The "Dokonjo(gutsy) Poplar" Survived the Massive Tsunami is so Tall 6.3, 2025

In Okirai, Sanriku-cho, Ofunato City, there is a poplar tree that survived the massive tsunami of the Great East Japan Earthquake and came to be known as the "Dokonjo(gutsy) poplar".

The area around the poplar is now maintained as the "Dokonjo poplar square", but according to the information board, before the Great East Japan Earthquake, it was a place where shops, inns, and material warehouses were located.

I had visited the area once before I started living with Sachiki-san, but I went back again with Sachiki-san for a walk.

The Dokonjo poplar is so tall that you should look up to see it. It is about 25m tall, about the height of a 7-8 story building. It is about 80 years old. It was planted after the Sanriku tsunami in 1933.

The grass in the square had just been mowed, so Sachiki-san found it comfortable to sit on.

The Ofunato Tsunami Narrative Society website has a picture of the "Dokonjo poplar" standing among the rubble. 

https://www.ofunato-tsunami-museum.org/kui-3-3-dokonjopoplar

Looked out over the Lake-like Yamada Bay from the Yamada Bay Observation Square 5.20, 2025

The construction of seawalls after the Great East Japan Earthquake has reduced the number of places where the sea can be seen.

About 2 km from the center of Yamada town, near the Orikasa Bridge on National Route 45, is Yamada Bay Observation Square, where you can see Yamada Bay, which is surrounded by peninsulas and looks like a lake.

It is located beside National Route 45 and has a parking space and observation deck, so Sachiki-san and I stopped for a break while we were driving around.

The island on the left is Oshima. It is also known as Oranda jima(Holland Island. It is said a Dutch ship anchored there during the Edo period to supply water and food.

The island to the right of Oshima is Kojima.

The door that appears in the film ‘Suzume no Tojimari(English title is Suzume’ has been reproduced.

The station and the sluice gate that appeared in the film are also located near this observation square.

Sachiki-san also climbed up to the observation deck.

Yamada Bay is surrounded by two peninsulas and looks like a lake.

The gap between the tips of the two peninsulas seen beyond Kojima Island is the mouth of the bay.

Quietly Enjoyed the Cherry Blossoms at the Yakushi Park Cherry Blossom Festival 4.16, 2025

The famous cherry blossom spot in Kamaishi City is the Hongo Sakura Namiki in Toni-cho, where a feudal lord's procession marches under the rows of cherry blossoms in full bloom once every three years, but Yakushi Park, located on a hill in the center of the city, is also one of the famous cherry blossom spots. The Yakushi Park Cherry Blossom Festival is held during the cherry blossom season.

The cherry blossom information said that the cherry blossoms at Yakushi Park were in full bloom, so I and Sachiki-san went for a walk.

This is the first time I've visited this park since I was in high school. The caretaker went to high school in Kamaishi City from a neighboring town.

At the Yakushi Park Cherry Blossom Festival, there are no stalls or events, and only lanterns are set up, so you can quietly enjoy the cherry blossoms.

There is the "Statue of the Goddess of Peace" in the park, which comforts the souls of those who died in the Pacific War, but when we visited, it was under repainting work.
In the caretaker's memory, it was a Kannon statue, but it is a goddess statue!

The park is on high ground, so you will have to walk on stairs and steep slopes.

There is no car park at the park, so you will have to use a paid car park nearby.

Halfway up the slope there is a temple called Kannonji, but I'm not sure if you can enter the temple grounds with dogs.

Yakushi Park

https://www.city.kamaishi.iwate.jp/docs/2015030200137/

Cherry Tree Pruning Work was Being Done at Takamatsunoike Pond 3.19, 2025

When Sachiki-san and I lived in Morioka City, we sometimes took walks around Takamatsunoike Pond. We had dog friend dogs there, walked with us when we met them while we were walking.

Even after moving, I still get sachiki-san ​​shampooed at our favorite dog salon in Morioka City, so we take a walk in Morioka City before going to the salon.​ This time we stopped by Takamatsunoike Pond.

It's been a while since we last walked around Takamatsunoike Pond, and there were only a few swans. Most of them seem to have returned north.

Cherry tree pruning work was being done around the pond.
The cherry trees here have been selected as one of the "100 Best Cherry Blossom Spots in Japan," and together with Morioka Castle Site Park, it is the venue for the "Morioka Sakura (cherry blossoms) Festival."

Takamatsu Park
https://www.city.morioka.iwate.jp/kurashi/midori/koen/1010492.html

Played with a Ball at Seagull Park 2.21, 2025

his dog park was originally attached to a hotel where you can stay with pets, but the hotel moved due to the aging of the building, so I was worried that it would be closed.

