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Kanamara mikoshi629 views
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628 views
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Crane design in temari628 views
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Ninja looked at a cat's eyes to find out what time it was. If the iris was almost closed, it was noon. If dilated, it was late at night. Must've been troublesome to find and snatch a cat to find out what time it was.628 views
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Map of Japan showing numerous ninja schools which existed during the feudal era. Iga-Ueno and Koga ninja were the most famous.628 views
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Hula and cherry blossoms627 views
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He was grim-faced all throughout627 views
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A pair of floating rings with a platform in the middle.627 views
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Revolving door (opened). The floor also has a trap door (see next photo) where you can go down and escape through a tunnel leading to a well in the garden outside.627 views
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Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) man the rails while the ship arrives in its new home port in Japan.627 viewsYOKOSUKA, Japan (Sept. 25, 2008) Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) man the rails while the ship arrives in its new home port in Japan. George Washington and Carrier Air Wing 5 will now operate from Fleet Activities Yokosuka as the U.S. Navy's only forward-deployed aircraft carrier. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kevin S. O'Brien/Released)
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Shot in 2003.626 views
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626 views
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Ninja well with an escape tunnel which you can almost walk through.626 views
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625 views
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Torch runner at Omotesando, for Athens 2004 Olympic Torch Relay625 viewsMiura Yukari, a high school student from Fukushima Pref.
福島工業高等専門学校に通い、部活動はソフトボールという三浦由香里さん。
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Maki-bishi spikes thrown on the ground to poke your feet. These are made from dried water chestnuts (aquatic plant found in marshes). One of the four spikes will point upward.625 views
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Revolving door of Iga-ryu Ninja House 625 views
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Iga-ryu Ninja House ninja show.625 views
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Part 2: Passing of Spring in Kyoto, "Nanohanaya" (Rape blossoms) 菜の花や624 viewsPart 2 of the program consists of dance numbers.
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This is what you see inside Oku-no-miya Shrine. A giant wooden phallus offering.624 views
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They are in the mud for only a few minutes. Then they go back up to the shrine nearby and warm up near a fire. They go back and forth between the shrine and mud paddy about 4 or 5 times.622 views
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The procession is ready to start from Kumano Shrine.622 views
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People waiting for the procession in front of Kumano Shrine.622 views
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Once a group gets large enough, they take you all in and a female ninja guide explains the house's ninja trickery. Admission charged. Recommended is the set of tickets that admit you to the ninja house, castle, and Danjiri Museum.622 views
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Crazy sumo fan621 viewsThey also sold the real banzuke for 50 yen.
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1. Fuji Murasaki (Purple Wisteria)621 views
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Looks like the trees are on fire. Rikugien Garden, Tokyo621 views
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621 views
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Aoi Festival, Kyoto620 viewsThe parade proceeds through a long route in Kyoto, taking a few hours.
See more photos of this festival here.
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Seibu Ikebukuro Line train station entrance at Ikebukuro, Tokyo. It takes about 90 min. from Ikebukuro to Yokoze Station via Tokkyu express train. Cheaper trains take 2 hours.620 views
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View of the Sekigahara battlefield from Tokugawa Ieyasu's first base camp at Momokubari.620 views
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Trying my shuriken skills. You throw it with an overhand throw (like a baseball) and not like a frisbee. Also see my YouTube video here.620 views
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The Nagaragawa River ukai cormorant fishing is held nightly from May 11 to Oct. 15 except during the Full Moon and if the river overflows. You can buy tickets and board the viewing boats here, next to Nagarabashi Bridge. 鵜飼観覧船のりば620 views
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Closeup of red plum blossom618 views
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Hikone Castle and Genkyu-en Garden in fall617 views
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My 34-min. comprehensive English video about Hikone Castle, Genkyuen Garden, and autumn festivals. 617 views
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Oiran Dochu procession, Ichiyo Sakura Festuval, Tokyo. Her obi sash is tied in the front in a knot called manaita-musubi.616 views
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Hearth with a escape hatch at the bottom. A tour guide shows you the gimmicks of the house.616 views
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Ieyasu and his troops were here from about 6 am to 10 am on the day of the Sekigahara battle. He later moved closer to the front line as the battle was going his way. This is a National Historic Place. 桃配山 徳川家康最初陣跡614 views
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They changed their outfit and looked more like cheerleaders now.614 views
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Welcome to Hikone, best known for Hikone Castle and mascot Hiko-nyan. At JR Hikone Station, this photo of official mascot Hikonyan greets you. Map614 views
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613 views
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Hawaii's last sumo wrestler shakes hands.612 viewsIf he were married, his wife would be beside him.
