 Last additions - philbert |
Athens Gold Medalist Keiji Suzuki pyches himself upMay 03, 2005
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Crazy sumo fanThey also sold the real banzuke for 50 yen.May 03, 2005
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Finish, everybody out please...May 03, 2005
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Takamisakari for butsuri keikoEverybody cheered whenever he entered the ring.May 03, 2005
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Asashoryu exchanges a few wordsAfter the practice was over at 11 am, the sole yokozuna went over to the council.May 03, 2005
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May 03, 2005
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Butsuri keikoMay 03, 2005
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Asashoryu gets thrownMay 03, 2005
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A "darn it" look on his faceMay 03, 2005
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BreakAsashoryu took a water break between each practice bout.May 03, 2005
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I'm waiting...May 03, 2005
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May 03, 2005
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May 03, 2005
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Both ozeki watchMay 03, 2005
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May 03, 2005
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Asashoryu joins inMay 03, 2005
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May 03, 2005
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Ready to pounce on the winnerMay 03, 2005
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Me next please!!!The winner gets to decide who to wrestle next. The rikishi all beg to be picked.May 03, 2005
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May 03, 2005
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The Bulgarian (Kotooshu) on the leftMay 03, 2005
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PracticeMay 03, 2005
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May 03, 2005
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Friends after allKyokushuzan chats with fellow Mongolian Asashoryu.May 03, 2005
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Asashoryu and TochiazumaAfter offering water, Tochiazuma shares a laugh with the yokozuna.May 03, 2005
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Asashoryu greets the council upon entryMay 03, 2005
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Former yokozuna Taiho, Takanosato, Kotozakura, and Wakanohana watch intently.May 03, 2005
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Asashoryu sips water offered by Ozeki ChiyotaikaiAs soon as Asashoryu entered the arena, many wrestlers went up to him to offer water as a show of respect.May 03, 2005
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Sumo elders in the front rowMay 03, 2005
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May 03, 2005
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Yokozuna Deliberation Council membersIn the middle is Kitanoumi.May 03, 2005
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More people than the real tournamentAbout 8,000 people took time out from their Golden Week holidays to see this official sumo practice of all sumo stables.May 03, 2005
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May 03, 2005
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Turtles huddle for sunshine.May 02, 2005
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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May 02, 2005
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Tower of Peace, Narita-san Heiwa no Daito, built in 1984. 平和の大塔May 02, 2005
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Tower of Peace, Narita-san Heiwa no Daito 平和の大塔May 02, 2005
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May 02, 2005
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Cherry blossom groveMay 02, 2005
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May 02, 2005
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Narita-san Park's Ukimido Floating HallMay 02, 2005
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May 02, 2005
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Narita-san Park's Ukimido Floating HallMay 02, 2005
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May 02, 2005
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Narita-san Park's Ukimido Floating HallMay 02, 2005
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May 02, 2005
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Narita-san Park cherry blossoms. The park opened in 1928. 成田山公園May 02, 2005
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Narita-san Park has a Japanese garden, quite scenic in spring with cherry blossoms.May 02, 2005
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Narita-san priestsMay 02, 2005
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Priests enter the temple at Narita-san.May 02, 2005
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Narita-san Dai-hondo main worship hall. These people are waiting to see the taiko drum performance. 大本堂May 02, 2005
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Priests at Narita-san.May 02, 2005
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May 02, 2005
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Museum's observation deck.May 02, 2005
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Inside the YS-11May 02, 2005
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Old YS-11 prop plane.May 02, 2005
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Museum of Aeronautical SciencesThe museum is right at the end of the runway of Narita International Airport.May 02, 2005
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Striping off the boney spine.May 02, 2005
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Preparing unagi eel, Narita, Chiba. Also see the video at YouTube.Slicing it in half lengthwise.May 02, 2005
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Main road to Narita-san templeMay 02, 2005
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JR Narita StationMay 02, 2005
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Keisei Narita StationThe Narita City Hall can be seen with the green, temple-like roof.May 02, 2005
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Keisei Narita Station. Getting to Narita is cheaper via Keisei Railway.May 02, 2005
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Narita Gion MatsuriMay 02, 2005
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May 02, 2005
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May 02, 2005
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May 02, 2005
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May 02, 2005
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Narita-san during Narita Gion FestivalMay 02, 2005
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May 02, 2005
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May 02, 2005
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May 02, 2005
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Gathering at Narita-san templeMay 02, 2005
