 Most viewed - CHIBA 千葉県 |
The biggest taiko drum festival in the Kanto region is held annually in April. Various taiko drum troupes perform for two full days on various outdoor stages in Narita, including the main stage in front of the Narita-san temple.1586 views
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White weeping cherry blossoms1506 views
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All the baby-carrying men must be careful not to slip and fall in the mud. Warabi Hadaka Matsuri in Yotsukaido, Chiba.1145 views
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1144 views
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Statue of an ama woman diver sitting on a rock on the Onjuku Station train platform. These women dived deep in the ocean (without scuba gear) from small boats to harvest shellfish and other seafood.1000 views
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Mud Brings Happiness, at Warabi Hadaka Matsuri in Yotsukaido, Chiba.950 views
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Musashimaru and Dejima946 views
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New Status Symbol at Warabi Hadaka Matsuri in Yotsukaido, Chiba.893 views
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I can't see... That's what he said: "Mienai" The kids nearby were screaming with laughter.891 views
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Actress Riho Makise throwing setsubun beans at Narita-san882 views
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Naoko Yamazaki gets help in the donning of her shuttle launch and entry suit in preparation for a water survival training session...836 views17 Sept. 2009 --- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, STS-131 mission specialist, gets help in the donning of her shuttle launch and entry suit in preparation for a water survival training session in the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL) near NASA's Johnson Space Center. United Space Alliance suit technicians assisted Yamazaki.
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A Touch of Mud. One custom is to receive a touch of mud on your face.833 views
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Mud Spotting, Warabi Hadaka Matsuri in Yotsukaido, Chiba. The men hold babies and use mud to paint a mud spot on the baby's face. It is to wish for happiness for the baby.827 views
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The End(s)814 views
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Mud Fight808 views
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A large banner adorns JR Matsudo Station (Joban Line) to celebrate Matsudo native and astronaut Yamazaki Naoko's return to Earth from her Space Shuttle mission in April 2010.777 views
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Being next to the Pacific Ocean, Chiba has quite a few festivals held on the beach. The Kazusa Junisha Matsuri is one of the larger ones. Sept. 13, 2009 (Sun.) was the main festival day when they went in the water at the beach. 774 views
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Musashimaru throws setsubun beans at Narita-san767 views
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Keep in mind that this is in the middle of winter.753 views
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Musashimaru gets his setsubun beans at Narita-san.739 views
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Baby Blessings at Warabi Hadaka Matsuri in Yotsukaido, Chiba. Infants are blessed in front of the shrine.717 views
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Sacred Water (and Mud). On the the left, the water feeding the paddy is enclosed by a sacred rope. This makes the water (and mud) sacred.703 views
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658 views
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After warming up at the fire, they run back to the mud.654 views
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Babies to Mud at Warabi Hadaka Matsuri in Yotsukaido, Chiba. The men carry babies to the mud paddy and use a straw strand to paint a dot on the baby. Sometimes they use a finger to do it.652 views
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Mud Fight. After clashing and crashing to the mud, they throw mud at each other.640 views
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Warm Up634 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.633 views
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Hikaru Nishida at center in red for Naritasan Setsubun in Feb. 2001.626 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.616 views
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Mud on Your Face: Fashionable, at Warabi Hadaka Matsuri in Yotsukaido, Chiba.600 views
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A Man and a Baby at Warabi Hadaka Matsuri in Yotsukaido, Chiba.582 views
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View of Chiba Park from monorail. 綿打池581 views
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Mud for All Ages576 views
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The festival is also nicknamed "Doronko Matsuri" which means Mud Festival.573 views
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Narita Gion Matsuri572 views
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571 views
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Mimusubi Shrine, Yotsukaido, Chiba. The small shrine that conducts the festival. (皇産霊神社)561 views
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Narita-san Setsubun bean throwers. Sumo wrestlers, Nishida Hikaru, Makise Riho, etc.558 views
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552 views
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541 views
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536 views
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528 views
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516 views
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509 views
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Preparing unagi eel, Narita, Chiba. Also see the video at YouTube.508 viewsSlicing it in half lengthwise.
