Another Kind of Leaf Blower

It used to be a military base, and now it's one of the world's most beautiful parks, named for Japan's late Showa emperor. Last Saturday, TV news crews were there to film the acres of snow-white cosmos flowers. Of course there are also hillsides covered in traditional shades of pink cosmos, but this year's stars are creamy white.

Riding rented cycles, we passed hordes of happy park goers--the kind of families, couples, elderly strollers, frisbee tossers, dog walkers, bagpipe players...

OK, bagpipe players are not so typical, but there were three of them skirling their hearts out in a gazebo overlooking one of the lakes.

"We can't do this in our apartment," they said.

True enough.

The musician who was the greatest crowd pleaser, though, was a 70-something gentleman meandering among the cosmos, playing old favorites on one of the world's oldest musical instruments--a coin sized green leaf pressed against pursed lips.

He generated at least as many decibels as the bagpipe guys. Maybe more.

True enough. There are some things you just cannot do in your apartment. You need a crisp fall day, flowers and blue sky, lots of space, and a receptive audience.

Hurray for parks!