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Narita Gion MatsuriMay 02, 2005
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Prayers at Narita-sanMay 02, 2005
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May 02, 2005
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May 02, 2005
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Offering prayers at Narita Gion MatsuriMay 02, 2005
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Side entrance to Narita-san temple.May 02, 2005
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May 02, 2005
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May 02, 2005
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May 02, 2005
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Narita Gion MatsuriMay 02, 2005
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May 02, 2005
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May 02, 2005
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Narita Gion MatsuriMay 02, 2005
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May 02, 2005
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Pulling the float, Narita Gion MatsuriMay 02, 2005
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Tired from walking, Narita Gion MatsuriMay 02, 2005
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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 streetMay 02, 2005
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Last groupMay 02, 2005
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May 02, 2005
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May 02, 2005
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Taiko troupe from OkinawaThis group stole the show with a dragon dance, lion dogs, and eisa taiko drummers.May 02, 2005
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Drum troupe from S. KoreaMay 02, 2005
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May 02, 2005
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May 02, 2005
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May 02, 2005
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Main stage at Narita-san temple.On Saturday evening, the festival climaxes with a free show on the main stage. The best taiko troupes from Japan and overseas performed for 2 hours.May 02, 2005
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May 02, 2005
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May 02, 2005
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Main stage at Narita-san temple.May 02, 2005
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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.May 02, 2005
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May 02, 2005
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During the festival, stage performances are held.May 02, 2005
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Usokae stall. The uosokae dolls come in various sizes, look pretty much the same.May 02, 2005
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Usokae stallMay 02, 2005
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Usokae stallMay 02, 2005
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A pair of giant usokae dolls flank the entrance to the main worship hall.May 02, 2005
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The Usokae Festival is held every January at the Kameido Tenmangu (Tenjin) Shrine. "Uso" means bullfinch, and "kae" means to change. The bullfinch is a symbol of good luck, and uso can also mean "lie." People replace their wooden uso dolls believing that the previous year's bad luck was a lie, to be exchanged for good luck in the new year with the new uso doll.May 02, 2005
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Bullfinch exchange. The person puts her old bullfinch on the rack and prays.May 02, 2005
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May 02, 2005
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People then go to the bullfinch stall on the left of the main worship hall.May 02, 2005
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May 01, 2005
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This is an old, hand-tinted postcard of Kameido Tenmangu Shrine from the early 20th century. It mimics the woodblock print.May 01, 2005
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Road to the shrine from Kameido Station. This main road from Kameido Station is closed on weekends. The shrine is accessible from Kameido Station the the JR Sobu Line.May 01, 2005
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Shot in 2003.May 01, 2005
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Azaleas also bloom around the same time as wisteria at Kameido Tenjin Shrine. Both flowers symbolize Golden Week which is a string of holidays in late April and early May, serving as spring vacation for many workers.May 01, 2005
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Old taiko-bashi bridge. This is the first arch bridge you cross. Shot in 1997. The bridges had steps made of wood. Now both bridges are made of concrete with concrete steps. The paint color is also more red.May 01, 2005
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Old taiko-bashi bridge. You can see how crowded the bridge can get.May 01, 2005
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First bridge and azaleasMay 01, 2005
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May 01, 2005
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Wisteria at Kameido Tenjin ShrineMay 01, 2005
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May 01, 2005
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May 01, 2005
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Kameido Tenjin Shrine wisteria and taiko-bashi bridge. Taiko-bashi is an arch bridge.May 01, 2005
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Second taiko-bashi bridge in 2003. Notice how there are much less flowers along the edge of the pond. Also notice that the bridge has been rebuilt. It is now concrete painted fire-engine red.The old bridge was wooden with faded vermillion paint. I don't like this new bridge paint color.May 01, 2005
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Kameido Tenjin Shrine's main worship hall.May 01, 2005
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Second taiko-bashi bridge in 1997. You can see the second arch bridge which is right before the shrine hall. Compare this picture with the next one.May 01, 2005
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Path to the shrine. After you cross the bridge, there's a narrow path to the shrine, decorated by wisteria on both sides. Very crowded, but not unbearable.May 01, 2005
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Another view from the top of the bridge years ago.May 01, 2005
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Another shot taken in the good old days. Doesn't bloom like this anymore. The next photo shows what it looks like today.May 01, 2005
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Another view from the top of the bridge years ago. Sadly, it doesn't bloom like this anymore.May 01, 2005
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Another view from the top of the bridge in the good old days. They don't bloom like this anymore...May 01, 2005
