Last additions - JAPAN PHOTOS by Philbert Ono

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Last additions - TOKYO 東京都

Ice crystals on rocksFeb 16, 2007

Ice crystals and running water. Normally, the Hossawa waterfall freezes over in winter.Feb 16, 2007

Hossawa Falls, Hinohara, TokyoFeb 16, 2007

Monument saying "Thanks you for the pure water."Feb 16, 2007

Hossawa FallsFeb 16, 2007

Hossawa Falls, Hinohara, TokyoFeb 16, 2007

Hossawa FallsFeb 16, 2007

Also see the video at YouTube.Feb 16, 2007

Finally, a sign of the waterfall.Feb 16, 2007

MonumentsFeb 16, 2007

There it is. Notice the smaller falls at the top.Feb 16, 2007

Picnic pavilion near the waterfall.Feb 16, 2007

Base of Hossawa FallsFeb 16, 2007

This is not the waterfall.Feb 16, 2007

Feb 16, 2007

Small river below, fed by the waterfallFeb 16, 2007

Beware of falling rocksFeb 16, 2007

It's a short trail, but very nature-richFeb 16, 2007

Trail to Hossawa Falls is very lushFeb 16, 2007

Trail to Hossawa FallsFeb 16, 2007

Signboard showing Hinohara's waterfallsFeb 16, 2007

Area around entrance to Hossawa FallsFeb 16, 2007

Trail to Hossawa FallsFeb 16, 2007

Entrance to Hossawa Falls (free admission)Feb 16, 2007

Chuo-dori avenue looking toward Nihonbashi Bridge.Jan 27, 2007

Nihonbashi Bridge ahead, with the expressway over it.Jan 27, 2007

Distances from the Zero Milestone to major cities such as Chiba, Mito, and Sapporo.Jan 27, 2007

Distances from the Zero Milestone to major cities such as Yokohama, Kyoto, and Kagoshima.Jan 27, 2007

Japan's Zero Milestone 日本国道路元標Jan 27, 2007

Memorial square for the Zero Milestone for the Five Major RoadsJan 27, 2007

Jan 27, 2007

Japan's Zero Milestone for Roads 日本国道路元標Jan 27, 2007

Jan 27, 2007

Looking toward Nihonbashi on Chuo-doriJan 27, 2007

Nihonbashi as seen from Mitsukoshi Dept. Store.Jan 27, 2007

Bridge lampsJan 27, 2007

Jan 27, 2007

Expressway above the bridge.Jan 27, 2007

Sky roofJan 27, 2007

Nihonbashi RiverJan 27, 2007

Gargoyles on bridgeJan 27, 2007

One of the worse urban-planning decisions of the 1960s.Jan 27, 2007

The double-arched bridge was built in 1911, made of granite.Jan 27, 2007

Nihonbashi Bridge side viewJan 27, 2007

Nihonbashi Bridge monumentJan 27, 2007

The local neighborhood association wants this expressway to go underground.Jan 27, 2007

Jan 27, 2007

Bridge ornamentsJan 27, 2007

Jan 27, 2007

Nihonbashi Bridge today is the 19th reconstructed Nihonbashi Bridge since 1603. 日本橋Jan 27, 2007

The original Nihonbashi Bridge was built in 1603, out of wood.Jan 27, 2007

Nihonbashi Bridge and the ugly expressway above.Jan 27, 2007

Oct 19, 2006

They carry a red paper lantern imprinted with their names and use their right hand to drag along a metal wand.Oct 19, 2006

During the finale, the tekomai and Kiba Kiyari singers sing together.Sep 09, 2006

Sep 09, 2006

They only chant, no dancing.Sep 09, 2006

Tomioka Hachiman tekomai geishaSep 09, 2006

Sep 09, 2006

Their right shoulder is "exposed" to show a peony flower design. Also see the video at YouTube.Sep 09, 2006

They perform in mid-Oct. on the same day and place as Kiba Kakunori log rolling.Sep 09, 2006

