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| ~ Many different faces of Japan ~ | |
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| Nagoya Castle
Nagoya Castle was built during the Edo Period for one of the three famous Tokugawa family (Shogun) branches. Nagoya is Japan's fourth largest city and Nagoya is in the Aichi prefecture. Sound familiar? Yes, Expo 2005 Aichi was held just outside of Nagoya! |
Japanese Police Car
It's called a "pato-kar" in Japanese. I think it has something to do with "patrol car" in English. The black and the white are very recognizable on the busy streets of Tokyo, and, oh yes, the red lamp on top.
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| Road - Tokyo
This is a road in Shitamachi (an old town in Tokyo).
You know, this is not just a one way lane, it`s a proper road! I saw two cars pass by each other on this road ... amazing! |
Karaoke Building
A thin building I found - obviously all floors are for Karaoke ...interesting ... |  | | click to enlarge |
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| Goshugi Bukuro
If you are invited to a Japanese wedding you are expected to give money to the bride and groom, partly to help cover the cost of the reception.
The way that the money is presented is important. Crisp, new notes should be used, the kind available directly from a bank, and they should be placed inside a special traditional envelope, as shown here, called a shugi-bukuro. |
Parking Lot - Tokyo Disney Resort
Is this a car factory or something?
No, no - this is what the parking lot at Tokyo Disney Resort looked like the other day. Even more suprising was the fact that it wasn't a holiday or anything, it was a normal Tuesday.
Someone is making some money for sure. |  | | click to enlarge |
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| Comic Heaven
As we all know, Japanimation has gained world-wide recognition.
This is what the comic store in mecca looks like. |
Crowd - Shibuya
Is there some huge outdoor event going on? No. These people are just waiting for the signal to change at the infamous intersection near JR Shibuya Station. Yes ... that's ALOT of people ... |  | | click to enlarge |
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| Heijokyo - Nara
The World Heritage Imperial Palace site in Nara: this city was the capital of Japan from 710 to 784 A.D. Nara is the second most important ancient city in Japan after Kyoto. You should definitely visit this intruiging ancient city.
The government promotes the excavation investigation of this Nara Imperial Palace site, but only 30% of the vast area has actually been investigated. It is said that it will take more than a hundred years to finish investigating ... isn't that amazing? |
Fuji TV Building (from behind)
This is a famous Fuji TV building in Odaiba, Tokyo, taken from a highway nearby.
I know that many of you have seen it from the front, the big cube on top is a trademark of this building, but when you see it from behind, is it just me or does it look like a bunch of LEGO blocks? |  | | click to enlarge |
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| Wax Art?
Whenever I pass by these wax samples, my stomach makes a noise .. and gosh, they look so real. I wanna call them art. I'm often drawn in by this art and before I realize it, I am sitting down to eat at the restaurant. |
Bright Shiny Box
It might be a bit tough to tell, but the bright shiny box in center of this photo is actually a truck. What a bright (pun?) way to advertise!
Lots of people on the sidewalk were looking at this truck so I guess the advertiser will get their moneys worth. |  | | click to enlarge |
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| Tsukemono (Japanese pickle)
I like Tsukemono - especially Nukaduke (pickled in rice-bran paste). You can simply eat them with a bowl of white rice or they can be a very good snack when you are drinking alcohol.
In this photo, there are turnips, carrots, cucumbers and daikon radishes. |
Traffic Board on Tokyo Highway
Did you hit heavy traffic alot this summer? It's always painful, isn't it?
With this system, you can atleast know where to expect the volume of traffic. Although I hate traffic jams, I like this smart system. |  | | click to enlarge |
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| Electric Town
Beliveve it or not, this is the wall of a building in Electric Town (Akihabara, Tokyo).
So colorful, its almost too colorful. But, atleast we know what they are selling! |
New Friend for the Commute
OK, I am not SONY's promoter or anything but I fell in love with this gizmo when I was browsing electronic shops the other day. With this ultra light thing you can read newspaper, novels, look-up words in the dictionary and (as you can see) even a comic! Seems like you can download a bunch of stuff like that and I would think it could become your best friend for the long ride home on the train. |  | | click to enlarge |
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| Cigarette Vending Machine
Are there a lot of smokers around you? Is Japan still a smoker's heaven? Well, one thing is for sure - it is very easy to get a pack of cigarettes and they are reasonably priced. |
Yakitori
Awww ... Yakitori with beer - a good way to spoil your tongue. I recommend that you go to a restaurant that has a Yakitori specialist with experience and knows what they are doing. Trust me, the yakitori they cook tastes so different. |  | | click to enlarge |
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| Taiko (Japanese Drums) Game
Have you been to any festivals this summer?
Even if you haven't, simply go to an arcade near you to get sweaty playing this exciting Taiko game.
It's super fun - the name of this game is "Taiko no Tatsujin" (expert of Taiko). Have fun and be the Tatsujin! |
I could just drink the billbord - Ginza, Tokyo
A couple days ago the temprature in Tokyo hit 39.5℃ Ahhhhh - hot!
Kirin has this effective promotion advertizing their beer in center of Ginza.
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| Mikoshi - Chiba
Matsuri (festival) is one of the symbols of summer in Japan. These Matsuri take place all over Japan during the summer and most of the big ones have this traditional Mikoshi thing. Many guys get together to carry it down the street (of course ladies join in too in some places). It looks like a portable shrine and I've heard that it's heavy but participating makes you "feel alive" ... |
Beach - Okinawa
Have you taken your summer vacation yet?
Okinawa, the furthest south island in Japan, has blue skies, white sands and coral reefs - yes, everything a beach-bum could want ... |  | | click to enlarge |
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| Kasapon - Automatic Umbrella Bag Dispenser
Even though it has not been raining too much recently, it is supposed to be the rainy season in Japan.
You don't need to carry a wet umbrella with you when you are inside a building thanks to this Kasapon!
There are so many neat-idea machines like this in Japan.
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Kaki Udon - Miyajima
Miyajima is famous for it's Kaki (Oyster)
This is a very unique way of eating it I guess.
It's tasty, though some people might take offence to the appearance of those fresh oysters in an Udon noodle soup. |  | | click to enlarge |
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| Real Wasabi
This is a piece of Wasabi root and this is how you grind it properly.
The surface of the wood board is made of shark skin (wow!) so that the Wasabi will be very smooth and of course taste very good~. |
Character Heaven
Japanese people love characters and you don't have to be a kid to enjoy it.
So why don't you start thinking about those stuffed animals as a gift for your significant other?
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| Japanese Welcome Bears
June Bride! Welcome bears wearing traditional bridal outfits for a shinzen-style wedding reception.
Anyone who has been married recently, conguratulations. |
Onsen
Ahhhh ... I could jump in right now!
One of many Onsens (natural hot springs) in Japan.
Viva la volcanic country! |  | | click to enlarge |
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| Monkeys of Takasaki Mountain - Oita
Huhhh ... feels good. You should visit the Monkey colonies of Mt.Takasaki.
There are hundreds of wild monkeys roaming wild and you can walk amongst them. |
Nokonoshima - Fukuoka
An island floating in Hakata Bay. Like a fairy tale, huh. |  | | click to enlarge |
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| Kinkakuji - Kyoto
Kinkakuji is a Kyoto Zen temple covered in gold. |
Basashi
It's sashimi of a horse ... evil? well, I guess it's a different culture. |  | | click to enlarge |
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