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Sugaura in northern Lake Biwa.63 views
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Maibara beach.63 views
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Neck of Lake Biwa with Biwako Ohashi Bridge connecting Moriyama and Katata.63 views
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Mt. Mikami across Lake Biwa from Karasaki.63 views
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Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine's boat dock is used during the Sanno Festival when they carry the portable mikoshi shrines on a boat.63 views
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Seta Karahashi Bridge in Otsu.63 views
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Cherry blossoms along Seta River in Otsu, Lake Biwa's only outflowing river.63 views
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On the southern end, this bridge to Amanohashidate rotates quite often to allow boats to pass. 63 views
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Rotating bridge for pedestrians again.63 views
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Amanohashidate marker.63 views
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Beach on the east side of Amanohashidate.63 views
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About Amanohashidate's pine trees.63 views
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West side of Amanohashidate with no beaches.63 views
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Wild birds found at Amanohashidate. They only wrote the scientific names of the birds. Looks like they include the seagull, egret, heron, sparrow, and cormorant.63 views
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Swordsman Jutaro Iwami's testing stone.63 views
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Many pine trees have names.63 views
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The ocean and beach.63 views
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East edge of Amanohashidate looking toward Kasamatsu Park on the hill.63 views
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Cable Car and Chair Lift station to go up to Kasamatsu Park.63 views
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Cable car to Kasamatsu Park.63 views
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Cable car to Kasamatsu Park.63 views
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Upside down, it supposed to look like a bridge to heaven.63 views
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Another Ring of Wisdom on Kasamatsu Park.63 views
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And so Amanohashidate symbolizes a link between Heaven and Earth and between two lovers. That's why you may also see heart or love symbols at Amanohashidate.63 views
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Autumn heart at Amanohashidate.63 views
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Purify yourself here.63 views
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Entrance to Amanohashidate's northern end.63 views
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Chair lift and monorail car for Amanohashidate Viewland. Taking the chair lift is faster than the monorail car.63 views
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On the southern end here, Amanohashidate upside down looks like a flying dragon (hiryu 飛竜). 63 views
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This Kyoto Tango Railways one-day train pass is a good deal.63 views
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Cafe-type seats (wooden) with a table.63 views
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Amanohashidate Station63 views
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The building in the middle is the University of Hyogo Graduate School of Regional Resource Management.63 views
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On the left is the Toyooka Kounotori Bunkakan or Oriental White Stork Culture Center.63 views
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Toyooka Oriental White Stork Culture Center's open cage for Oriental white storks. It includes paddies used for feeding. The cage is "open" because it only hasa fence and no roof.63 views
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Around 9:30 am to 10 am, they feed the storks. This is the best time to visit the park. And the best chances of seeing storks flying around.63 views
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Once found all over Japan, the Oriental white stork ("kounotori" in Japanese) became extinct in the wild in Japan in 1971 despite preservation efforts since 1955.63 views
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Exhibits.63 views
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Screening room.63 views
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Gift shops in this building next to the parking lot.63 views
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Confection shaped like stork eggs.63 views
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Wakamiya Hachimangu Shrine, a secondary shrine of Sumiyoshi Taisha. The torii is unusual with the middle beam not sticking out the sides. 若宮八幡宮63 views
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Wakamiya Hachimangu Shrine, a secondary shrine of Sumiyoshi Taisha. Worships Hachiman (Emperor Ojin), the guardian deity of the samurai. 若宮八幡宮63 viewsHachiman (Emperor Ojin) was the son of Empress Jingu.
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Nankun-sha cat shrine altar (楠珺社). It promotes "Hattatsu" worship. At Sumiyoshi Taisha, Osaka. 初辰まいり63 viewsYou supposed to come here and worship monthly and collect a total of 48 cat figurines over a period of 24 years. Then you'll get the jackpot of family safety and business prosperity. It's based on a play of words with "48" (shijuhachi) that can be pronounced similarly to "shiju-hattatsu (始終発達) which means "constant advancement or development."
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At Arigatee, we were charmed by the delightful Sumi-chan, a retired local farmer. She helped cook our lunch. Rice locally grown in Kita-Ibaraki. Thank you Sumi-chan for smiling!63 views
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Karinto manju from Kita-Ibaraki.63 views
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Appetizers.63 views
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Meiwa holds the two-day Saio Matsuri (斎王まつり) festival annually on the first full weekend in June to reenact part of the Saio procession traveling from Kyoto to the Saiku Palace.63 viewsOn June 2–3, 2018, the 36th Saio Matsuri was held in Meiwa. It also happens to be the town's 60th anniversary. The festival is held near Saiku Station (Kintetsu Yamada Line) in the area where the Saiku Palace was located. It's now a large park-like area. On the festival's first day (Festival Eve) at 3:30 pm, the Misogi-no-Gi Ceremony is held at a small stream where the Saio dips her hands into the water for purification. Then they move to an outdoor stage near Saiku History Museum to conduct an evening ceremony and entertainment program from 5 pm to 9 pm. (In the case of rain, the event will be canceled.)
