 Image search results - "obi" |
Plum Blossom Queen at Kairakuen StationShe was passing out maps of the garden. It was a nice touch to see two of these kimono beauties greeting us.
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Plum Blossom Queen
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Rear view
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Tekomai geisha costume is partially masculine with trousers instead of skirts. Their right shoulder is "exposed" showing a flower design. They carry a red paper lantern imprinted with their names and use their right hand to drag a wand."Asakusa" is written on her lantern. 手古舞
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Kusatsu Shukuba Festival, Shiga Pref. 大奥夢道中
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Tekomai geisha
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Kusatsu Shukuba Festival, Shiga Pref.
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About the Tokyo Motor Show...Makuhari Messe is near Kaihin Makuhari Station on the Keiyo and Musashino Lines. The huge show occupies the entire Makuhari Messe consisting of the North, East, Center, and West Halls, and Event Hall. Admission was 1200 yen. The show sees over 1.4 million visitors.
Although this is called the 39th Tokyo Motor Show in 2005, the first motor show was held in 1954 and called the 1st All-Japan Motor Show. The venue was Hibiya Park in Tokyo. In 1964, the show was renamed "Tokyo Motor Show." The show was held annually until 1973 when the oil shock occurred. It was so severe that organizers decided to hold the show every other year. No show was held in 1974. From 1975, the show was held every other year. 2005 is actually the 50th anniversary of the motor show.
In 1958, the venue changed to Korakuen Bicycle Racing Stadium. Also in 1958, the date was changed from spring (April-May) to fall (Oct.-Nov). In 1959, the venue was switched to Harumi at the domed Tokyo International Trade Center where it would remain until 1987 when it moved to Makuhari Messe in 1989. In 1970, foreign automakers participated in the Tokyo Motor Show for the first time.
In 1999, the show combined passenger cars and motorcycles. Also, in 1999, the show for commercial vehicles was omitted and instead to be held in a separate show in alternating years starting in 2000. The motor show for passenger cars and motorcycles would continue to be held every two years from 1999. So there would be a Tokyo Motor Show every year, but the purpose would alternate between passenger cars/motorcycles and commercial vehicles.
During the 1st motor show in 1954, when most of the vehicles displayed were for commercial use, the attendance was 547,000. In 1963, it exceed 1 million over 16 days. It hovered around 1.4 million in the years following. The record attendance was attained in 1991 with over 2 million visitors during 15 days. In 2003, the total attendance was 1.424 million.
In 2000, at the first Tokyo Motor Show dedicated to commercial vehicles, attendance was a mere 177,900 over 5 days. In 2004, attendance was 248,600 over 6 days.
The ubiquitous female companions, attendants, or models that we see today started appearing at the show from as early as 1957. They do not only decorate the show, but they also reflect the fashion of the times. Their hairstyles, wardrobe, skirt length, make-up, etc. The Tokyo Motor Show is not only a showcase for cars, it is also a fashion showcase. Therefore, in this online photo gallery, you will see not only cars, but also women. Enjoy!
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Shimosuwa Station on May 8, 2004. Here for the final three days of the Onbashira Matsuri's climax, the Satobiki when they haul the Onbashira logs to the Shimo-sha Shrines (Akimiya and Harumiya) and erect them.
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Onbashira monument in front of Shimosuwa Station. This Onbashira log was used in the opening ceremony of the Nagano Winter Olympics in 1998.
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Entertainment stage in front of Shimosuwa Station.
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1. Fuji Murasaki (Purple Wisteria)Dancer's name is Maiko 舞子
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In front of Shimosuwa Station.
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Parade of Nagamochi which are long chests. 長持
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2. Sumidagawa (Sumida River)
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3. Edo no Nigiwai (Liveliness of Edo)
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The best-looking lady at the show...A Lambo of course. Lamborghini, everyone's all-time, ultimate dream car. (Besides Speed Racer's Mach 5.) This is the Murcielago.
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Crowded street
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Court ladies called myobu. 命婦
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Kusatsu Shukuba Festival, Shiga Pref.
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Plum Blossom Queens in Kairakuen, Mito
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Court lady called myobu. 命婦
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Plum Blossom Queens in Kairakuen, Mito
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Nagamochi chest decorations
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Ariwara no Narihira (825-880) comes to east Japan在原業平 東下り
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Umbrella dance
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Shimo-sha Akimiya Shrine torii
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Shimo-sha Akimiya Shrine. That's a support pole for erecting the No. 1 Akimiya Onbashira log. 秋宮
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Yamato Awa Odori
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Lamborghini MurcielagoNo price was listed. But if you have to ask, then it's too expensive.