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Weeping plum blossoms at the top of the plum tree "waterfall."612 views
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Tokyo Station Yaesu Central Entrance in 2007. 東京駅八重洲中央口612 views
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Path to front gate of Gotokuji Temple known as the Ii Clan's family temple. Over 300 lords (incuding 6 Hikone Castle lords), wives, concubines, and children related to the Ii Clan from Hikone Castle in Shiga Prefecture, are buried here.612 views
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About the Bonsho temple bell at Chusonji temple. 梵鐘612 views
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Pesto noodles, a specialty of Genova ペスト、ジェノバの名物611 views
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花魁道中611 views
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610 views
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Hikaru Nishida at center in red for Naritasan Setsubun in Feb. 2001.610 views
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Rear view of the shiranui style of tying the rope.609 viewsHe turned in all four directions to show everyone what it looked like. This is what is called the shiranui style of tying the rope. It is characterized by a single loop in the back. The other style, called unryu, has twin loops.
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609 views
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Maids to greet you609 views
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The 2nd floor, between the first floor and ceiling, has a very low height which can entrap an intruder going upstairs.609 views
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Duel to the death.609 views
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Hypocenter marker608 viewsOn August 9, 1945 an atomic bomb exploded in the sky about 500 meters above the point where this monument now stands. The area within a 2.5 kilometer radius of the hypocenter was completely devastated.
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Hypocenter description608 views
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Shuriken throwing knives.608 views
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Making medicine.608 views
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Display case showing ninja costumes. Real ninja mainly wore one of seven disguises instead of the stereotypical black costume. They could be dressed as a priest, merchant, jester, etc.607 views
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They are shouting, "Dekkai-mara Dekkai-mara" which probably means "huge phallus."606 views
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606 views
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606 views
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Matchlock gun demo at Azuchi Nobunaga Festival606 views
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If you go early in the morning, there are fewer people.605 views
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Iwakuni Castle604 views
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Bag checkpoint ahead. They inspected all our bags. Note that they do not allow any drinks (not even water) to be taken into the palace. You will have to dump it in the trash can they provide.604 views
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603 views
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Four ladies in waiting called shinzo, follow the oiran. They are future oiran. 振袖新造603 views
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I first heard about Nara's 1300th anniversary a few years ago through this mascot named Sento-kun. A boy priest with deer antlers was so absurd that he has become very popular and recognizable.603 views
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Nohime, wife of Oda Nobunaga. 農姫602 views
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Out of the main gate. Everything was very orderly, no pushing nor shoving.601 views
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Konishiki is called and he enters601 views
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Maiko poses in front of the Naginata-boko float across the street in Kyoto601 views
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Bag of beans. I caught this from Dejima. They throw little bags of beans instead of individual beans. Bean bags are much easier to catch and to clean up afterward.601 views
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Oiran Dochu Procession 花の吉原おいらん道中599 views
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Snip by Musashimaru's brother599 views
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Illustration of Tokugawa Ieyasu's Final Base Camp where he inspected the heads of his defeated enemies.599 views
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Yohei Takai vs. Tatsuhiro Muramoto (semi-final)598 views
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Kanamara mikoshi598 views
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Tomioka Hachiman tekomai geisha598 views
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Inside Koka Ninja Museum which opened in 1983. The dirt-floored room has various ninja ladders.598 views
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Ninja tools598 views
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Kitchen598 views
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Five-colored rice grains used for secret communication.598 views
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Shuruken takes skill to throw.598 views
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Panoramic view of where the Battle of Sekigahara started. Most battle monuments are within walking distance from the train station, but they are numerous and spread over a wide area.597 viewsThe battle started at the foot of the hill on the left of the road. The small hill on the right was where Shimazu Yoshihiro was stationed. Mt. Ibuki is in the background in the middle.