But there was no need to worry. Even after the hotel moved, it has been operating as usual.

Sachiki-san and I went to play for the first time in almost a month.

When we arrived, the only other guest was the black labrador retriever. After talking with the owner, we decided to play in separate areas.

The black labrador was playing with a ball happily. When there is no other dog in the same area, you can use toys.
The owner of the black labrador threw a ball to Sachiki-san over the fence.
The black labrador also had her own ball, but it seemed like she was more interested in the ball Sachiki-san was holding (lol)
Sachiki-san showed the ball to her and then brought it away.

We had fun playing with the ball.

Enjoyed the Snow at Takamatsu Park for the First Time in a While 1.19, 2025

Kamaishi City, which faces the Pacific Ocean, has many dry, sunny days in the winter and does not snow much.

Having moved to Kamaishi City from Morioka City, where snow often accumulates, Sachiki-san may be having a slightly unsatisfying winter.

Today is the day to get Sachiki-san ​​shampooed at the dog salon in Morioka City that we have been going to since before moving.

We arrived in Morioka early to go to the salon after a walk in Morioka City, and took a walk in Takamatsu Park, which is not far from the salon. Takamatsu Park is a park where we sometimes went for walks when we lived in Morioka City.

There was snow in Takamatsu Park, so we were able to take a walk in the snow for the first time in a while.

I'm sure Sachiki-san had a great time.

The Swamp in Katagishi Park was Frozen and Swans were Walking on the Ice 12.15, 2024

Katagishi Park is not far from our house, so Sachiki-san and I often go there for walks.

The swamp froze over due to the recent cold wave.

Swans were walking on the ice of the frozen swamp from one unfrozen surface to another unfrozen surface.

Swans need a run-up to take off, so they look not good at flying short distances.

The roof visible across the swamp is the Kamaishi Unosumai Memorial Stadium.

It's like the "Dance of the Little Swans" from the ballet "Swan Lake."

Sachiki-san is full of energy even in the cold weather when the swamp is frozen.

Swans Came to the Swamp in Katagishi Park 11.14, 2024

Katagishi Park is a park that was developed after the Great East Japan Earthquake near the mouth of the Unosumai River, which flows through the Unosumai district of Kamaishi City. On the opposite side of the river is the Kamaishi Unosumai Memorial Stadium.

In the center of the park is a swamp called Minosuke-numa by locals, and a promenade has been developed around the swamp. There is also a car park and a toilet.

It's not far from our house, so I often take Sachiki-san here for walks.

When Sachiki-san and I moved to Kamaishi City in the fall and were walking in Katagishi Park, I heard from people who were also walking that swans fly to Minosuke-numa and the Unosumai River, but this was the first time we saw swans.

I thought, "The swans have come. Winter is coming," but Sachiki-san showed no interest in the swans and said, "Give me a treat." (lol)

Gravel at Jodogahama was White, so White Dog didn't Stand out 11.11, 2024

Jodogahama in Miyako City. It is one of the attractions of Sanriku tourism.
My father's family home was near Jodogahama, so I have memories of my uncle taking me there when I went to visit my grandmother as a child.
I had always wanted to take a walk on Jodogahama with Sachiki-san, but during the high season from April 1st to October 31st, there are traffic restrictions and general vehicles cannot go to the place that is famous in tourist posters, so I went this month when the traffic restrictions were lifted.

We arrived at almost 3pm, so the shadow of the mountain reached to the peninsula.

We walked on the promenade along the coast with Sachiki-san.
There were few people and no trash on the ground, so I was able to enjoy the scenery with peace of mind. During our regular walks, I always look at Sachiki-san and the ground around us to make sure he doesn't pick up and eat trash (lol).

The gravel at Jodogahama is white, so the white dog doesn't stand out very much. It doesn't look good in photos (lol). That's partly because it's been a while since Sachiki-san's last shampoo, and he's little dirty (lol).

Took a Walk in Takamatsu Park before Going to the Veterinary Clinic 10.18, 2024

October is the month when Sachiki-san is given a mixed vaccine.

He is given a rabies vaccine in the spring and a mixed vaccine in the autumn.

Sachiki-san and I moved from Morioka City to Kamaishi City at the end of last month, but I drove more than two hours each way to our favorite veterinary clinic in Morioka City to get his vaccine.

Since the journey had been long, we took a walk in Takamatsu Park nearby the veterinary clinic before vaccination.

Sachiki-san, who didn't know that he was about to get his vaccine, seemed to be happy and excited. (lol)