patterns>lanterns

patterns>fish

kudos to Craig for this pic

patterns>chickens

This is part of a series I have compiled on patterns I see here.
Not too much great stuff, but it was fun to go through my pics looking for the theme.

taiko>normal

This was taken during a taiko performance that we saw while walking around in Ise.

torches

These were giant torches carried by 3-4 extremely drunk men wearing nothing but a thong with a branch stuck in the back of it.
They climb up a mountain and make a giant fire.
This photograph is totally unedited - the exposure created a wonderful mix of blue with the flames.

snow

Yippie for winter!!! The most miserably cold, yet amazingly beautiful time of year.

shikoku 5

shikoku 4

This was one of the pilgrims that travels around Shikoku stopping at the 80+ temples near the coast.
I hear it can take up to 6 months of walking.

shikoku 3

I loved the momiji last year!

shikoku 2

This was one of my favorite pictures, but unfortunately the scan came out really dark.
I tried to edit it back to photo quality - I think it's okay now.

shikoku 1

path

I used to ride my bike down this way every day on my way to Doshisha U.

otsu boats

I liked the symmetry and colors when I saw the boats, though I don't know why anyone would take a row boat out on Lake Biwa (it's a huge, choppy lake).

nanzenji

Craig took this photo last spring - I had never really noticed how wonderful it was before. Great angle and lighting.

nagano

I loved it in Nagano - the snow was amazing. We're going to try and go up again for a weekend or so.

wave

She's trying not to smile at the camera, but I could tell she was happy to have her picture taken.

robin hood?

Well, if Robin Hood was Japanese, maybe he'd look like this.
Seriously though, I love the greens and the way this man was standing proudly.

Love-Love

A couple that I saw sitting near Takashimaya Times Square. It was during one of my visits to Tokyo - kind of made me wish Craig was with me!

lookout

Peeking out of a castle wall.

koi nobori

These fly every August....you can tell how long it took me to put the picture up.

hang on

We were playing with one a parachute, and this child was in total extasy just trying to hang on.

dragonfly

He landed on our boat while we were watching a festival.

helping hand

Torii

A rainy day at fushimi-inari, South Kyoto.

sneak peek

Oji-chan's trying to get a better view of the parade.

painter

paintbrushes

fern

@ kyoto botanical gardens again

stone child

a statue @ kyoto botanical gardens

himawari

@ Kyoto botanical gardens

Shioko

Shioko's ever present smile

ama

Pearl divers in Ise.

flower

rice fields II

Rice fields

Odori

Dressed in costume (ishou) for the Mifune Matsuri (See the Boat Festival), this child performed a dance (odori) for an eager audience

Joy

Playing at a picnic in Yasu

Assaf

My friend Assaf taking a break while we travelled in Shikoku

Guitar

slightly damaged...bought for $20 at a recycle shop. Please note this image is copyrighted. I receive many inquiries about this picture and have high-quality, non-watermarked copies available for purchase or limited use license. Thank you.

Obi

This geisha's obi (sash) was so remarkably beautiful that I thought it should stand out on its own.

Geisha

A geisha shopping near Kiomizu Temple.

Temizuya

A "temizuya" is an area designated for washing hands and mouths before entering a shinto shrine. This one is at the Meiji shrine in Tokyo.

Momiji

Momiji is the season for viewing illustrious colors of Maple trees in the fall. The area near the Kyoto Emperial Palace is particularly beautiful for momiji.

Astro Boy

Astro Boy in front of the Kyoto Station

Waterfall

Shadow

Fair Weather

Brooms

Blue Skies

Painting Kamogawa

Third Year