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Held annually during Aug. 6-8, the Sendai Tanabata Matsuri is Japan's largest, grandest, and most famous Tanabata Festival. Commonly called the Star Festival, Tanabata Matsuri features large colorful, streamer decorations (called take-kazari).596 views
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3. Edo no Nigiwai (Liveliness of Edo)595 views
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595 views
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3. 梅にも春 Ume ni mo Haru594 viewsDancers: 千丸、史織
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This room has display cases showing various ninja weapons, tools, and costumes. The ceiling is also quite low, designed to impede the wielding of samurai swords.594 views
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Long line at the lollipop stand...593 views
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The rope is connected to a noise maker on the 2nd floor here. The intruder would then think that the ninja is on the 2nd floor and go up the ladder in pursuit. When the intruder is on the 2nd floor, the ninja below the trap door would remove the ladder.593 views
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593 views
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The bow twirler is a Makushita Division wrestler (third highest division). Afterward, the entire sumo ring is covered with a cloth. Also see my Kokugikan photos here.593 views
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Ninja shop593 views
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Mud on Your Face: Fashionable, at Warabi Hadaka Matsuri in Yotsukaido, Chiba.592 views
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Farewell Konica-Minolta592 views
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But his mom cannot step on the sumo ring...592 viewsFemales are prohibited from entering the sumo ring. Barring women from stepping onto the sumo ring, even to give an award to a wrestler, is one of the most blatant and preposterous forms of sexual discrimination in Japan. It was devised centuries ago, and for the sake of tradition, traditionalists in the sumo world have maintained this extremely absurd custom and belief that women are considered to be impure (due to menstruation). I'm not saying this as a gaijin (foreigner) who likes to criticize Japan or the Japanese. Nor am I saying this as a women's rights advocate. I say this from the standpoint of plain, old common sense.
Up to 1909, women were actually not allowed enter a sumo arena to view sumo matches. And once upon a time, women were prohibited from setting foot on sacred Mt. Fuji. Can you imagine if these traditions were still being practiced today?
Such discriminatory practices were abolished long ago, and here we are in the 21st century with women still unable to step into the sumo ring. The Japan Sumo Association has constantly rejected requests from important female ministers in the Prime Minister's Cabinet to give an award to the tournament winner in the sumo ring.
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Now comes the giant phallus heading for the shrine's main hall.592 views
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Oguchi Taro Statue and Biwako Shuko no Uta Song Monument. On the shore of Lake Suwa, Okaya, Nagano. 歌碑と小口太郎銅像590 viewsThis was where I first heard the song, "Biwako Shuko no Uta." In May 2004, I was in Suwa, Nagano Pref. to see and photograph the Onbashira Festival (held every 6 years). My hotel was in the neighboring city of Okaya on the shores of Lake Suwa.
I walked around the lake and came across this statue of Taro Oguchi and song monument. I was very surprised when I saw the word "Biwako" (Lake Biwa). This was Nagano, not Shiga, so it was most unexpected to see "Biwako" here. I read the song lyrics on the monument and was surprised and delighted to see the names of well-known places in Shiga.
The monument even had music box (seen on left) where you could hear three versions of the song. I immediately found it intriguing.
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The left sliding wooden door is very heavy, about 50 kg, making it difficult to open. This buys more time for the ninja to escape.590 views
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The Sanno-sai Festival is held annually on April 12-15 at Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture. Not to be confused with the Sanno Matsuri held by Hie Shrine in Tokyo. It centers on April 14, the shrine's most important day called Reisai.590 views
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Signboard for retirement ceremony at entrance.589 viewsIt reads "Musashimaru, Intai Danpatsu Hiroo Ozumo" which means "Musashimaru Topknot-Cutting and Retirement Sumo Exhibition."
