city of the living, city of the dead
Kyoto cityscape as seen from a Buddhist graveyard.
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koma-inu
Although these beasts in front of Shinto shrines are called koma-inu (dogs), they’re actually closer to the Chinese lions that guard temples. One says “A” with his mouth open, and the other says “N” with her mouth closed.
This was taken close to our house. I desaturated the background to increase the 3D effect of the statue popping out of the picture.
early morning on the train
Taking the first (non-rapid) train from Narita Airport back in to Tokyo on a lazy Tuesday Morning. Was quite surprised to see how empty it was….
yatai
Tanabata festival in Daito, Shimane prefecture.
A young boy is waiting in anticipation for the fried potatoes he just ordered at a “yatai” street vendor.
sāfin
sāfin = “surfing” – try saying it in a Southern California accent, and you see where the transliteration comes from.
Round this way (Kamakura), people surf all year round–it’s the Pacific, and there’s a (reportedly) warm current that keeps things tolerable. Over on the other side of Japan, there are snowdrifts meters deep, but here, people are splashing around, even in mid-December (this was taken just before Christmas 2009). Never mind the fact that the waves don’t exist, and that surfing is really only possible for about 5 meters before you hit the shore.
Taken with my 300mm (600mm equivalent lens) at about 550mm equivalent. No image stabilization, 1/320 @ f5.6.
miyajima sunset
Sunset over the floating tori gate of Itsukushima shrine, Miyajima.
