Views of Japan

Inside the giant Daibutsu at Kamakura, Kanagawa. The top photo...

Fri, 17 May 2013 14:30:52 +1000

Inside the giant Daibutsu at Kamakura, Kanagawa. The top photo is a view looking up into the head of the Daibutsu. Notice the thick brown fibre glass repairs that have been applied. The bottom photo shows the rear of the statue with the ventilation windows open.

Shugenja about to perform sword cuts in the four directions to...

Wed, 15 May 2013 19:45:25 +1000

Shugenja about to perform sword cuts in the four directions to dispel evil spirits. Akibasan Gongen Hibuse Matsuri, Ryogaku-in, Odawara, Kanagawa.

Flickr: http://flic.kr/p/ejpiSm

Sweets at Fujiya Restaurant, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa. Flickr:...

Wed, 15 May 2013 19:42:23 +1000

Sweets at Fujiya Restaurant, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa.

Flickr: http://flic.kr/p/eiKEQi

Dainagon zuka in Yamatokōriyama, Nara, Nara Prefecture - the...

Tue, 14 May 2013 23:57:31 +1000

Dainagon zuka in Yamatokōriyama, Nara, Nara Prefecture - the grave of Toyotomi Hidenaga (1540 –1591), the half-brother of the great warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536-1598). His court title was Dainagon (大納言).

He led Hideyoshi’s forces into Satsuma Province, contributing heavily to his half-brother’s victories in gaining control of Kyūshū.

Regarded as Hideyoshi’s brain and right-arm, without his cunning and organisational skills Hideyoshi would not have been the great unifier that he was.

Flickr: http://flic.kr/p/ejcuhb

A Shugenja awaits the dying down of the fire before performing a...

Tue, 14 May 2013 18:50:47 +1000

A Shugenja awaits the dying down of the fire before performing a fire walk across the hot coals.

The rest of us await his lead, and then line up to shamble slowly across the coals one by one.

Flickr: http://flic.kr/p/eiZSTP

House of a mountain god. Ryogaku-in, Odawara, Kanagawa...

Tue, 14 May 2013 11:22:26 +1000

House of a mountain god. Ryogaku-in, Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture.

Flickr: http://flic.kr/p/ej6bUU

Shugenja (yamabushi) at the Akibasan Gongen Hibuse Matsuri,...

Tue, 14 May 2013 10:50:54 +1000

Shugenja (yamabushi) at the Akibasan Gongen Hibuse Matsuri, Ryogaku-in, Odawara, Kanagawa prefecture.

Flickr: http://flic.kr/p/eiYYug

The statues of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu and the Buddha inside the...

Sat, 11 May 2013 18:25:17 +1000

The statues of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu and the Buddha inside the Golden pavilion in Kyōto are not allowed to be photographed. Photographs of these statues would interfere with their power to answer the prayers of the faithful!

Flickr: http://flic.kr/p/8JDUxv

All over Mount Õyama there are hundreds of Jizō statues. Some...

Sat, 11 May 2013 17:57:35 +1000

All over Mount Õyama there are hundreds of Jizō statues. Some are hidden by foliage, others are easy to see. Many date back to the Kamakura period (1185–1333).

Flickr: http://flic.kr/p/ehdcTF

Fudō Myō-ō, the immovable Buddhist god. Õyama dera, Õyama,...

Sat, 11 May 2013 17:53:37 +1000

Fudō Myō-ō, the immovable Buddhist god. Õyama dera, Õyama, Isehara, Kanagawa.

Flickr: http://flic.kr/p/ehcZPD

Õyama dera, founded in 755 by Rōben, the head priest of Tōdai...

Sat, 11 May 2013 17:52:29 +1000

Õyama dera, founded in 755 by Rōben, the head priest of Tōdai Temple in Nara. Õyama, Isehara, Kanagawa.

Flickr: http://flic.kr/p/ehdiu4

Jizō bosatsu. Õyama dera, Õyama, Isehara, Kanagawa. Flickr:...

Sat, 11 May 2013 17:43:20 +1000

Jizō bosatsu. Õyama dera, Õyama, Isehara, Kanagawa.

Flickr: http://flic.kr/p/ehdgXF

Dragon fountain. Õyama dera, Õyama, Isehara,...

Sat, 11 May 2013 17:42:30 +1000

Dragon fountain. Õyama dera, Õyama, Isehara, Kanagawa.

Flickr: http://flic.kr/p/ehiGw5

“Mos no Natsumi” the new healthy burger from MOS BURGER. It’s a...

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 20:15:00 +1000

“Mos no Natsumi” the new healthy burger from MOS BURGER. It’s a burger with a patty and relishes between fresh lettuce rather than bread buns.

There are 6 different “Mos no Natsumi” burgers:

Beef patty with vegetables and sauce ¥320
Fish ¥300
Prawns ¥350
Pork cutlet ¥340
Chicken ¥280
Teriyaki chicken ¥320

Avaiable from April 23rd until the beginning of September.

Lotteria’s new “Q-Story Cheese Burger” to...

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 20:00:51 +1000

Lotteria’s new “Q-Story Cheese Burger” to celebrate the anime Evangelion Shin Gekijōban: Q.

The name is a play on words. The burger has nine patties - that’s pronounced kyū in Japanese.

Akibasan Gongen Hibuse Matsuri at Ryogaku-in Temple, Itabashi,...

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 22:14:55 +1000

Akibasan Gongen Hibuse Matsuri at Ryogaku-in Temple, Itabashi, Odawara, Kanagawa Japan. on Flickr.

Mallet and tub used for the pounding of omochi sticky rice cakes.

Jun Hori, NHK reporter/anchor/editor/cameraman, has resigned...

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 21:08:35 +1100

Jun Hori, NHK reporter/anchor/editor/cameraman, has resigned from NHK. NHK threatened to sack him for telling the truth about TEPCO and the state of affairs regarding the level of radiation from the stricken Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Reactor.

NHK and TEPCO, along with the Japanese government are complicit in hiding the truth from the population of Japan about the level of radiation being released from the stricken nuclear reactor.

I take my hat off to Jun Hori, a hero for Japan who has stated that he will not be silenced in telling the people the truth.

“This is the job of a journalist. TEPCO and NHK are involved in a cover up supported by the government of Japan.” He said.

Tabi - unique Japanese socks

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 16:34:39 +1100

History. Prior to the 1500’s only the upper class in Japan wore socks. In ancient times the upper...

Evil Japanese “Fire Horse” women. In Japan it is...

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 14:17:00 +1100

Evil Japanese “Fire Horse” women.

In Japan it is believed that women born in a hinoeuma year - the year of the Fire Horse in the fifth lunar calendar cycle, or every 60 years - are evil.

These women are considered dangerous and in league with spirits that are considered less than friendly. A woman born in a hinoeuma year would not make a good wife and thus men would avoid them at all costs.

The last hinoeuma year was in 1966 and resulted in a huge spate of abortions across Japan - lest the child be a female.

Records show that Japan had a sharp decrease in birth rates in 1966 which is generally attributed to this superstition based on the old lunar calendar.

The next hinoeuma year will be 2026.

93 billion becquerels a day may still be leaking into Pacific from Fukushima plant

Sat, 16 Mar 2013 14:04:20 +1100

The amount of radioactive cesium in the seawater within the harbour at Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant...