Most viewed - CHIBA 千葉県 |
12 April 2010 --- Naoko Yamazaki (left), STS-131 mission specialist; and Soichi Noguchi, Expedition 23 flight engineer, pose for a photo near a window in the Kibo laboratory...116 views12 April 2010 --- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronauts Naoko Yamazaki (left), STS-131 mission specialist; and Soichi Noguchi, Expedition 23 flight engineer, pose for a photo near a window in the Kibo laboratory of the International Space Station while space shuttle Discovery remains docked with the station.
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The Dai-hondo main hall of Narita-san temple. 大本堂116 views
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Narita-san's Three-story Pagoda, an Important Cultural Property116 views
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116 views
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Plum blossoms at Tojotei in Matsudo, Chiba.116 views
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Tourist info office near Katsuura Station. They offer maps of the city and hina matsuri points of interest.115 views
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If it starts to rain, the surrounding neighbors will come out immediately to put away the dolls. There was no threat of rain this day.115 views
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2010 March 4-- Crew poses in front of the launch pad before the start of the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test, a simulation of the final hours of a launch countdown.115 views
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29 April 2010 --- Members of the STS-131 Ascent flight control team and crew members pose for a group portrait in the space shuttle flight control room in the Mission Control Center...115 views29 April 2010 --- The members of the STS-131 Ascent flight control team and crew members pose for a group portrait in the space shuttle flight control room in the Mission Control Center at NASA's Johnson Space Center. Flight director Bryan Lunney and NASA astronaut Alan Poindexter, commander, (left center) stand on the second row. Additional crew members pictured are NASA astronauts James P. Dutton Jr., pilot; Clayton Anderson, Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, Stephanie Wilson, Rick Mastracchio and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, all mission specialists.
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14 April 2010 --- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, STS-131 mission specialist, is pictured in a window of the Cupola for operating the robotic arm.115 views14 April 2010 --- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, STS-131 mission specialist, is pictured in a window of the Cupola of the International Space Station while space shuttle Discovery remains docked with the station. The Cupola enables direct visibility of the robotic arm instead of relying on monitors.
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Arakiyama hill 荒木山114 viewsA low hill is next to the pond. Some cherry trees are also on this hill.
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114 views
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Love these women running and pulling the mikoshi.114 views
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An early-blooming variety of cherry blossom also bloom in Katsuura during the hina matsuri, making it an added attraction. It was held during Feb. 20 to March 3, 2010 when I went.114 views
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Central Katsuura is compact, and you can reach most places on foot. Sign points the way to Tomisaki Shrine. There are a few places in Katsuura where you can see giant displays of hina dolls. Tomisaki Shrine is the centerpiece.114 views
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The whole town has become involved in the festival's success. Many owners of shops and homes where tourists pass by decorate their buildings with hina dolls.114 views
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About 1,200 hina dolls are sitting on these steps. This doll display is assembled every morning at 7 am and put away every evening during the festival. It takes around 15 people about an hour to set up the dolls every morning during the festival.114 views
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The dolls are displayed from 8 am to 7 pm (or 8 pm on weekends). If it rains, the dolls are not displayed.114 views
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2 Feb. 2005 --- NASA?s 2004 class of astronaut candidates participates in a galley training session in the Crew Compartment Trainer...114 views2 Feb. 2005 --- NASA?s 2004 class of astronaut candidates participates in a galley training session in the Crew Compartment Trainer (CCT-2) in the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility at Johnson Space Center. Pictured (seated, from back to front) are Christopher J. (Chris) Cassidy, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, Jose M. Hernandez and Richard R. (Ricky) Arnold II.
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6 April 2010 --- Naoko Yamazaki is in the hatch which connects the flight deck and middeck of space shuttle Discovery during flight day two activities.114 views6 April 2010 --- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, STS-131 mission specialist, is pictured in the hatch which connects the flight deck and middeck of space shuttle Discovery during flight day two activities. NASA astronaut Alan Poindexter, commander, is at right.
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Photogenic weeping cherry シダレザクラ113 views
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Even this soft drink vending machine had hina dolls.113 views
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113 views
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On the lower deck, Godzilla footprints. Great idea. Pointing toward Kawasaki. Umihotaru has appeared in a Godzilla movie.113 views
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Sacred horse112 views
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Since Katsuura town in Tokushima had the same name as Katsuura in Chiba, they lent 7,000 hina dolls to Katsuura in Chiba to start their own "Big Hina Matsuri."112 views
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STS-131 poster by JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency).112 views
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GO! GO! GO!112 views
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10 April 2010 --- Naoko Yamazaki, STS-131 mission specialist, works in the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module.112 views10 April 2010 --- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, STS-131 mission specialist, works in the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM) linked to the International Space Station while space shuttle Discovery remains docked with the station.
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14 April 2010 --- The STS-131 crew members pose for a portrait in the Cupola of the International Space Station while space shuttle Discovery remains docked with the station. 112 views14 April 2010 --- The STS-131 crew members pose for a portrait in the Cupola of the International Space Station while space shuttle Discovery remains docked with the station. Pictured counter-clockwise (from top left) are NASA astronauts Alan Poindexter, commander; James P. Dutton Jr., pilot; Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, Rick Mastracchio, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, NASA astronauts Clayton Anderson and Stephanie Wilson, all mission specialists.
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111 views
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Sacred dance at the Kaguraden by Sarutahiko.111 views
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Since it's wasteful to throw away these hina dolls, they send them to places like Katsuura to be reused. Katsuura's collection has thus grown to 25,000 as people all over Japan sent their old dolls.111 views
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These hanging decorations called tsurushi kazari (つるし飾り) often flank the hina dolls. Hanging on the strings are various decorations such as goldfish. Each decoration is significant for something, usually related to prosperity, good health and fo111 views
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From the Taisho Period.111 views
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A tsunami trap if I ever saw one.111 views
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14 April 2010 --- Naoko Yamazaki, STS-131 mission specialist, eats a snack in the Kibo laboratory...111 views14 April 2010 --- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, STS-131 mission specialist, eats a snack in the Kibo laboratory of the International Space Station while space shuttle Discovery remains docked with the station.
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14 April 2010 --- The four women currently on the International Space Station pose for a photo in the Cupola while space shuttle Discovery remains docked with the station...111 views14 April 2010 --- The four women currently on the International Space Station pose for a photo in the Cupola while space shuttle Discovery remains docked with the station. Pictured clockwise (from the lower right) are NASA astronauts Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, Stephanie Wilson, both STS-131 mission specialists; and Tracy Caldwell Dyson, Expedition 23 flight engineer; along with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, STS-131 mission specialist.
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STS-131 and Expedition 23 crew members gather for a group portrait in the Kibo laboratory of the International Space Station while space shuttle Discovery remains docked with the station.111 views14 April 2010 --- STS-131 and Expedition 23 crew members gather for a group portrait in the Kibo laboratory of the International Space Station while space shuttle Discovery remains docked with the station. STS-131 crew members pictured (light blue shirts) are NASA astronauts Alan Poindexter, commander; James P. Dutton Jr., pilot; Clayton Anderson, Rick Mastracchio, Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, Stephanie Wilson and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, all mission specialists. Expedition 23 crew members pictured are Russian cosmonauts Oleg Kotov, commander; Mikhail Kornienko and Alexander Skvortsov; Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Soichi Noguchi, and NASA astronauts T.J. Creamer and Tracy Caldwell Dyson, all flight engineers.
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14 April 2010 --- STS-131 and Expedition 23 crew members gather for a group portrait in the Kibo laboratory of the International Space Station...111 views14 April 2010 --- STS-131 and Expedition 23 crew members gather for a group portrait in the Kibo laboratory of the International Space Station while space shuttle Discovery remains docked with the station. STS-131 crew members pictured (light blue shirts) are NASA astronauts Alan Poindexter, commander; James P. Dutton Jr., pilot; Clayton Anderson, Rick Mastracchio, Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, Stephanie Wilson and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, all mission specialists. Expedition 23 crew members pictured are Russian cosmonauts Oleg Kotov, commander; Mikhail Kornienko and Alexander Skvortsov; Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Soichi Noguchi, and NASA astronauts T.J. Creamer and Tracy Caldwell Dyson, all flight engineers.
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110 views
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Kakuoji temple 覚翁寺(かくおうじ)山門前110 views
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2010 April 1 -- STS-131 crew are ready for launch as they arrive at Kennedy Space Center via a NASA jet.110 views
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Arakiyama hill 荒木山109 views
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Women waved fans.109 views
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Hina dolls outside the ryokan.109 views
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The 2nd floor of the public library also displays handmade hina dolls made by local nursery school kids.109 views
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Hina dolls made of quilt material.109 views
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17 August 2004 --- Naoko Yamazaki, ASCAN Class of 2004, representing the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).109 views17 August 2004 --- Naoko Yamazaki, ASCAN Class of 2004, representing the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
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10 April 2010 --- Naoko Yamazaki works with the Window Observational Research Facility (WORF) in the Destiny laboratory...109 views10 April 2010 --- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, STS-131 mission specialist, works with the Window Observational Research Facility (WORF) in the Destiny laboratory of the International Space Station while space shuttle Discovery remains docked with the station. WORF will provide cameras, multispectral and hyperspectral scanners, camcorders and other instruments to capture Earth imagery through Destiny's nadir window.
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STS-131 and Expedition 23 crew members gather for a group portrait in the Kibo laboratory of the International Space Station...109 views14 April 2010 --- STS-131 and Expedition 23 crew members gather for a group portrait in the Kibo laboratory of the International Space Station while space shuttle Discovery remains docked with the station. STS-131 crew members pictured (light blue shirts) are NASA astronauts Alan Poindexter, commander; James P. Dutton Jr., pilot; Clayton Anderson, Rick Mastracchio, Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, Stephanie Wilson and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, all mission specialists. Expedition 23 crew members pictured are Russian cosmonauts Oleg Kotov, commander; Mikhail Kornienko and Alexander Skvortsov; Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Soichi Noguchi, and NASA astronauts T.J. Creamer and Tracy Caldwell Dyson, all flight engineers.
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108 views
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Weeping cherry tree is "shidare-zakura" in Japanese.108 views
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One of the child horse riders.108 views
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On Kujukuri Beach, there a stretch of beach called Tsurigasaki Kaigan Beach marked by a torii. This will be the Tokyo 2020 Olympic venue for surfing.108 views
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This festival separates the amateur photographers from the pros. Amateurs wear long pants and shoes and enter the ocean to take pictures. I was of course wearing shorts and rubber slippers (but barefoot in the water).108 views
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The hina dolls are traditionally displayed in a home to pray for the health and growth of the family's children. However, after the kids grow up, the hina dolls are no longer displayed.108 views
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Edo Period hina dolls108 views
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Little flags and banners festooned the 500-meter parade route. 道路上街灯にフラッグ108 views
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2009 Dec. 2 -- Logo for Naoko Yamazaki's STS-131 Mission. The image on the logo is of a seed encompassing life in space and continuing to grow into a new life, a new age in space...108 viewsThe STS-130/19A mission is the final assembly mission of the International Space Station (ISS), a symbol of international cooperation. Astronaut Yamazaki is the first Japanese woman to be assigned as a NASA Mission Specialist and is scheduled to fly to the ISS. She is also the eighth Japanese to fly to space, represented on the logo by eight four-leaved clovers.
The image on the logo is of a seed encompassing life in space and continuing to grow into a new life, a new age in space. It was designed with the hope of leading all life within the universe to a better future. Moreover, the logo is made with the hope that the technology and knowledge cultivated through ISS missions, including those in the Japanese Experiment Module “Kibo,” will be used to enrich the future of the Earth, the Moon, and Mars. Finally, we hope that life in the future will grow to play an active role on both the Earth and in space.
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The International Space Station.108 views17 April 2010 --- The International Space Station is featured in this image photographed by an STS-131 crew member on space shuttle Discovery after the station and shuttle began their post-undocking relative separation. Undocking of the two spacecraft occurred at 7:52 a.m. (CDT) on April 17, 2010.
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108 views
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107 views
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The day starts with a Shinto ceremony at 10 am at Tamasaki Shrine, near Kazusa-Ichinomiya Station on the JR Sotobo Line. 玉前神社107 views
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The beginning of the procession consists of a few portable shrines pulled by children.107 views
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Back at Tamasaki Shrine are two other portable shrines which had arrived from Sannomiya Shrine, one of the junisha (12 shrines) in the Kazusa area.107 views
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Child rider leaving Tamasaki Shrine.107 views
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Tsurigasaki Kaigan is where the horses and portable shrines will start to arrive at 2:30 pm to 3 pm. This is where the crowd is. But the beach is big enough for all of us.107 views
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These are non-celebrities. They threw the beans for about a minute. Very short.107 views
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After throwing beans the first session, the bean throwers started leaving. First the sumo wrrstlers, then the actresses/actors. Haruka Ayase is behind the wrestlers here.107 views
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The festival in Katsuura, Chiba has grown to have a whopping 25,000 hina dolls on exhibit during late Feb. to March 3, the traditional Girls Day. It has since become famous in the Tokyo (Kanto) area as the TV news report it in late Feb.106 views
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About the Katsuura Hina Matsuri doll festival.106 views
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If the dolls are displayed and it starts to rain, people in the neighborhood all rush out to put away the dolls.106 views
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Sushi (my lunch) with a hina doll and sakura flower design. The head is made of cheese.106 views
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Baruto and Haruka Ayase proceed to their places.106 views
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The mikoshi start to gather for a ceremony.105 views
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Each hina doll thus represents a family's hope, prayer, and history.105 views
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Entering Tomisaki Shrine.105 views
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This shop decorated its stairway and 2nd floor.105 views
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Naoko Yamazaki speaks, thanking everyone for their support and encouragement. 山崎直子宇宙飛行士 帰還報告会105 views
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Official poster for STS-131. Looks like a movie poster, except that this adventure is for real (even though the poster makes it look like it's not real).105 views
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The steps lead to Niomon Gate.105 views
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In the water, maybe ankle deep. But the waves made it knee-deep.104 views
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Doll display at Kakuoji temple's Sanmon Gate. This is at the end of the Chuo Shotengai shopping street. 覚翁寺(かくおうじ)山門前104 views
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Hina dolls in bamboo.104 views
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2003 July 2 -- Naoko Yamazaki looking younger in 2003. Notice that her name badge still reads "Naoko Sumino," her maiden name. (JAXA photo)104 views
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Naoko Yamazaki, STS-131 mission specialist, poses for a photo in the Cupola of the International Space Station.104 views17 April 2010 --- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, STS-131 mission specialist, poses for a photo in the Cupola of the International Space Station while space shuttle Discovery remains docked with the station.
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My YouTube video of the Kazusa Junisha Matsuri in 2009. Watch them in the water and the girls waving fans.104 views
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People streaming to Shinshoji for the Setsubun bean throwing festival.104 views
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After throwing the beans, they clapped their hands.104 views
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Since I came all the way out here, I decided to stay and see the second bean-throwing ceremony at 1:30 pm.104 views
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Actress Haruka Ayase comes out of the temple.104 views
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Narita-san Shinshoji Temple is Chiba Prefecture's most famous temple. Belonging to the Shingon Buddhist Sect, it holds many of Narita's major festivals such as Setsubun. Four buildings are also Important Cultural Properties.104 viewsA short walk from JR and Keisei Narita Stations.
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Kotoshogiku showed his trademark back bend dubbed "Koto Bauer." Matsudo, Chiba104 views
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The beach is too far to walk, so they provided free shuttle buses to the beach from Kazusa-Ichinomiya Station from 2 pm. It was a 10-15 min. ride to the beach.103 views
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More mikoshi arrive.103 views
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Way to Tomisaki Shrine.103 views
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This is by far the biggest hina doll display I had ever seen in Japan. A hina matsuri of similar scale is also held in Katsuura, Tokushima Prefecture.103 views
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Morning market gets really crowded later in the afternoon when more tourists arrive.103 views
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Inside the ryokan are hina dolls.103 views
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Niomon Gate.103 views
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Normally, you can enter the temple up the steps straight from Niomon Gate, but it was blocked off and we had to use the steps on the right.103 views
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Jam-packed since Feb. 3 fell on a Sunday this year in 2013.103 views
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There's a ceremony first inside the temple.103 views
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Most of use didn't get any beans. It was the first time I didn't get any beans from a Setsubun festival.103 views
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The sumo wrestlers always stand at the top.103 views
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Two portable shrines in front of the Kaguraden stage. Kazusa is the name of the former province in central Chiba Prefecture. Junisha means twelve shrines.102 views
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They prop up the mikoshi before carrying it toward the ceremony place.102 views
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Next to the temple is the public library, another venue for doll displays.102 views
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Older dolls are also displayed.102 views
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Dolls in a bottle102 views
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Naoko Yamazaki went on her first space flight aboard Space Shuttle Discovery on April 5, 2010 and spent almost 2 weeks on the International Space Station. She returned on April 20, 2010 to Kennedy Space Center in Florida.102 views
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Representatives from the Young Astronaut Club gave her a flag and bouquet of flowers. フラッグ、花束贈呈102 views
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Gate to Shinshoji ahead.102 views
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Actress Haruka Ayase is in the center of this shot.102 views
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Beer girl at Chiba Marines baseball game at Chiba Marine Stadium or QVC Marine Field. One thing the U.S. major league games do not have.102 views
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Tamasaki Shrine torii101 views
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They head for Tsurigasaki Beach, where the torii is.101 views
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The 2nd floor of the public library exhibits hina dolls.101 views
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Passing through Niomon Gate.101 views
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The mamemaki bean-throwing ceremony was held three times. The first time was at 11 am. I was way too far away from the bean throwers.101 views
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Finally, the celebrity bean throwers arrived again and first posed for a group photo before going inside the temple for the ceremony.101 views
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Doll exhibit for a photo op. Sit there to take a picture with the dolls.100 views
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Tourist information100 views
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Hina matsuri dolls at Katsuura City Hall. About 500 dolls here, displayed from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm during the festival period.100 views
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There she is, my first good shot of her. Many people called out to her and she acknowledged with a wave and photogenic smile.100 views
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After the parade, she went to her junior high school and gave a talk to hundreds of elementary and junior high school students. She spent the night at her parents' home in Matsudo.100 views
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This is how close you have to be to the platform to get any beans.100 views
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Crowd dispersing.100 views
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A video still in front of Matsudo Station.100 views
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Child horse rider sits on a bunch of soft cushions on the horse.99 views
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The sacred horse and child riders soon join the procession as they leave Tamasaki Shrine.99 views
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Tsurigasaki Kaigan beach is where they believe the gods arrive. 釣ケ先海岸99 views
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It says, "Katsuura Hina Matsuri."99 views
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Held at the same time as the doll festival is the Asa-ichi morning market along a back street.99 views
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This Matsu no Ie ryokan is an Important Cultural Property. 松の家99 views
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Naoko Yamazaki at her homecoming ceremony in Matsudo, Chiba. She was inspired to become an astronaut when she saw a school teacher fly on the space shuttle when she was growing up in the 1980s.99 views
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Shinshoji's Somon Gate. Naritasan Shinshoji temple belongs to the Shingon Sect of Buddhism. 総門99 views
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Inside the main hall, people pray and throw money. It must like this during New Year's too. Setsubun is actually like New Year's Eve.99 views
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"Yae no Sakura" is about a woman warrior named Yae Niijima (1845-1932) from Aizu-Wakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture...99 viewsAizu-Wakamatsu is famous for Tsurugajo Castle and as the site of a Boshin War battle between pro-Emperor forces and pro-shogun forces who lost. Yae was on the latter side. After the war, she fought for equality for women and mastered English well enough to help with the English typesetting of Kyoto's earliest English guidebooks (written by her brother and translated into English by a translator).
Her husband Joseph Hardy Neesima or Jo Niijima had studied in the US and founded a Christian school which became the prestigious Doshisha University in Kyoto.
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Sitting on the right is the Sadogatake Stablemaster, former Kotonowaka who married the daughter of his late master former Yokozuna Kotozakura.99 viewsVictory parade in Matsudo, Chiba.