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Statue of Chiba-no-suke Tsuneshige built in Dec. 2001 to commemorate Chiba city's 80th anniversary. 千葉介常重504 viewsLord Chiba-no-suke Tsuneshige was the founder of Chiba Castle in 1126.
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Men Take Strands of Straw502 views
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Mud Slinging501 views
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Mud Fight Round 2486 views
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477 views
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Cherry blossoms and Chiba Castle476 views
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Some babies wear beautiful kimono for the occasion.475 views
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465 views
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462 views
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Naoko Yamazaki, STS-131 mission specialist, addresses a large crowd of well-wishers at the STS-131 crew return ceremony on April 21, 2010 at Ellington Field...461 views21 April 2010 --- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, STS-131 mission specialist, addresses a large crowd of well-wishers at the STS-131 crew return ceremony on April 21, 2010 at Ellington Field near NASA's Johnson Space Center.
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Tired from walking, Narita Gion Matsuri456 views
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454 views
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"Shidare" actually means "drooping."453 views
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Mud Paddy. Main site of the Warabi Hadaka Matsuri held every Feb. 25.451 views
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Chiba Castle444 views
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Chiba Park approach444 views
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438 views
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Exhibits inside the castle, a folk and history museum for the Chiba clan and Chiba city.437 views
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Cherry blossoms and Chiba Castle423 views
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Narita-san during Narita Gion Festival421 views
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Narita-san temple's main hall.420 views
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Narita Gion Matsuri415 views
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Group photo of bean throwers. Sumo wrestlers at the top.411 views
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14 Sept. 2009 --- Naoko Yamazaki, attired in a training version of her shuttle launch and entry suit, participates in a training session...410 views14 Sept. 2009 --- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, STS-131 mission specialist, attired in a training version of her shuttle launch and entry suit, participates in a training session near one of the full-scale trainers in the Space Vehicle Mock-up Facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center.
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409 views
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Narita-san Park's Ukimido Floating Hall408 views
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Chiba Castle as seen from Kencho-mae monorail station.403 views
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Cleanup.399 views
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White weeping cherry blossoms396 views
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Monorail to Chiba Koen Station 千葉公園駅389 views
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387 views
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Poster for Setsubun in Feb. 2001. The following photos are from Feb. 3, 2001.386 views
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384 views
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Ohara Hadaka Matsuri383 views
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Gathering at Narita-san temple368 views
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Striping off the boney spine.361 views
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Drum troupe from S. Korea359 views
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A prince and princess on camels. This monument was built in 1969. 月の沙漠359 views
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One great thing about this hadaka matsuri is that there are women as well. Most hadaka matsuri have only men.357 views
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355 views
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Onjuku Beach is a wide, expansive beach. 御宿海岸355 views
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Pulling the float, Narita Gion Matsuri352 views
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21 April 2010 --- Dr. Kuniaki Shiraki, executive director, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), addresses a large crowd of well-wishers at the STS-131 crew return ceremony on April 21, 2010 at Ellington Field near NASA's Johnson Space Center.352 views21 April 2010 --- Dr. Kuniaki Shiraki, executive director, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), addresses a large crowd of well-wishers at the STS-131 crew return ceremony on April 21, 2010 at Ellington Field near NASA's Johnson Space Center. Also pictured (seated from the left) are JSC director Michael L. Coats (mostly obscured), NASA astronauts Alan Poindexter, commander; James P. Dutton Jr., pilot; Rick Mastracchio, Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, Stephanie Wilson, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Naoko Yamazaki and NASA astronaut Clayton Anderson, all mission specialists.