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View from top of bridge in 2005. After 1997 or so, the flowers do not bloom as thickly as before.May 01, 2005
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When the wisteria is in bloom, the shrine gets very crowded, especially on weekends. The alley leading to the shrine is also quite narrow.May 01, 2005
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View from top of bridge years ago. The shrine has two "taiko-bashi" arch bridges. This is the view from the top of the first one soon after you pass under the torii.May 01, 2005
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Hall entrance and signMay 01, 2005
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Geisha catching a taxi homePhoto by Kevin Mihaly.May 01, 2005
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Hand clappingThis is called sanbon-jime, a series of hand clapping to mark the end of a successful meeting.May 01, 2005
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A bow of thanksMay 01, 2005
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May 01, 2005
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Closing wordsThe women standing in the back are the okami-san (proprietress) of high-class Japanese-style restaurants in Kagurazaka where the geisha are hired to perform at private geisha parties.May 01, 2005
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May 01, 2005
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Towel throwingDuring the finale, the geisha started throwing hand towels to the audience.May 01, 2005
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May 01, 2005
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Towel throwingThere were women in the middle the hall also throwing towels to people sitting further back.May 01, 2005
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FinaleEveryone performed in the finale.May 01, 2005
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Praying at BishamonMay 01, 2005
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Praying at BishamonBishamon is a Buddhist temple in Kagurazaka where the geisha go to worship. The song included a reference to this temple.May 01, 2005
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FinaleMay 01, 2005
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May 01, 2005
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FinaleMay 01, 2005
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May 01, 2005
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After the dance, this geisha posed with us for a picture.May 01, 2005
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May 01, 2005
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May 01, 2005
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May 01, 2005
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The Word Called Love (恋と云う字)May 01, 2005
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悋気しゃんすなSolo number performed by Maiko (her name). 舞子May 01, 2005
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May 01, 2005
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引けや引け引けMay 01, 2005
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May 01, 2005
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Kagurazaka geisha danceMay 01, 2005
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Kagurazaka geisha danceMay 01, 2005
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May 01, 2005
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Chestnut Rice Cakes （栗餅）The third number was called "Chestnut Mochi." Mochi is rice cake. They pound sticky rice to make it. Performed by two geisha. The one in blue is a male role.May 01, 2005
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Lively Colors of Kagurazaka（神楽坂華の彩）The final number, called Lively Colors of Kagurazaka (Kagurazaka Hana no Irodori) actually consisted of seven dances. This was the first one performed by three geisha. （ひと里）May 01, 2005
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IntermissionThis Ushigome-Tansu Kumin Hall can hold almost 400 people. Both shows were sold out. Tickets are sold about a month in advance. They sold out within 2 weeks. I was sitting in the middle of the hall (non-reserved seating). Tickets cost only 2,000 yen.May 01, 2005
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Closing curtainMay 01, 2005
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May 01, 2005
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Unlike geisha dances in Kyoto which have elaborate backgrounds, the background here is quite plain, making us focus on the geisha which were enough eye candy. The background really didn't matter. The dances were very aesthetic and pleasing to the eyes and ears.May 01, 2005
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Her big round eyes makes her look like a real doll.May 01, 2005
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Rear viewMay 01, 2005
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Music and singing accompanimentAll numbers was accompanied by live music and singing.May 01, 2005
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Eight Views of Tatsumi (巽八景）The second number was about the Tatsumi and Monzen-nakacho (Fukagawa) district in Koto Ward, Tokyo. The dance reflects the chic and bravado of the area (in the old days) which was one of Tokyo's gay quarters with geisha as well.May 01, 2005
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Shimada hairstyleStandard hairstyle for geisha. This a wig.May 01, 2005
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"Hana no Kai" Dance by Kagurazaka geishaThe "Hana no Kai" geisha dance is held annually by geisha in Kagurazaka, one of Tokyo's major geisha districts. "Hana" means livley or gaudy. And "Kai" can mean gathering or party.
They held two shows on the same day. This was the second show starting at 3 pm on April 16, 2005. It lasted till about 4:45 pm.May 01, 2005
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May 01, 2005
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"Blue Ocean Waves" (青海波)They performed four numbers. This first one was called "Blue Ocean Waves" performed by five geisha.May 01, 2005
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Notice that the kimono design shows waves.May 01, 2005
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Apr 20, 2005
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Wet monkeyApr 20, 2005
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Snow monkeysApr 20, 2005
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Ahhh...Apr 20, 2005
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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.Apr 20, 2005
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Costume gals. Even these girls walked on the fire.
Mar 16, 2005
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Back at the Yakuoin temple which belongs to the Shingon Sect of Buddhism. 薬王院Mar 16, 2005
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Mar 16, 2005
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Priests parade back to temple.Mar 16, 2005
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Yamabushi--mountain ascetic priests. They carried a conch-shell-like instrument.Mar 16, 2005
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