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Finale: "Hana Utage" (Flower Banquet) 花うたげ589 views
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Head of the Edo-Yoshiwara Oiran Dochu procession which started at 1:30 pm. 江戸吉原おいらん道中589 views
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Shinobi Shrine has a statue of Daikokuten, one of the seven gods of good fortune. He is worshipped for good marriage, food, and prosperity. Made during the early Edo Period, it's Japan's largest wooden statue of Daikokuten. 大黒天589 views
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Giant Buddha's hand. Used in a 1982 ninja movie. The hand has the same scale as the Giant Buddha's hand in Nara's Todaiji temple.589 views
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These aircraft carrier photos are by the US Navy.589 viewsYOKOSUKA, Japan (Sept. 25, 2008) Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) form the phrase "Hajimemashite," which means "Nice to meet you" in Japanese, as they arrive at Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan. George Washington and Carrier Air Wing 5 will be operating from Fleet Activities Yokosuka as the U.S. Navy's only forward-deployed aircraft carrier. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Clifford L. H. Davis (Released)
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Poster for the movie "Katen no Shiro" (火天の城) released in Japan on Sept. 12, 2009. It is about the building of Azuchi Castle. Movie review here589 views
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588 views
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Entrance to the Ichiyo Sakura Matsuri festival site on Komatsu-bashi-dori near Asakusa, behind Sensoji temple. 第5回浅草観音うら 一葉桜まつり 小松橋通り588 views
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Nakamon Gate to Imperial Palace 中門587 views
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More blood relatives (or brothers)587 views
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Five-colored rice grains used for secret communication.587 views
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According to legend, three days after the golden Kannon statue was found, a golden dragon descended from heaven and danced. The mountain name of the temple is Kinryu-zan, meaning Golden Dragon Mountain. (Most temples have a mountain name.)586 views
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Ceremony back at the shrine586 views
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Toyako Onsen Spa is Lake Toya's main town and tourist base on the southern shore. It is a cluster of hotels and ryokans offering hot spring waters.585 views
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Cushion585 views
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Designed by William Merrell Vories, the old Toyosato Elementary School building was built in 1937. This picture was taken in 2007, before renovations. This is the front gate.585 views
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Shigaraki tanuki racoon dogs.584 views
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Path to Peace Statue583 views
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583 views
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They wrap the rope around his waist from the front, or the thickest part of the rope.583 viewsThis was a demonstration on how they tie on the thick, white rope (tsuna) around his waist. The tsuna is the symbol of the yokozuna. It takes several assistants to put it on. They are all wearing white gloves.
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Snip by stablemate Ozeki Musoyama583 views
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Entrance to another room on the first floor. Although the Koga ninja and Iga ninja (in Mie Prefecture) were the most famous, there were actually numerous ninja groups in many other parts of Japan as well. They were most active during wars.583 views
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Bonsho temple bell at Chusonji temple. Nice building for the bell. 梵鐘583 views
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9:38 am: Crossing the second bridge. The first Nijubashi Bridge, which we crossed first, is in the distance. Nijubashi means double bridge. 二重橋582 views
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For an extra 200 yen, you can watch the ninja show right next to the ninja house.582 views
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581 views
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9:33 am: Behind us on Nijubashi Bridge. 二重橋581 views
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581 views
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Welcome to Akihabara! (Or Akiba for short.) Japan and Tokyo's largest cluster of electronics shops.581 views
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581 views
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Kanamara mikoshi salutes the Wakamiya Hachimangu Shrine580 views
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7. Sawagi さわぎ580 views
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Finale: "Hana Utage" (Flower Banquet) 花うたげ580 views
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580 views
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Banners mark the site where the battle started.580 views
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DPE579 viewsDPE - Stands for Development, Printing, and Enlargement. We often find this at neighborhood photofinishers, but never at pro labs. The kanji after "DPE" is "uketsuke." The same characters as in the preceding picture.