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Shimo-sha Akimiya Shrine 秋宮 幣拝殿
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Hole for the No. 4 Akimiya Onbashira log
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Court ladies called uneme. Their kimono have a blue wave design. 釆女釆女
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Small support poles.
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Hole for the No. 2 Akimiya Onbashira log
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Hole for the No. 2 Akimiya Onbashira log
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"Nanohanaya"
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Hole for the No. 2 Akimiya Onbashira log
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Shimo-sha Akimiya Shrine priests 秋宮
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Taiko performance at Shimo-sha Akimiya Shrine's Kaguraden
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Shimenawa sacred rope on Kaguraden
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Lamborghini MurcielagoOnly with a Lamborghini would I tell any pretty woman standing in front of it to move away so I can see and photograph the car better. Actually, I'm not that rude, so I just waited until she went away.
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Onbashira Grand Park
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Harumiya torii 春宮大門
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Nohime, wife of Oda Nobunaga. 農姫
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On the way to Harumiya Shrine, you see this bridge. It is a rest stop for the Akimiya Onbashira log procession. 下馬橋
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The bridge is normally closed to the public. In the old days, this bridge marked Harumiya Shrine's sacred area where even warlords had to get out of their palanquin or get off their horse out of respect before proceeding further. 下馬橋
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Harumiya Shrine ahead.
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Harumiya Shrine torii 春宮
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Harumiya has a little slope where the logs are slid down.
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People everywhere.
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People along the small slope.
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This is May 9, 2004, the second day of Shimo-sha Shrine's Satobiki. Shimo-sha Shrine consists of two separate shrines called Akimiya and Harumiya.
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Okinawan KimonoOkinawa is a chain of subtropical islands in southern Japan between Kyushu and Taiwan. It developed its own language and culture while it was an independent kingdom centuries ago. Okinawan kimono, hairstyles, and dances therefore look quite different from the rest of Japan.
On the left is an Okinawan dancer wearing a kimono with her right arm exposed outside the sleeve. The dance is called "Nuchibana" (flower lei) featuring a string of red and white flowers. The dance expresses the feelings of a young woman in love.
The dancer on the right is wearing an Okinawan kimono called the bingata, perhaps Okinawa's most famous kimono. The design is made by applying dyes through a stencil. It was originally worn by Okinawa's royal family members. It is now the costume of a slow-moving Okinawan dance called "Yotsudake."
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Lamborghini Murcielago. Although this is called the 39th Tokyo Motor Show in 2005, the first motor show was held in 1954 and called the 1st All-Japan Motor Show. The venue was Hibiya Park in Tokyo. In 1964, the show was renamed "Tokyo Motor Show.&quoThe best-looking rear at the show...
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Ropes to pull the Onbashira log from Harumiya Shrine.
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Log in Harumiya Shrine.
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Onbashira Log No. 1 already erected for Harumiya Shrine on May 8, 2004.
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Finale: "Hana Utage" (Flower Banquet) 花うたげ
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Erecting Onbashira Log No. 4 for Harumiya Shrine on May 9, 2004. 春宮四之御柱
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Erecting Onbashira Log No. 4 for Harumiya Shrine on May 9, 2004. Shimosuwa, Nagano. 春宮四之御柱
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Everything is done with great fanfare, with these men riding on the log as it slowly rises by a system of cables and pulleys.
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"Yoisa! Yoisa!"
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Tomioka Hachiman tekomai geisha
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Finale: "Hana Utage" (Flower Banquet) 花うたげThis is a maiko.
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Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder. The show was held annually until 1973 when the oil shock occurred. It was so severe that organizers decided to hold the show every other year. No show was held in 1974. From 1975, the show was held every other year.The Murcielago attracted more attention.
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When the log is erected, a banner is unrolled.
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The banner reads, "Thank you everyone for your cooperation."
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Sake is given for free.
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Miss Ebisu-bashi Runner-up
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Shinsaibashi Top Lady
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The men now descend from the log.
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Onbashira Log No. 3 for Harumiya Shrine.
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Toyota stage. In 1958, the venue changed to Korakuen Bicycle Racing Stadium. Also in 1958, the date was changed from spring (April-May) to fall (Oct.-Nov). In 1959, the venue was switched to Harumi at the domed Tokyo International Trade Center.Toyota had a large spread in the Center Hall.
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The base of the Onbashira log is reinforced by these smaller logs.
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Inner palace women
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Music Box Museum
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Inner palace women
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Parade
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One Onbashira log at a rest stop.
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Ropes at rest
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The logs are pulled by people from various districts or parishes in the Suwa region including Chino, Shimosuwa, Okaya, and Suwa.
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Another Onbashira log makes its way through.