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Inside Kawasaki Daishi's Kyozo Sutra Repository, Buddhist paintings on four sides on the ceiling. Tells the story of how Buddhism came to Japan from India via China and Korea.63 views
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Inside Kawasaki Daishi's Kyozo Sutra Repository, Buddhist painting on the ceiling.63 views
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Mt. Kanakuso-dake (金糞岳 or Azai-dake) behind Takatsuki in Nagahama. The peak to the left is Shirakura-dake (白倉岳). The orange/white smokestack is from the Nippon Electric Glass factory (日本電気硝子) in Takatsuki. 63 views
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Shigaraki Station on the Shigaraki Kogen Railway Line. One-car train, diesel powered.63 viewsTo reach Shigaraki by train, first get on the JR Kusatsu Line, get off at Kibukawa Station where you transfer to the Shigaraki Kogen Railway Line.
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Shigaraki Station platform decorated with tanuki raccoon dogs.63 views
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To PIE 2006 held in late March.62 views
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PIE 2005, ticket booth62 views
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Another tree with photogenic blossoms62 views
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Well used by the castle62 views
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Edokko-ren 江戸っ子連62 views
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Head stand62 views
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He tries again and succeeds in unfurling a banner which says "Koto Ward, Water Capital."62 views
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The middle of the foot must land on the corner to turn the log.62 views
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Old overpass to other side of station toward Lake Biwa.62 views
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Red paper umbrellas decorate the path.62 views
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Corridor to main hall62 views
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Sanmon Gate as seen from the Hondo main hall62 views
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Waiting room and tourist info office. This room has been removed and replaced in 2014 by a walkway to the new Mondecool Heiwado store.62 views
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Mementos62 views
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West side parking lot.62 views
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Torches are bunched together.62 views
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First man lights the giant torches. This was around 7:45 pm.62 views
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Ryuoji Temple belongs to the Tendai Sect. 龍王寺62 views
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Ryuoji Temple 龍王寺62 views
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Ryuoji Temple 龍王寺62 views
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Mountain God Memorial 山の神62 views
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Most of the tumuli are just dirt mounds with no chamber opened for inspection.62 views
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Inside the Ritto Archaeological Center. 栗東市出土文化財センター62 views
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More display cases62 views
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Kannon statue62 views
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Views from the top of Mt. Hinode-yama. The large white building is the Seibu baseball dome in Tokorozawa.62 views
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Fork in the road. Turned left for the waterfall trail.62 views
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Finally a waterfall62 views
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Plum tree and Shoren'an62 views
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Photos of song monuments.62 views
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Verse 1 photos (Otsu)62 views
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Haiku poems solicited from the public are also displayed along the riverside.62 views
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Fountain62 views
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Kokubunji Station, North Exit62 views
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In case you fall into the pond...62 views
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8th panel showing song monuments for Verses 1-362 views
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End of the 50-min. ride. It was pleasant, and highly recommended. Boat landing for the Hikone-jo Ohori Meguri boat ride is near the entrance to Genkyu-en Garden.62 views
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This is the boat dock where people got on and off the boats. The boats were provided by local rowing organizations. The regatta was organized by the Seta Rowing Club in Otsu.62 views
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Friends Forever at Punchbowl62 views
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Inside Ohmi Railways Museum, a pantograph62 viewsThis museum in Hikone closed and reopened inside Yokaichi Station in Higashi-Omi.
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Father Damien at Hawaii State Capitol62 views
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Sunset sky62 views
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Kannon-do62 views
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Kannon-do62 views
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Household Shinto altar62 views
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Tama River62 views
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and the opening of sumo stables. Fukagawa (the area where the shrine is located) in effect became the birthplace of modern sumo.62 views
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The Ozeki Monument also has a Strong Sekiwake Monument inscribed with the names of outstanding Sekiwake.62 views
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Railway crossing62 views
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Ohmi Railways Echigawa Station platform.62 views
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Tamuramaro told the people to worship the spot where the arrow landed, and that's how Tamura Shrine was established, according one local legend. There's no sign explaining this bamboo though.62 views
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Statue of travelers at Tsuchiyama Folk History Museum62 views
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The taume girls enter the rice paddy at about 2 pm.62 views
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Taume rice planting girls leave the rice paddy.62 views
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The shrine priests and taume girls return to Taga Taisha Shrine.62 views
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This part was flooded in 2001, and it is now teeming with reeds, fish, and other wildlife which entered this wetland naturally over the years. A local NPO conducts tours and hands-on activities for kids and adults.62 views
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The third of Samegai's famous Three Spring Waters. This one is called Saigyo-sui, named after the famous poet. 西行水62 views
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Katayama Tunnel, leading to Lake Biwa. 片山トンネル62 views
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Monument marking the birthplace of Yamaoka Magokichi (1888-1962) 山岡孫吉, founder of Yanmar Diesel, Co. In 1933, he developed the world's first compact diesel engine.62 views
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Hoshu rightly believed that language represented the culture, and learning the language was thus essential to understand the country.62 viewsIn 2017, Amenomori Hoshu's documents related to Japan-Korea relations during the Edo Period will be inscribed as a UNESCO Memory of the World.
