PHOTO of the DAY (JAPAN) Dial up warning

[AsahinaKimi]

Yoshihiko Noda, new leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan, reacts before Japan's lower house elected him as the country's new prime minister, at the Diet in Tokyo on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

Bonus Photos


A young kabuki actor holds a serious expression as his face is painted at the National Bunraku Theater in Chuo Ward, Osaka, on Aug. 13, 2011. On this day, Matsuojuku Kodomo Kabuki, a kabuki school for children, held its 23rd annual summer kabuki performance. Currently there are 24 students at the school, ranging in age from four to 14. (Mainichi)


A total of 334 children and their parents enjoyed a hot-air balloon ride in Ofutano, Iwate Prefecture, on Aug. 28 at the initiative of the friendship city of Saku, Nagano Prefecture, and the nonprofit hot-air balloon group AirB in Tokyo's Higashimurayama. The event was held to cheer up children in the Iwate city battered by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami and featured hot-air balloons including those emblazoned with such messages as "Gambaro Nippon." (Mainichi)



A woman cycles past an electric stock display of a securities firm in Tokyo on Tuesday.



About 200,000 sunflowers are in full bloom on a 2.5-hectare field owned by Junichi Nasu, 64, in Sunagawa, Hokkaido, on Aug. 27, 2011. Nasu, senior director of the Sunagawa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is making a sales pitch for the central Hokkaido city and encouraging visitors to freely pick sunflowers to decorate their houses. (Mainichi)



Crowds of people fill the grounds of Toshimaen Pool in Tokyo's Nerima Ward. Spurred by warm weather, a record 20,000 people flocked to the pool on Aug. 28, the last Sunday of the summer holiday period this year. Good weather prevailed in many parts of the Japanese archipelago, and the mercury climbed to 30.8 degrees Centigrade in Nerima Ward, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. (Mainichi)


Mainichi Ohatu- Something New Everyday

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. Domo, domo. Domo arigato.

[AsahinaKimi]

5. kochia koso!!!

Thank you for the kick and response! Just a note to say, I hope Yoshihiko Noda does well as Japan's New PM. He has a lot of work ahead, and many people are counting on him to have a future vision on what Japan can restore.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

9. Hai

Compai

[givemebackmycountry]

2. Mainichi Ohatu- Something New Everyday

And Thank You for bringing it to us!

[AsahinaKimi]

7. My favorite in this group

Is the young woman on the bike.. I can totally relate!

[Oceansaway]

3. thanks again, my favorite this time

is the hot air balloons....it's awesome....heck they're all a joy !

thanks !

[AsahinaKimi]

8. You are most welcome!

This is a joy to do, and glad it can bring a bit of levity to otherwise serious postings!

[ThatsMyBarack]

4. I like the last photo!

I wonder if they like water slides, too! ;)

[AsahinaKimi]

10. I would imagine so...

http://www.yomiuriland.co.jp/english/wai/

[Sal Minella]

6. Love the kabuki photo -- young artists in an ancient art . . . n/t

[AsahinaKimi]

11. I would love to see Kabuki theatre

[Sal Minella]

12. What wonderful photos. Domo. n/t

[Generic Other]

13. Itchi Bon!

Lovely. So many people in the pool! Wow!

[AsahinaKimi]

14. ah

did you mean Ichiban? いちばん　(number one!) 一番

[Generic Other]

15. I thought that looked wrong!! LOL

I am only half Japanese. My Anglo dad spoke pigeon Japanese and my Japanese mother speaks pigeon English. We just mangled all words in our merry way!

Ichiban!!

on edit: "don't touch my moustache" means you're welcome, right? Sigh...I need to resume my online Japanese lessons!

[AsahinaKimi]

16. Yes .. Dou itashimashite.

I like to use Kochira Koso.