Tomioka Hachiman Tekomai geisha perform at Kiba Park.Sep 09, 2006

Tekomai geisha from Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine walk toward the stage.Sep 09, 2006

Lion dance.Sep 09, 2006

The men had to work together to move large logs on the water. They used the songs to match the rhythm of their work. The songs are said to have originated during the construction of Edo Castle by Tokugawa Ieyasu.Sep 09, 2006

A lion then appears.Sep 09, 2006

After this lion dance, the Fukagawa tekomai geisha performed.Sep 09, 2006

獅子舞Sep 09, 2006

Sep 09, 2006

The Kiba Kiyari songs were sung by men on the river in Kiba sorting out the logs. 木場の木遣Sep 09, 2006

They also perform the Kiba Kiyari Nembutsu which is a Buddhist chant. In the old days, Kiba's logging-related workmen performed this chant whenever someone in their trade met misfortune. 木場の木遣念仏Sep 09, 2006

Ending chant. The performance is about 90 min.Sep 09, 2006

Kiba Kiyari Nembutsu. They hold and rotate a giant rosary while chanting. 木場の木遣念仏Sep 09, 2006

He succeeds.Sep 09, 2006

It is soon followed by the Kiba Kiyari troupe who chants Kiba workman songs.Sep 09, 2006

From the top of the blocks, he's supposed to jump onto the log in front. But he couldn't do it.Sep 09, 2006

Another guy tries to do it.Sep 09, 2006

Sep 09, 2006

Also see the video at YouTube.Sep 09, 2006

Another highlight and difficult stunt.Sep 09, 2006

Sep 09, 2006

The logs are moved around with a spike-tipped bamboo pole.Sep 09, 2006

Sep 09, 2006

One of the highlight stunts...Sep 09, 2006

Sep 09, 2006

This year (2004), it was successful.Sep 09, 2006

Acrobatics on a floating ladder. 梯子乗りSep 09, 2006

However, it is always possible that they splash down.Sep 09, 2006

Sep 09, 2006

The kanji "ki" (wood) is written on the his back on the left.Sep 09, 2006

A real crowd pleaser.Sep 09, 2006

Ladder stuntsSep 09, 2006

Rolling with an umbrella. 唐笠乗りSep 09, 2006

Sep 09, 2006

Father and son. He later turned around and rolled the other way with his son on his shoulders.Sep 09, 2006

Sep 09, 2006

The middle of the geta clog must land right on top of the log's corner.Sep 09, 2006

Preparing for a head stand.Sep 09, 2006

Rolling with geta clogs. 駒下駄乗りSep 09, 2006

Rolling with a fan. 扇子乗りSep 09, 2006

Blindfolded head stand.Sep 09, 2006

Rolling blindfolded.Sep 09, 2006

The middle of the foot must land on the corner to turn the log.Sep 09, 2006

Sep 09, 2006

Woman roller.Sep 09, 2006

Log rolling lessons are given at a local pool. Lot of children are good at it. I tried it once too. Very difficult...Sep 09, 2006

He tries again and succeeds in unfurling a banner which says "Koto Ward, Water Capital."Sep 09, 2006

Splash!Sep 09, 2006

Without the bamboo pole, it is more difficult to keep your balance.Sep 09, 2006

Double head standsSep 09, 2006

Also see the video at YouTube.Sep 09, 2006

Head standSep 09, 2006

A long bamboo pole is used for balance.Sep 09, 2006

Sep 09, 2006

Men managing the logs in the river eventually developed their own log tricks while on the job.Sep 09, 2006

Kiba used to be where wood and lumber were stored and produced. 相乗りSep 09, 2006

It starts at 11 am, so if you want a good view, go there early.Sep 09, 2006

Huge crowd at Kakunori pond in Kiba Park.Sep 09, 2006

Kiba Sqaure Log Rolling is performed by the Kiba Kakunori Hozon-kai or Preservation Society. 木場角乗保存会Sep 09, 2006

Kiba Park with Kiba Kakunori sign. Traditional folk performances are held on the same day as Koto Ward's Citizen's Festival in mid-Oct. So the park is quite crowded.Sep 09, 2006