Tokyo

Ba bhrea liom a insint daoibh an seans-saoil a bhí agam le gairid. Bhí dhá sheachtain saoire agam ag deireadh mí an Mharta, ‘s shocraigh mé ar chuirt a thabhairt chuig mo dheartair a chonaíonn i Seapain, gar do Tokyo. Ní fhaca mé cathair cosúil leis an ait sin riamh i mo shaol – tri-chéile, dathúil ‘s an-suimúil. Tá eolas agaibh, gan amhras, ar an ‘Tokyo International Forum’, ‘Museum of Modern Art’ agus ‘Metropolitan Government Building’. De réir mo thuairim, b’e an ‘International Forum’ an ceann ab fhearr acu. Tá atrium an-mhór ansin deanta as gloine i stil ‘hull’ báid. Ba dheas an lá an bhí mé ann, leis an ngriain an stealladh isteach trid na fuinneoga. Tá sé de-cheart agat ansin a bheith ag súil thart an foirgneamh – chaitheas fein thart fa dhá uair lastigh ‘s lasmuigh de ag amharc air. Iontach deas ar fad.

Sula ndeachaign mé bhíos ag léamh ceann de na leabhair beaga Ailteoireachta a mbaineann le cathracha eagsula ar fud an domhain. Léigh mé an cheann ar Tokyo. Míníodh sa leabhar an ‘Tokyo Metropolitan Highway’. An lá a chonaic mé an bóthar níor aithnigh mé é mar tá cludaigh ar go dtí nach dtagann an t-uafais tearmainn amach as. Cosúil le piopa an-mhór ag dul thart an chathair é.
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I had the great fortune to holiday in Tokyo recently where a brother of mine lives. While the city itself is a vast, disorienting place there are some wonderful buildings. Chief amongst these is the Tokyo International Forum. This is a cultural centre for the city with four separate buildings. The largest of these is fronted with an enormous glass covered atrium, with a supporting roof structure resembling the hull of a boat. The day I visited was clear and sunny with daylight streaming in. It really was breathtaking.

Shane