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579 views
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Behind us. At the very rear below the trees, there is a slightly elevated platform where the news media can take photos. You can see many tripods set up. That's how they are able to photograph the Emperor with the flags waving well below the balcony.579 views
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Tokyo Anime Center, Akihabara579 views
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579 views
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Cheerleader in the stands!579 views
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Female ninja579 views
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Birds of Hokkaido, by Tadashi Shimada （クーサモ図書館への寄贈図書）578 viewsGreat collection of various birds photographed in Hokkaido, Japan's northern-most island. See book review here.
This book has been donated to the Kuusamo public library by Philbert Ono.
この写真集もPhotoGuide Japanがクーサモ町の図書館へ寄贈しました。
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Fukuyama Castle tower578 views
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Dart-shaped shuriken. Shuriken were not only star-shaped. These were either thrown straight-on, or thrown while the point rotated 180 degrees turning toward the target. It was difficult to throw, and much practice was required..578 views
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Remains of Urakami Cathedral wall577 viewsNext to the hypocenter is this partial cathedral wall.
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Bus in front of Railway Station 駅前のバス577 viewsFinnish design perhaps. Definitely better looking than buses in Japan.
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Opel577 viewsYes, some girls don't need to smile to look good.
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Edo Scenes: 2. Sumidagawa (Sumida River)577 viewsSolo dancer: 眞由美 (Mayumi)
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Miss Ebisu-bashi Runner-up576 views
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Path to Koka Ninjutsu-mura Village. Admission is 1,000 yen for adults. Cheaper for students. Open 10 am - 5 pm. Free shuttle bus available from JR Koka Station. Phone: 0748-88-5000576 views
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You have to see the video of these fantastic women taiko drummers on March 5, 2011.576 views
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Box seats. Cramped space for four people.575 views
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A Man and a Baby at Warabi Hadaka Matsuri in Yotsukaido, Chiba.574 views
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574 views
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574 views
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New Year's, Gifu Station574 views
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Woman with pen and scroll. Judging from her hairstyle, this photo was probably taken during the Taisho Period (1912-1926).574 views
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Baton-twirling club from the Chiyoda Jogakuin Junior/Senior High School followed by the elephant573 views千代田女学院
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The Saio-dai Princess in 2005 was Saito Ayako, a 21-year-old Kyoto native and student at Doshisha Univ. Her 12-layer juni-hitoe kimono weighs 30 kg. 斎王代、齋藤彩子さん(21)573 viewsThe Saio-dai Princess is selected every year in April and a press conference is held to announce who was chosen. She is always a native of Kyoto, single, and in her early 20s. The Saio-dai was first incorporated in the festival in 1956. In 2005, she is the 50th Saio-dai.
Read more about here.
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Iga-ryu Ninja House is in Ueno Park which includes Iga-Ueno Castle nearby.573 views
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Left view from Nijubashi Bridge. Everyone knows what the Nijubashi Bridge looks like from outside. Finally, we see what it looks like from the bridge. 二重橋572 views
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View of Chiba Park from monorail. 綿打池572 views
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Demonstration of matchlock guns, Azuchi Nobunaga Festival.572 viewsEven these people had to obtain police permission to bear and fire these feudal-era guns.
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Haniwa statues in Heiwadai Park, Miyazaki572 views
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Small gun concealed as a sword.572 views
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Peace memorial from Germany571 views
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Registry Shelf storing the names of atomic bomb victims571 views
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Subaru571 views
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Kia Motors571 viewsA crowd favorite. Kia (not her name) is from South Korea.
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Float pullers at Hirosaki Neputa Matsuri571 views
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Map on lookout deck.571 views
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Mud for All Ages570 views
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Welcome!570 viewsようこそ - The red hiragana characters read "Yōkoso!" (Welcome!). The bottom characters say "Mother Bokujō e" (to Mother Farm).
(Note that all the Japanese kanji characters you see on signs will read either from top to bottom or from left to right.)
Place: Mother Farm, Chiba.
