Daily Life, Travels and Events in Reiwa

March 1, 2026: On a sunny Sunday afternoon, I visited Tennoji Zoo in Osaka. Come to think of it, I first came here about 60 years ago with my father. I took a photo at the very same spot where my father had taken a picture of me back then. The scenery has changed considerably, making me once again realize just how long sixty years truly is. I have loved tigers — the large, beautiful, and graceful big cats — ever since I was a child. This tiger is a male named Shohei, born in January 2019. In the upcoming World Baseball Classic, great expectations are placed on Shohei Ohtani’s performance. If Ohtani hits a big one, the loudest roar might come from a tiger in Osaka.

March 1, 2026: Enjoyed Osaka’s famous kushikatsu for lunch in Shinsekai, Tennoji on Sunday afternoon. Kushikatsu is a local specialty that originated in Osaka. It consists of meat, vegetables, seafood, and other ingredients skewered on sticks, coated in batter, and deep-fried in oil. At this restaurant, if you order the set, it comes with either doteyaki or kimchi.