake far away there.
    
    
    Entrance Entrance Gate
    
    
    Golden Building Belfry Bell
    
    
    Kannon-do Kannon-do View from Kannon-do
    
    
    
  • Since I had an extra time, I went on 1-hour crusing from Ohtu Port to Biwako-lake.
    
    
    Boat Biwako-lake Biwako-lake
    
    
    
  
  
• Wednesday July 28 Sunny & Hot 18th Temple: Rokkaku-do Temple, 17th Temple: Rokuhara-mitsuji Temple, 16th Temple: Kiyomizu-dera Temple (Kyoto City)
  
  
  • On the same train of the previous day, I went to Kyoto Station from Shin-Osaka Station. It was after an interval of 16 years to get off at Kyoto Station.
  • I took on the subway for the first time to Karasuma-oike Station. I walked southward alongside Karasuma Street to reach Rokkaku-do. The temple is surrounded by big buildings.
  • A lot of worshippers were visiting there although it was around 8:00 AM.
  • There is a stone named "Navel Stone" which is said to be the center of Kyoto. There is also a stone statue of One-Wish-Jizo who can grant one's only one wish.
    
    
    Entrance Main Building Main Building
    
    
    Precinct Navel Stone Kamogawa River (Gojo Bridge)
    
    
    
  • I further went down the Karasuma Street to Gojo Street. I went across the Gojo Bridge and looked for Rokuhara-mitsuji.
  • It took a little bit time to reach the temple. It was a small-scale temple. than I expected.
    
    
    Main Building
    
    
    
  • I consulted the map and found that the Kiyomizu-dera Temple was so close and I decided to visit there next. (Originally, I did not have a plan to go there.)
  • I reached the entrance via Chawan Slope (Rice bowl slope). I saw a lot of tour groups. To my regret, the famous Kiyomizu Stage was under the construction.
    
    
    Rice bowl slope Stage View from the temple
    
    
    
  • At last, I arrived in Yasaka Shrine via 3-year slope, 2-year slope and Yasaka Street.
    
    
    Yasaka Shrine
    
    
    
  • I still had a plan to visit, however, it was so hot that I gave up my plan. I took on the subway to Kyoto Station.
  • I could walk around for two days under the flaming sun.
  • I am satisfied that I could visit 6 temples. I wish I could visit the remaining 27 temples in the near future.
    
    

1)Saturday July 17, 2004 : Sunny, then cloudy STILL UNABLE TO RUN !

• It's already in Mid-July! Some letters with marathon registration cards have been sent for coming marathon races.
• More than two months have passed since I gave up running.
• I have been waiting for the day when I can start to run again. However, the condition of my right leg remains the same. No recovery although I have been taking vitamin B12.
• I decided to change the doctor from ortopedics to nerve physician.
• New doctor was so kind and examined my leg carefully more than 20 minutes! However, he could not trace the causes today.
• I will see him again after taking new medicine for two weeks. I am still not in a position to run for a while.
• I went to Japanese pub in front of Higashi-kurume station to join the "Higashi-kurume Father's Runner Club" in the evening.
• Six members including a newcomer, Mr. I, gathered. We had a drink course which one can drink as much liquors as one want for \3,200 per person. The time limit was 2 hours.
• We enjoyed drinking very much and drank too much! Then we went Karaoke room and enjoyed Karaoke as well.
  

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