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9:57 am: Filled on our left. The entire place was full by 10 am. Quite a few foreigners were present as well. Rightists with large flags were also there.570 views
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Sailors man the rails as the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) pulls into its new operating base at Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan.570 viewsYOKOSUKA, Japan (Sept. 25, 2008) Sailors man the rails as the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) pulls into its new operating base at Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan. George Washington's arrival from its former homeport of Norfolk, Va., marks the beginning of its role as the Navy's only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier and as centerpiece of the U.S. 7th Fleet's Carrier Strike Group Five. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Kari Bergman/Released)
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Sumo wrestler's hairstyle.570 views
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Ninja dolls570 views
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Thatched-roof of Iga-ryu Ninja House.570 views
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Mine-yakushido Hall worships Yakushi Nyorai. 峯薬師堂570 views
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Taiko drummers welcome the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) as the ship pulls into its new operating base at Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan.569 viewsYOKOSUKA, Japan (Sept. 25, 2008) Taiko drummers welcome the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) as the ship pulls into its new operating base at Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan. George Washington's arrival from its former homeport of Norfolk, Va., marks the beginning of its role as the Navy's only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier and as centerpiece of the U.S. 7th Fleet's Carrier Strike Group Five. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Kari Bergman/Released)
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The festival is also nicknamed "Doronko Matsuri" which means Mud Festival.568 views
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Praying at Bishamon568 viewsBishamon is a Buddhist temple in Kagurazaka where the geisha go to worship. The song included a reference to this temple.
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8:37 am: We crossed the street to enter Imperial Palace grounds568 views
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568 views
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Sarutahiko-no-Okami, the deity who led the descent of Amaterasu (Sun Goddess) from heaven to earth.568 views
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I give her my Best Babe and Best Costume Awards for Tokyo Marathon 2010.568 views
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8:40 am: Bag check567 views
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From Shizuoka Station (bus stop 19), it takes 35 min. by bus to Nihondaira. The bus comes to this Nihondaira Park Center. From here, you can easily walk to the points of interest.567 views
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Tokushima Awa Odori dancer566 views
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The procession goers down the slope in front of Kumano Shrine.566 views
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Beckoning cats, maneki neko, which did their duty for their owners who now offer them to the temple as a gesture of thanks. Gotokuji temple, Tokyo.566 views
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Banners and a monument mark the spot on Mt. Momokubari where Tokugawa Ieyasu's first base camp was established during the Battle of Sekigahara on Sept. 15, 1600.566 views
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With buckets and water testing kits, they do their testing.566 views
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Hooks for hoisting ropes on walls, etc. The Koka ninja reluctantly moved to Edo (Tokyo) around 1634 as requested by the shogun, and worked as castle guards, gathered intelligence on daimyo lords, and formed a gun battalion.566 views
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On Oct. 18-19, 2008, the town of Sekigahara held a special festival to commemorate the Battle of Sekigahara. The last time they did this was in 2000 for the 400th anniversary of the battle. The main venue was near the town hall.566 views
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Narita Gion Matsuri565 views
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Hypocenter of atomic bomb, adjacent to Peace park565 viewsAlmost right next to the Peace park is the hypocenter marker above which the bomb exploded. Often hoards of students on class trips can be see squatting here listening to a talk about this place.
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Azuchi Castle construction565 views
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Reconstructed in 1959 in ferro-concrete, Nagoya Castle's main tenshu tower has closed on May 6, 2018 to start its monumental reconstruction. 天守閣565 viewsThis main tower used to house a museum. The top floor had a lookout deck with fine views.
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564 views
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Peace memorial from Czechoslovakia563 views
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Iga-ryu Ninja House is a thatched-roof house whose roof once caught fire in the 1990s. It was rebuilt.563 views
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The wooden railing on the right is slimmer than the left one. It means it is removable, allowing the ninja to escape from the 2nd floor.562 views
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Mt. Fuji and Lake Yamanaka561 views
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Explanatory map of the Battle of Sekigahara561 views
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Statue of Lord Ii Naomasa (井伊 直政 1561-1602 ) in front of JR Hikone Station in 2007.561 views
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561 views
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560 views
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Geisha Pair Outside Geisha House. These two geisha know how to pose for the camera. It looks like Kyoto. You can tell that they are geisha because of the shorter kimono sleeve, subdued kimono design (mostly black), and their clogs (for rainy weather).560 views
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Me next please!!!559 viewsThe winner gets to decide who to wrestle next. The rikishi all beg to be picked.