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Women too, while they are careful to prevent any nip slips.348 views
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Priests at Narita-san.347 views
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Held in July, Narita Gion Matsuri Festival has ornate floats pulled on the streets of Narita and to Narita-san temple. Pulling a float on the street346 views
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Names of celebrity bean throwers in 2001. They include actresses Hikaru Nishida and sumo wrestlers Yokozuna Akebono, Musashimaru, Dejima, and Asashoryu.344 views
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335 views
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Narita-san Dai-hondo main worship hall. These people are waiting to see the taiko drum performance. 大本堂335 views
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Yotsukaido Station is on the JR Sobu Line on the way to Narita Airport. Map: http://www.kanko.chuo.chiba.jp/c_event/5705/334 views
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330 views
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Some photos taken by Iwase. There are still ama divers in Onjuku, but they now wear wetsuits. No topless women.330 views
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Narita-san Park's Ukimido Floating Hall326 views
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Narita Gion Matsuri325 views
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323 views
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Offering prayers at Narita Gion Matsuri315 views
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Museum of Aeronautical Sciences313 viewsThe museum is right at the end of the runway of Narita International Airport.
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Narita Gion Matsuri312 views
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Naoko Yamazaki, attired in a training version of her shuttle launch and entry suit, participates in a training session in one of the full-scale trainers in the Space Vehicle Mock-up Facility at Johnson Space Center.312 views14 Sept. 2009 --- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, STS-131 mission specialist, attired in a training version of her shuttle launch and entry suit, participates in a training session in one of the full-scale trainers in the Space Vehicle Mock-up Facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center.
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One thing unusual about this festival is that they carry the mikoshi with their hands and arms only, and not on their shoulders.310 views
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Many more portable shrines follow.308 views
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Corners302 views
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NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) director Michael L. Coats (center background) and the STS-131 crew members are pictured at the STS-131 crew return ceremony on April 21, 2010 at Ellington Field near JSC.302 views21 April 2010 --- NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) director Michael L. Coats (center background) and the STS-131 crew members are pictured at the STS-131 crew return ceremony on April 21, 2010 at Ellington Field near JSC. Pictured from the left are NASA astronauts Alan Poindexter, commander; James P. Dutton Jr., pilot; Rick Mastracchio, Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, Stephanie Wilson, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Naoko Yamazaki and NASA astronaut Clayton Anderson, all mission specialists.
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Chiba Park301 views
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Platform for bean throwers.301 views
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When it's windy, the sand flies.296 views
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2009 May 15 -- Checking the fit of her pressurized suit at Johnson Space Center.296 views
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Narita-san Park's Ukimido Floating Hall295 views
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At 2 pm, the 18 portable shrines gather at the Ohara Fishing Port. 大原漁港に参集291 views
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9 Dec. 2009 --- Naoko Yamazaki dons a training version of her shuttle launch and entry suit in preparation for a training session in the Space Vehicle Mock-up Facility...288 views9 Dec. 2009 --- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, STS-131 mission specialist, dons a training version of her shuttle launch and entry suit in preparation for a training session in the Space Vehicle Mock-up Facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center. United Space Alliance suit technician Toni Cost-Davis assisted Yamazaki.
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Kazusa Junisha Matsuri Festival, Ichinomiya, Chiba on Sept. 13, 2009.287 views
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284 views
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Statue of Chiba-no-suke Tsuneshige and Chiba Castle tower 千葉介常重283 viewsLord Chiba-no-suke Tsuneshige was the founder of Chiba Castle in 1126.
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282 views
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Shopping area near Chiba Station278 views
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275 views
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JR Chiba Station and Yokosuka Line270 views
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269 views
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United Space Alliance crew trainer Robert (Rob) Tomaro briefs Naoko Yamazaki in preparation for a water survival training session...268 views17 Sept. 2009 --- United Space Alliance crew trainer Robert (Rob) Tomaro briefs Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, STS-131 mission specialist, in preparation for a water survival training session in the waters of the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL) near NASA's Johnson Space Center. Yamazaki is wearing a training version of her shuttle launch and entry suit.