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All the Onbashira logs are hauled manually by human hands from when it is cut in the mountain forest. No motor vehicles of any kind is used to haul the logs.
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Toyota Fine-X. In 1989, the show moved to Makuhari Messe. In 1970, foreign automakers participated in the Tokyo Motor Show for the first time.All the major car makers showed concept cars or prototypes. This one is by Toyota. All four wheels can turn. Makes it easy to parallel park in tight spaces, but how do you steer it?
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The log can move quite fast, even with all those people riding it.
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This looks like Log No. 2 for Akimiya Shrine.
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These people are from Suwa city.
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Another Shinsaibashi Top Lady
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Ax man
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Log standing by in front of Akimiya Shrine.
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Onbashira-sai, Shimosuwa-machi, Nagano.
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Log standing by in front of Akimiya Shrine.
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Toyota Fine-XThe driver's seat swivels outward.
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Parade continues even in the rain.
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Now it's May 10, 2004, the last day of the Shimo-sha Satobiki. All four logs will erected at Akimiya Shrine on this day.
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Shrine maiden on horseback called Munanori Onna. 騎女
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We waited in the rain for Onbashira Log No. 1 to be erected first at Akimiya Shrine at 10:00 am. However, we had to wait, standing up in the rain and in the crowd, for 2.5 hours before they finally started to raise the log.
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Finally, something to photograph.
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Oiran Dochu Procession. This is definitely the highlight of the festival, and my favorite part of the festival. 花の吉原おいらん道中
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Shrine maiden on horseback called Munanori Onna.
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Kamogawa Odori Geisha Dance, KyotoA scene from the annual Kamogawa Odori dance held in May in Kyoto. She wears a multi-layer kimono whose colors contrast well with each other. This type of kimono was worn by the nobility.
See more photos of this dance here.
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Toyota i-swingA single-seater, reminds me of a Segway with a seat. Controlled with a joystick and shifting your body weight. It has 3 wheels. If they don't allow Segways in Japan, I wonder if they would allow this on Japanese streets. Would it need a license plate? And would we need a license to operate it?
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They threw out free streamers and I caught one. "Yoisa! Yoisa!"
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Oiran Dochu Procession
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Oiran Dochu Procession花の吉原おいらん道中
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They waved their pom-poms and cheered all the while.
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Onbashira Festival. They included one woman.
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Banners unfurled.
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Oiran Dochu Procession in front of Kaminarimon Gate, Asakusa.花の吉原おいらん道中
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Now they descend.
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Oiran Dochu Procession花の吉原おいらん道中
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The only woman on the log. After this log-raising, I had seen enough. This No. 1 log offered the best view of all the four Akimiya logs.
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Oiran Dochu Procession. Her clogs. 花の吉原おいらん道中
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Oiran Dochu Procession. This picture was taken in the 1990s when they had two oiran in the festival. Now they have only one. 花の吉原おいらん道中
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Aoi Festival, KyotoHeld in May, the Aoi (Hollyhock) Festival is one of Kyoto's Big Three festivals. It is a long parade of people dressed in historical costumes from the Heian Period (794-1185) when Kyoto was Japan's capital. Each participant also wears a small branch of hollyhock.
See more photos of this festival here.
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Toyota i-swingI waved to her, and she waved back...
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Kimono women going to a convenience store, Ako, Hyogo
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Oiran Dochu Procession花の吉原おいらん道中
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Aoi Festival, KyotoThe parade proceeds through a long route in Kyoto, taking a few hours.
See more photos of this festival here.
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Nissan Pivo with swivel topElectric car with a top that swivels 360˚ so you can drive forward or back without turning the car around. Seats three people. The driver sits in the middle.
I waved to her, and she waved back...
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Edo Geisha, She was the only one with a smile.
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Edo Geisha江戸芸者
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This was the only one who had a smile. The others were quite serious and solemn.
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Nissan Pivo
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Mistress Okichi, the infamous mistress of Townsend Harris, America's first ambassador to Japan when he was in Shimoda. Another mistress was provided to Harris' interpreter.Okichi was the infamous mistress of Townsend Harris, America's first ambassador to Japan. Another mistress was provided to Harris' interpreter.
黒船来航・浦賀奉行
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Nissan booth
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Nissan GT-R Proto
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Honda Sports 4 ConceptI like this picture.
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Honda Sports 4 Concept
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HondaThis is what she looks like up close.
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Honda Sports 4 ConceptI smiled at her, and she smiled back...
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Honda W.O.W. ConceptHonda had nice women posing, but I was hoping they would bring out the Asimo robots to introduce the cars.
I smiled at her, but she never noticed me...
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Suzuki LC. LC stands for Life Creator. These girls were dancing and hopping around the car before they settled down and posed.
