Alex Quinn's Japan Journal

2/4/2006, Visiting site of Flower Expo '90 in Osaka

Akemi's nephew, Koki, was in town so her parents, Akemi, and I all took Koki to the site of the Flower Expo in Osaka.  Here is Koki.  He loves having his picture taken.  I think he's trying to pose like a ninja.

Koki posing like a ninja.

Koki getting in my way while I try to take a picture of a sign.

The expo was held in 1990 under the theme, "The Harmonious Coexistence of Nature and Mankind." The commemorative foundation maintains the place and keeps the flowers growing.  It's a beautiful place to visit.

Entering the grounds of the expo.

On the way into the main flower museum, they had these gourds, called hyotan in Japanese.  I think they're a kind of drum.

Inside is like a big greenhouse.  High ceilings, moist air, the scent of flowers and plants.

Cactii in the main flower gallery.

Bananas in the main flower gallery.

I guess these are papayas, right?

Pretty flowers.

Star fruit

Don't really know what this thing is.  If you know, please tell me.

Pretty moss in the flower gallery.

Koki and the cactus.

More cactii.

More cactii.

Is this a cactus or just a prickly flower?  I'm guessing the latter.

Pretty flower

Cactus.  Really, it's not all cactii.  I just liked the cactii especially.

Inside the flower gallery.

A sign outside the flower gallery.  I think it says, "Blooming Flower House."

After seeing the rest of the flower gallery, we walked around the grounds.  There are little pavillions for various countries around the world.  I don't remember any African pavillions, but certainly Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.  I don't remember which pavillions these pictures were taken at.

Koki modeling for the camera.

Walking around the grounds.

Looking at the flower gallery from across the lake.

This might have been Turkey.

Same place.  I rather like this tile work.

One of the pavillions.

One of the pavillions.  One can only imagine how many flowers there must have been when the expo was held 16 years ago.

As we walked, we encountered a giant bell.  Along with it was a sign with the following explanation:

"In a wish for a peaceful world free from the threats of tragic wars and nuclear arms a World Peace Bell was donated to the United Nations in New York from Japan in 1954.  The bell, founded with coins collected from the then 60 Member States of the UN, is rung in prayer for world peace on the third Tuesday of every September when the regular session fo the UN General Assumbly is convened.      The World Peace Bell you find here is a replica of the World Peace Bell at UN Headquarters and a donation from the World Peace Bell Association, a Tokyo-based non-Governmental organization campaigning to install a replica of the World Peace Bell in the capitals of the Member States of the UN."

World Peace Bell.

The sign that accompanies the replica of the World Peace Bell.

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