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Tower of Peace, Narita-san Heiwa no Daito 平和の大塔267 views
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17 Sept. 2009 --- Naoko Yamazaki dons a training version of her shuttle launch and entry suit in preparation for a water survival training session...266 views17 Sept. 2009 --- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, STS-131 mission specialist, dons a training version of her shuttle launch and entry suit in preparation for a water survival training session in the waters of the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL) near NASA's Johnson Space Center.
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Deck265 views
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Another room in the museum describes how the Spanish galleon "San Francisco" was shipwrecked on Onjuku Beach in 1609. Over 300 of the crew were rescued by local residents.265 views
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Narita-san priests261 views
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Festival girls posing for me. They love the attention.261 views
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Also at night.258 views
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Platform for bean throwers.257 views
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Outside JR Chiba Station255 views
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Path to Chiba Castle (visible on left)254 views
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Inside Onjuku Station.253 views
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253 views
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Entrance to Inohana Park252 views
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251 views
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Festival poster for Sept. 23-24, 2004.250 views
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29 Jan. 2010 --- Naoko Yamazaki, attired in a training version of her shuttle launch and entry suit, awaits the start of an ingress/egress training session...250 views29 Jan. 2010 --- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, STS-131 mission specialist, attired in a training version of her shuttle launch and entry suit, awaits the start of an ingress/egress training session in the Space Vehicle Mock-up Facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center.
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14 Sept. 2009 --- Attired in training versions of their shuttle launch and entry suits, the STS-131 crew members await the start of a training session in the Space Vehicle Mock-up Facility at Johnson Space Center.250 views14 Sept. 2009 --- Attired in training versions of their shuttle launch and entry suits, the STS-131 crew members await the start of a training session in the Space Vehicle Mock-up Facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center. Pictured from the left are Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, mission specialist; NASA astronauts James P. Dutton Jr., pilot; Alan Poindexter, commander; Stephanie Wilson, Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, Clay Anderson and Rick Mastracchio, all mission specialists.
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Poster for a local festival.249 views
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Tossing the mikoshi into the air.249 views
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248 views
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Naoko Yamazaki (left) and NASA astronaut Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, attired in training versions of their shuttle launch and entry suits, await the start of an ingress/egress training session...247 views29 Jan. 2010) --- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Naoko Yamazaki (left) and NASA astronaut Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, both STS-131 mission specialists, attired in training versions of their shuttle launch and entry suits, await the start of an ingress/egress training session in the Space Vehicle Mock-up Facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center.
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Last group246 views
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Model of the shipwrecked Spanish galleon. The ama women divers even used their bodies to warm the bodies of the weak Spanish crewmen. This has led to friendly relations between Onjuku and Spain.246 views
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The small coastal town of Katsuura holds one of Japan's most impressive hina matsuri doll festival during late Feb. to early March. 246 viewsA whopping 25,000 hina ningyo dolls are displayed all over town. Photo: JR Katsuura Station on the Sotobo Line. Katsuura is about 2 hours from Tokyo on non-express trains. Board the Sotobo Line at Chiba Station.