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Crowd interaction.62 views
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I visited Horikiri Garden first, then dashed off to visit Mizumoto Park, a short bus ride from Kanamachi Station. From the bus stop, this little gate points the way to the park.62 views
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Tried to get irises and hydrangea in the same shot. Both flowers are associated with the month of June in most of Japan.62 views
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Street corner plaque with one of Toju's sayings.62 views
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Toju Jinja Shrine. 藤樹神社62 views
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Toju Shrine62 views
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Edo Kabuki-ren had a humorous number with a man flying three "kites."62 views
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This mikoshi almost fell on its side. Apparently someone was trying to ride the mikoshi.62 views
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Hall lobby (Get that trash bin outta there.)62 views
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Miyazaki's booth.62 views
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Biwako Bunkakan is the lakeside building that looks like a castle. Used to be an aquarium before it was converted into an art museum. Now closed.62 views
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Kiyotaki Jinja Shrine 清滝神社62 views
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Bridge to Kiyotaki Jinja Shrine62 views
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Ibukiyama Driveway62 views
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Shiga Prefectural Gym (Shiga Kenritsu Taiikukan) in Otsu, one of the home courts of the Shiga LakeStars. 滋賀県立体育館62 views
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Gym seating layout. 62 views
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Osaka Evessa warming up. This was my first time to see a pro basketball game in Japan, and I was surprised to see how commercial it was. The court floor and rim are littered with ads.62 views
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Dunk by Osaka Evessa62 views
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Shiga Lakestars souvenir stand62 views
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Unfortunately, the LakeStars missed one too many shots and lost the game, 93-96. It was an exciting game even though we lost.62 views
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This is where kids can play in the water and catch fish, etc. After observing and identifying the fish, prawns, etc., the kids return the fish back into the water. Fishing is prohibited here.62 views
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Explanation of Steller's sea eagle and its movement in the area.62 views
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Viewing room in the Biwako Waterfowl and Wetland Center.62 views
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Sign for Tokyo Apache vs. Toyama Grouses on Dec. 28, 2008 at Ariake Colosseum.62 views
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Masashi Joho signs autographs.62 views
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Tip off62 views
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Introduction of Tokyo Apache players with GumQ gauntlet. Cohey Aoki, now sporting some hair.62 views
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John "Helicopter" Humphrey62 views
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Check this out!62 views
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More halftime entertainment.62 views
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And hula hoop, almost like a circus act. I like her crossed eyes...62 views
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Brayden Billbe62 views
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LakeStars boosters are happy.62 views
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LakeStars make high-five with boosters.62 views
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Fujiwara Takamichi, team captain62 views
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Hiphop kids from Nagahama perform at halftime.62 views
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They are cheering "YMCA."62 views
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Notice the teacups and bowls and sword. They are intricately connected somehow. The kanji characters for "Chushingura" is in a frame lined with teacups at the bottom of the photo. 忠臣蔵の討ち入り場面62 views
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The crowd awaits the procession.62 views
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Baton twirlers62 views
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Two festival floats are ready to join the procession amid rice paddies.62 views
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The floats also have musicians who play festival music called shagiri (しゃぎり). They use the flute, taiko drum, and bell.62 views
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They are using bamboo support poles to keep it steady in the wind, but later they will disconnect the support poles to show that these decorations are free standing.62 views
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Baton twirlers lead the twelve juni-no-yaku musicians. 棒振り（十二の役）62 views
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The floats had their bamboo support poles reattached to the lofty decorations.62 views
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Closeup of the crown.62 views
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Sake poured high for the mayor of Moriyama, one of the dignitaries watching the festival.62 views
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Suginoki Shrine Honden Hall62 views
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Cherry blossoms abound on both riverbanks.62 views
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JR Tarui Station, north side62 views
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Ai-chan, table tennis player62 views
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Betting windows62 views
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The procession to the Otabisho leaves Minakuchi Shrine.62 views
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Monument for the rock which Ieyasu sat on.62 views
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Walk further along and there is this path to Daikoji temple. 62 views
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Minakuchi Shrine62 views
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A famous tree at Daitokuji.62 views
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Minami Sanno Matsuri Festival. For a few hours, they gather under the hoinobori with food and drinks.62 views
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View from Hieda Shrine.62 views
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Kikui-san 菊井 了62 views
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Entrance to a small hill of ajisai where there is a tiny shrine at the top.62 views
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Food stalls62 views
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Green Park Santo is an outdoor recreational area with exhibition halls, park, lodging, restaurant, tennis courts, and miniature golf.62 views
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Kamo Ike-so Bihada-no-yu hot spring bath 鴨池荘 美肌の湯62 views
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At the end of the arcade, there is an outdoor shopping mall going to the main road.62 views
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Kikusui-ren from Koenji 菊水連（高円寺）62 views
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Hotaru from Koganei.62 views
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Mitaka Shoko-ren 三鷹商工連62 views
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Mitaka Shoko-ren had a good dance routine.62 views
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Mitaka-ren みたか連62 views
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Mitaka-ren みたか連62 views
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