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Posts in Category: Japan 2025

Meguro Parasitological Museum

On February 28, 2025 0 Comments - Japan 2025, Travel

The Meguro Parasitological Museum is a private research facility that was established in 1953. The free admission museum exhibits about 300 parasite specimens and related material. On display are a number of animal parasites and also human parasites. These are real parasites removed from hosts and preserved. There are so many and they are so BIG! There were also several gruesome photos of humans and their parasites but I won’t put them up here. Go see for yourself 😮.

Worm specimens at Meguro Parasitological Museum. — Mostly different worms..round worms, tape worms.

8.8 meter long tapeworm specimen at Meguro Parasitological Museum — An 8.8 meter long tapeworm passed by a 40 year old man who ate infected raw salmon.

This is not a model, it is the actual worm that he passed.

I have eaten so much sashimi over the years and everyday on this trip. I wondered if I had any parasites.

Human round worms. They are big and thick, almost like earthworm size. Roundworm eggs can be in contaminated food, water or soil.

Some horsehair worms..on the left, bursting out of a praying mantis.

This one…In the blue vial, the bottom is an empty tick and the top is the same species of tick full of blood.

Demonstrating the differences between parasitic and free-living species.

How can you eat udon right after seeing that museum?

How did we even know there was a Meguro Parasitological Museum? My daughter is a fan of Nekojiru manga. The Nekojiru pieces below are about her visit to the parasite museum in the late 90’s. Credit for translations to Read Nekojiru.

This was a fascinating museum. It was cool (and a little scary) to see actual specimens of parasites extracted from human subjects. Highly recommended.

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japan, photography

Ueno Zoo

On February 27, 2025 0 Comments - Japan 2025, Travel

I went to Ueno Park to look for cherry blossoms but I was too early. There were only one or two plum trees with flowers so far. So instead I walked through the Ueno Zoo and, as usual in the afternoon, most of the animals were hiding or asleep. It was still fun to watch all the little kids running around in their cute uniforms. They were just happy to be outside in the sun. And so was I.

Ueno Zoo entrance on a sunny day — Entrance to the zoo

Japanese school kids in uniform on a field trip — Cute uniforms : ) There were so many school kids on field trips to the zoo today. I had just as much fun watching them as I did watching the animals.

Sumatran Tiger making eye contact at Ueno Zoo — Sumatran Tiger making eye contact. These huge cats are so beautiful. Surprisingly, this big guy was one of the only animals awake in the afternoon. Not very cat-like.

School kids watching elephants. — Kids in uniforms watching the elephants. Each group of kids wears a different hat so they can find each other and their guardians don’t lose them. Smart.

Blue Poison Dart Frogs at Ueno Zoo — Blue Poison Dart Frog

BATS!! A slow motion iPhone video.

Woman reflected fish tank at Ueno Zoo — A woman taking a photo of an Arowana fish. I like this picture of both of them together.

Plum Blossoms Ueno Park Tokyo — Plum Blossoms!

Here is a link to the Ueno Zoo website in English.

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japan, photography

Cats and Fish: Asakusa Neko-en and Sumida Aquarium

On February 26, 2025 2 Comments - Japan 2025, Travel

We visited Asakusa Neko-en rescue cat cafe near our house before going to the Sumida aquarium. Half the cats were around 15 or 16 years old and were the original cats from when the place opened. The other half were quite young and available for adoption. The person who ran the place told us that over 15 years she has had 400 cats through the place that were adopted to new homes.

Cat siblings at rescue cat cafe — Siblings

Sick but sweet cat at rescue cat cafe — This little guy sat in my lap the whole time. The owner told me he had cancer and wasn’t expected to live more than a few months. He was so sweet. I was very happy to meet him. Keep fighting buddy!

Next stop was Sumida aquarium inside Tokyo Sky Tree.

Tokyo Skytree under blue sky — Tokyo Sky Tree: very similar to our CN Tower in Toronto…but more bones

My camera does not do a good job taking photos through glass but I like these ones from Sumida Aquarium. There were so many tanks of beautiful fish, fresh water and ocean.