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Chiba Park weeping cherries243 views
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241 views
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Chiba Park241 views
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239 views
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239 views
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238 views
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Chiba Castle tower237 views
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JR Chiba Station237 views
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Picture of Iwase Yoshiyuki (1904-2001) who photographed many topless ama women divers in Onjuku during the 1930s to 1960s. He even organized photo shoots featuring the divers.237 views
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Chiba Station as seen from the monorail235 views
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Chiba Koen Station 千葉公園駅233 views
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Beach volleyball courts. Should come back in summer.233 views
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Front view230 views
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Haruka Ayase is in the title role of Yae Niijima in this year's NHK Taiga Drama.229 views
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226 views
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Chiba Station and monorail226 views
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Onjuku Beach225 views
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L-R: Haruka Ayase, Kotaro Koizumi (son of former Prime Minister Jun'ichiro Koizumi), and Hidetoshi Nishijima at Naritasan Shinshoji Setsubun festival on Feb. 3, 2013.225 views
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224 views
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224 views
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Chiba Station as seen from the monorail223 views
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222 views
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They run around while carrying a portable shrine.222 views
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JR Onjuku Station on the Sotobo Line. From Tokyo Station, catch the Yokosuka or Sobu Line to Chiba Station, then switch to the Sotobo Line. Takes about 2 hours by local train. Faster by express train. There are no coin-operated lockers.222 views
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2010 March 5 --- During the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test, the crew sit in Space Shuttle Discovery for a countdown simulation. In the middle is Naoko.221 views
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220 views
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JR Chiba Station219 views
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From the beach, the portable shrines are paraded in town.219 views
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JAXA Astronaut Naoko Yamazaki at her welcome home parade in Matsudo, Chiba Prefecture on May 22, 2010.219 views
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JR Chiba Station platform217 views
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Vending machines217 views
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216 views
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Chiba Castle and paper lanterns216 views
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They keep going round and round. Quite rowdy.215 views
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Negatives of photos taken by Iwase who was a sake brewer in Onjuku. He was an avid amateur shutterbug who tended to ignore his sake-brewing duties and went after the ama divers instead. (Can't blame him.)215 views
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214 views
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Chiba Castle Sakura Matsuri lantern214 views
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View from monorail214 views
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213 views
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Monument for "Desert of the Moon," a famous children's song created on Onjuku Beach in 1923 by Kato Masao (加藤まさを). (Tsuki no Sabaku) 月の沙漠212 views
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Bekkoame candy stand210 views
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Iwase took many precious photos of these young and old hardworking women. He put them in a book called Groups of Women Ama Divers. They were topless because it felt more comfortable.210 views
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209 views
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Prayers at Narita-san208 views
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Komyodo Hall, Important Cultural Property at Narita-san. Built in 1701 and dedicated to the Dainichi Nyorai Buddha, the principal image of Shingon Buddhism. 光明堂208 views
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To the beach and water.204 views
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Origami hina dolls203 views
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A man who got bumped and fell is quickly brought to his feet by other people.202 views
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201 views
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Tossing a portable shrine, a common sight during the festival.200 views
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199 views
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View from monorail199 views
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Chiba Prefectural Capital199 views
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The road in front of Onjuku Station goes toward the beach. Follow the palm trees. A short walk to the beach.199 views
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199 views
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2010 March 5 --- For the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test, Naoko Yamazaki is about to board Space Shuttle Discovery.199 views
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Main stage at Narita-san temple.198 views
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198 views
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Chiba Koen Station monorail198 views
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Outside JR Chiba Station198 views
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Chiba Station as seen from the monorail198 views
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197 views
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196 views
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Nice mikoshi.196 views
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196 views
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Chiba Monorail Station194 views
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Katsuura fish market194 views
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193 views
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193 views
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Entrance to Chiba Monorail Station193 views
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Actress Haruka Ayase (left) throws beans at Naritasan Shinshoji temple on Feb. 3, 2013.193 views
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Taiko troupe from Okinawa192 viewsThis group stole the show with a dragon dance, lion dogs, and eisa taiko drummers.
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192 views
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191 views
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A few hotels overlook the beach.191 views
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Looks like a sand dune, but it's solid concrete looking like sand.191 views
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190 views
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Windsurfing at Onjuku190 views
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The men covered their bellies, while the women covered their bellies and chests.190 views
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189 views
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189 views
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188 views
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Side entrance to Narita-san temple.188 views
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The crowd try desperately to get a shot of Haruka Ayase. I was shooting blind as I raised my camera in the air to shoot. Narita-san Shinshoji temple Setsubun bean throwing.188 views
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187 views
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186 views
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This is where they offload fish.186 views
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186 views
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185 views
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185 views
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184 views
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Pink weeping cherry blossoms184 views
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Next to Onjuku Station is this tourist information office.184 views
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