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Suzuki LCI looked at her, and she looked at me. I didn't wave, so she didn't wave...
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Suzuki IonisA real ballerina-type model danced in front of the car. I like this picture.
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Subaru 360 (from 1958). Nicknamed "Ladybug."
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Subaru R1 and Subaru 360The new ladybug meets the old.
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Subaru Impreza WRC 2006 PrototypeIn 2004, Subaru won the Rally Japan 2004 (the first FIA WRC hosted in Japan). The car was driven by Petter Solberg. It is a race on public roads.
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Subaru
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Daihatsu HVS
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Daihatsu
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Daihatsu SK-Tourer
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Daihatsu SK-Tourer
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Daihatsu. I smiled at her, and she smiled back...
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Daihatsu
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Daihatsu
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DaihatsuDaihatsu had the best show performance. The models and performers wore a variety of costumes.
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DaihatsuA show worth seeing twice.
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Daihatsu
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Daihatsu
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Daihatsu
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Mitsubishi Motors
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Mitsubishi Motors
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Mitsubishi MotorsShe attracted a big crowd of snapshooters and oglers.
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Kia Sports ConceptFirst-rate model who knows how to smile.
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Kia MotorsA crowd favorite. Kia (not her name) is from South Korea.
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Ferrari 612 Scaglietti
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Ferrari F430 SpiderLamborghini set out to build a better car than Ferrari, and he attained his goal. I like Ferrari (especially the Testarossa), but I like Lambo better.
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Chevrolet Corvette ConvertibleCorvette, but why no Camaro at the show too?
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Chevorlet Corvette Z06
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HummerShe was charming...
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General Motors Cadillac STS-VI yearn for the days when Cadillac had more elegant car names like Fleetwood, Eldorado, and Seville. Now it's all three-letter names. I can hardly remember them. And the cars look so ugly (in my opinion).
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Rolls Royce Phantom
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Porsche 911 CarreraRed was definitely the most popular car color at the show.
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Porsche
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SLR McLarenBest-looking car with gills.
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BMW Z4 Coupe ConceptMatte paint finish, no gloss.
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Bugatti Veyron 16.4
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Volkswagen
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Volkswagen Golf
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Volkswagen
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OpelYes, some girls don't need to smile to look good.
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Clarion. The ubiquitous female companions, attendants, or models that we see today started appearing at the show from as early as 1957. They do not only decorate the show, but they also reflect the fashion of the times.I approached her and she struck this pose instinctively.
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ClarionDefinitely Miss Photogenic.
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PanasonicAnother nice one.
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PanasonicAwful costume I thought.
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Fujitsu
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Alpine + iPod
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AlpineShe had horde of photographers crowded in front of her. But she managed to find me and smiled.
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Honda S600 (1964)The Event Hall had displays of nostalgic cars from the 1950s to the 1990s. This Honda was from 1964.
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Toyota Corolla (1967)The Event Hall had displays of nostalgic cars from the 1950s to the 1990s.
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Daihatsu BEE (1951)The Event Hall had displays of nostalgic cars from the 1950s to the 1990s. Three wheels.
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Harley-Davidson VRSCD Night RodNice curves...
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Harley-Davidson FLST Heritage SoftailWorld premiere of this bike.
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Harley-Davidson. In 1999, the show combined passenger cars and motorcycles. Also, in 1999, the show for commercial vehicles was omitted and instead to be held in a separate show in alternating years starting in 2000.
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Harley-Davidson FXDI 35th Anniversary Super GlideWorld premiere of this bike.
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Kawasaki MotorcyclesKawasaki had a bevy of leggy beauties promoting their cycles. They didn't dance, but served well to attract attention.
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Kawasaki ZZR 1400 ABS motorcycleI looked at her and she smiled.
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Kawasaki MotorcyclesOne of the best-looking motorcycle models.
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Kawasaki MotorcyclesI wasn't one of them.
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Honda Motorcycles
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Honda E4-01 motorcycle
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Honda E4-01 motorcycle
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Yamaha Gen-Ryu motorcycle
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Yamaha MotorcyclesYamaha's booth was the most elegant in the motorcycle section.
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Suzuki Stratosphere motorcycleSuzuki put on a great show with a bunch of girls doing hip-hop dancing.
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Suzuki MotorcyclesSuzuki put on a great show with a bunch of girls doing hip-hop dancing.
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Suzuki Motorcycles
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Yamaha MotorcyclesAt the end of the day, the companions line up in front of their booth to say goodbye. Great photo op too.
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Honda MotorcyclesAt the end of the day, the companions line up in front of their booth to say goodbye. Great photo op too.
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Hagoita Honey poses in Asakusa
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Hagoita Honey
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