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Leaving Tamasaki Shrine. It was impossible to judge where I should be to take good shots. I missed quite a few opportunities. I have to see the festival again to take the shots I wanted to take this time.98 views
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One child horse rider arrives.98 views
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These dolls are also lit up at night until 8 pm when they are put away.98 views
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Each vendor at the morning market also displays hina dolls along with their wares. Very nice touch.98 views
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Katsuura City Hall98 views
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As soon as you step into Katsuura City Hall, you see this large stand of hina dolls.98 views
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Inside Katsuura City Hall98 views
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Space shuttle Discovery lands on Runway 33 at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 9:08 a.m. (EDT) on April 20, 2010.98 views20 April 2010 --- Space shuttle Discovery lands on Runway 33 at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 9:08 a.m. (EDT) on April 20, 2010, completing the 15-day STS-131 mission to the International Space Station. Main gear touchdown was at 9:08:35 a.m. followed by nose gear touchdown at 9:08:47 a.m. and wheels stop at 9:09:33 a.m. Aboard are NASA astronauts Alan Poindexter, commander; James P. Dutton Jr., pilot; Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, Rick Mastracchio, Stephanie Wilson, Clayton Anderson and Japanese astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, all mission specialists. The seven-member STS-131 crew carried the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module, filled with supplies, a new crew sleeping quarters and science racks that were transferred to the station's laboratories. The crew also switched out a gyroscope on the station's truss, installed a spare ammonia storage tank and retrieved a Japanese experiment from the station's exterior. STS-131 is the 33rd shuttle mission to the station and the 131st shuttle mission overall.
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From the train station, the main path to Narita-san is lined with shops and restaurants. The buildings look more traditional as you get closer to the temple.98 views
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I stood and waited for about 90 min. until 1:30 pm. Glad I brought lunch (riceballs).98 views
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Celebrity bean throwers wave as they enter the temple for the Setsubun ceremony.98 views
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There she is at the center, actress Haruka Ayase who plays the title role of 2013's NHK Taiga Drama, "Yae no Sakura."98 views
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Japanese beer girls at baseball games are very friendly. 98 views
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This is the Katsuura Chuo Shotengai shopping street, the festival's main street. It leads to Kakuoji temple and the public library where there are more dolls.97 views
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One more place to see hina dolls is at Katsuura City Hall. Walkable from the public library.97 views
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The Matsudo Tourist Association has a show window in Matsudo Station showing local products and a poster of Naoko.97 views
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Here are a few of my rapid-fire shots of her when she passed by me the second and last time. It was too crowded to chase her any more.97 views
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Finally in the central grounds of the temple. It was packed like a rush-hour Tokyo train.97 views
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I arrived just before 11 am which was too late to get close to the bean throwers.97 views
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People streaming into the temple's main hall.97 views
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Bean-throwing platform.97 views
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It's amazing that no one tripped and fell.96 views
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As soon as Naoko's car passed by, a huge wave of people rolled in to chase her and see her again. I was barely able to get these last two shots of her.96 views
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STS-131 Mission patch and logo.96 views
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96 views
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Meanwhile, I joined many others to worship inside the temple's main hall.96 views
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The ceremony inside the temple had sutra chanting while there was a fire started by a priest and used to heat the bean boxes given to the bean throwers. They threw beans at the altar, not to any people.96 views
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At left is Ayame Goriki, another actress, comes out of the temple.96 views
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They then ran with the portable shrine. They will run while carrying the shrine to the beach several kilometers away.95 views
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Shrine priest arrive on horseback. He looked very weary. It was a hot day too.95 views
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I kept shooting their backs. Next time, I'll try to shoot more faces.95 views
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By 1:30 pm, the place was getting quite full of people. I was standing not too close to the stage. The ceremony was to start at 2:15 pm. First the marching band played.95 views
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Sign for Naoko Yamazaki's welcome home ceremony and parade. They also passed out little flyers written with the day's schedule. 95 views
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The parade route went around a few blocks and returned to Isetan. The first stretch of the route was here where they threw confetti. Thanks to my friend Gary for these confetti shots.95 views
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Luckily she turned my way when I took this shot.95 views
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After the ceremony, the bean throwers came outside.95 views
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Shinshoji's main hall is decorated with Buddhist colors and red and white.95 views
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Already, hordes of people stand and wait for the second bean-throwing session 2 hours later.95 views
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In-between the bean-throwing sessions, they held a different ceremony, called "Kaiun mamemaki" (開運豆まき), inside the main hall. They paraded into the temple at around 12:30 pm.95 views
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The people (no celebrities) participating in Kaiun mamemaki had a group photo taken. Anybody could join this by paying 10,000 yen.95 views
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The ceremony was broadcast outside so we could hear it. There was some chanting and announcement of the names of the bean throwers.95 views
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After the ceremony which took about 20 min., they came out of the temple and took their places for bean throwing. This is Baruto.95 views
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