These really docile crane-like birds are always to be found in the Kamogawa river in Kyoto. The wetlands they live in are often explored my groups of schoolchildren with nets looking for mosquito larvae and freshwater shrimp. I will have to follow in their 7-year old footsteps soon as I really want to photograph those shrimp.
'Bittersweet' is called like this, because this (slightly poisonous) plant tastes bitter at first, but after some chewing it turns out rather sweet. Children like to chew these stalks, but take care not to eat to much of it!