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Tekomai geisha existed since the Edo Period. They served as side entertainment at festivals. They only sing traditional chant-like songs called kiyari originally sung by lumberers hauling wood. 手古舞559 viewsThese tekomai did not sing, so they might not be real. When they sing, they hold a fan to their mouth.
手古舞
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Shinsaibashi Top Lady559 views
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Autumn Rose. Moss pink flowers have five petals with notches, looking like miniature cherry blossoms. The flowers are small. ｵｰﾀﾑﾛｰｽﾞ559 views
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Shibuya crossing558 views
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Ninja souvenirs558 views
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Arabian Gulf (Mar. 1, 2003) -- Vice Adm. Timothy Keating, Commander, U.S. Naval Force Central Command, tours the bridge of the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) while meeting with Sailors aboard ship.558 viewsArabian Gulf (Mar. 1, 2003) -- Vice Adm. Timothy Keating, Commander, U.S. Naval Force Central Command, tours the bridge of the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) while meeting with Sailors aboard ship. Kitty Hawk and her embarked Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5) are conducting missions in support Operation Southern Watch and Enduring Freedom. Kitty Hawk and its embarked Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5) is the world’s only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier and operates out of Yokosuka, Japan. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class William H. Ramsey. (RELEASED)
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More secret ninja language.558 views
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Koenji Awa Odori557 views
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Mt. Naka-dake is Mt. Aso's most famous crater, Kumamoto 阿蘇山 中岳火口557 viewsMeasures 1 km wide north to south and 4 km east to west.
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557 views
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Inside ninja museum which is in a former rice warehouse.557 views
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My YouTube video featuring Diverse dance troupes on the streets of Fukushima in the evening at the annual Fukushima Waraji Matsuri. This is the evening parade (Dancing Soda Night) on Aug. 8, 2009.557 views
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Mimusubi Shrine, Yotsukaido, Chiba. The small shrine that conducts the festival. (皇産霊神社)556 views
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Costume Player Area, Tokyo Big Sight556 views会場 - The sign says "Cosplay Kaijō" meaning Costume Player area (where you can pose for photographers). They are allowed to use it from 12 noon to 4:00 pm. And they even provide a dressing room (closes at 5 pm) for these costumers who attract visitors to the comic book show held there. Taken at Tokyo Big Sight.
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Symbol of Nagoya, golden shachihoko. Killer whale or fish with a tiger's head.556 viewsFirst believed to protect the building from disasters, but later served as the symbol of the castle lord's authority. The original pair was destroyed along with the castle tower during WWII, but they were remade in 1959 along with the castle tower. Later, they were recoated with gold. They gleam very well on sunny days. The male fish is on the right (north), and female (south) on the left.
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Nephews give a flower bouquet (they can step on the sumo ring)556 views
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Setsubun bean throwing at Takahata Fudoson temple, Hino, Tokyo556 views
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One of Japan's renown and historical centers for pottery, Shigaraki's heart is the Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park.556 views
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556 views
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556 views
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556 views
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The following photos were taken by photographers from New Brunswick, Canada during a photo trip to Japan in March 2005. Led and guided by pro photographer Mark Hemmings, they were Kevin Halcrow, Jeff and Kim Matheson, and Ashley Hicks.555 views
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Konomiya Hadaka Festival, Inazawa, Aichi Pref.555 views
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Ninja doll on a pole.555 views
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That rope goes to the second floor (see next photo).554 views
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Portable shrine procession553 views
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The Ninja House also displays autographs by celebrities who visited the house. This is actor Harrison Ford who visited in Feb. 2000. He came unannounced with a taxi driver, interpreter, and his son.552 views
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A bit of rythmn gymnastics.552 views
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Comic sumo (shokkiri sumo)551 viewsThis is comedy time with two young wrestlers performing various comical antics (spitting at each other, kicking, and other illegal sumo acts) on the ring.
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Nezu Shrine, Tokyo551 views
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Kubota Castle550 views
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Mini octopus550 views
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Ladder going up to the attic.550 views
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