 Most viewed |
Famous cherry tree (in fall)53 views
|
|
Kyogoku clan graves. Grave of Kyogoku Takatsugi is on the left.53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
Sign for Tokyo Apache vs. Toyama Grouses on Dec. 27, 2008.53 views
|
|
Towels53 views
|
|
Signing autographs before the game.53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
Shiga takes a large lead right from the beginning of the game, and led the Apache through most of the game.53 views
|
|
In it goes...53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
Lobby of Shiga Prefectural Cultural and Industrial Exchange Hall.53 views
|
|
Robert Pierce, head coach.53 views
|
|
Wara53 views
|
|
Magnee53 views
|
|
LakeStars win 78-71.53 views
|
|
Toyama Grouses head coach Takatoshi Ishibashi, a former player for the Grouses, takes the imminent loss calmly.53 views
|
|
Robert Pierce interviewed.53 views
|
|
The afternoon procession included these two foxy ladies who supposed to be women warriors on horseback. Also see my YouTube video here.53 views
|
|
The kids wore this cushion-like padding on their backs.53 views
|
|
One horse after another leaves the shrine.53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
A Shinto ceremomy was held at the shrine at 8:30 am.53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
Prayers to the mikoshi portable shrine.53 views
|
|
Don't forget the mikoshi.53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
It was then a lunch break until 1 pm. I took the time to walk around the area.53 views
|
|
Huge taiko drum made a deep sound echoing throughout the place. These men soon got tired beating the drum and took turns.53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
Both mikoshi also went over the steep arched bridge.53 views
|
|
We are met with a welcoming committee consisting of bell ringers and the beating of a huge taiko drum.53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
Get off at Oguchi which is near central Ryuo and Namura Shrine. 小口53 views
|
|
Vote for Shiga's first woman governor (in July 2006).53 views
|
|
Taiko troupe53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
Kimono group53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
Finally they enter the starting gate. A tractor will pull the gate off the course after they start.53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
The Japan Racing Association (JRA) runs the Tokyo Race Course.53 views
|
|
The starting gate changes depending on the race. This starting gate is on the grass track in front of the viewing stand. This guy is there to signal.53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
Enter here.53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
An early map of Minakuchi-juku.53 views
|
|
Playing the yoshibue reed flute from Lake Biwa.53 views
|
|
Hill with ajisai (hydrangea).53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
The weaver is represented by the Vega star and the herdsman by the Altair star. As a prayer to produce better arts and crafts, the Imperial Court and the warrior class paid homage to these two stars from ancient times. This practice spread to the masses.53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
Mitaka Shoko-ren 53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
Musashi-Minami-ren from Koganei. むさし南連（小金井）53 views
|
|
Mitaka Hanamichi-ren 三鷹花道連53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
Both sides of the road were almost totally covered with vinyl mats by people reserving a spot to watch the dance. The festival seemed to be mainly for the local folks, not for tourists from outside who could not get close to the roadside. 53 views
|
|
Otsuka Awa Odori paper lanterns53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
Shinsui-ren 新粋連53 views
|
|
Sugamo-ren すがも連53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
Nobiyuku-ren (Koenji) のびゆく連53 views
|
|
Edokko-ren (Koenji) 江戸っ子連53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
I took a good number of Daikon-ren pictures last year in 2008.53 views
|
|
Troupe for a local bank.53 views
|
|
This area in the Honmaru was the site of the castle palace.53 views
|
|
Looking toward Nagahama.53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
Shinkansen53 views
|
|
Nagahama53 views
|
|
Summit of Hinade-yama is a rickety bench.53 views
|
|
JR Sakata Station platform on Hokuriku Line, between Maibara and Nagahama Stations. Very small station with no station personnel. Train tickets sold by one vending machine.53 views
|
|
Gravesite of Lord Yamauchi Kazutoyo's mother Hoshuin. 法秀院の墓53 views
|
|
Gravesite of Lord Yamauchi Kazutoyo's mother Hoshuin. 法秀院の墓53 views
|
|
Introduction of Shiga Lakestars players.53 views
|
|
OGAWA Shinya53 views
|
|
Fujiwara Takamichi #11 for a free throw.53 views
|
|
Ogawa Shinya #553 views
|
|
Shiga Lakestars Joho Masashi #3153 views
|
|
Joho Masashi #31. During this game, I got a lot of good shots of Joho.53 views
|
|
Joho Masashi #3153 views
|
|
Wara53 views
|
|
Bobby Nash goes for 3 points.53 views
|
|
The two head coaches watch at courtside.53 views
|
|
Wish I was on the other side of the court.53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
Lakestars cheerleaders and Magnee in a corner.53 views
|
|
Map of the tour route.53 views
|
|
About Ikeda-cho in English and Japanese.53 views
|
|
Shiga Lakestars official mascot Magnee also welcomed Hiko-nyan to their first game in Hikone. Hiko-nyan is one of Japan's most famous and popular PR mascot characters. So popular that Hikone retained this cat as its official mascot indefinitely.53 views
|
|
Tip-off at about 5 pm between the Shiga Lakestars and Takamatsu Five Arrows in Hikone.53 views
|
|
Shinya53 views
|
|
Chris Schlatter #4 going for 3 points.53 views
|
|
During halftime, they held the free throw game for spectators. They gave a little prize to those who got the ball in.53 views
|
|
Head Coach Bob Pierce thanks the crowd for coming and urges them to come again to support the Lakestars. (Will do.)53 views
|
|
First floor of station with tourist info counter and souvenir shop.53 views
|
|
Gate to Bannaji temple. 53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
Alevtina heads for the finish as she passes by some cheerleaders. The prize money for women is the same as for men. The top three women runners were all foreigners. Five of the top ten women were foreigners.53 views
|
|
Tiger53 views
|
|
Another monster or ghost? Not Caspar.53 views
|
|
Nurse53 views
|
|
Pandas are popular.53 views
|
|
I dunno why Santa Claus is so popular in Feb. Perhaps that's the costume they wore at the Honolulu Marathon in Dec.53 views
|
|
Yosakoi soran dancers at 2010 Tokyo Marathon.53 views
|
|
The kimono models also walked through the audience seats.53 views
|
|
Path to Osasahara Shrine.53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
Joho takes the ball down court.53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
Fujiwara Takamichi53 views
|
|
Jerrell Smith53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
Cheerleaders in the stands.53 views
|
|
Wara contemplates a shot.53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
As the Tokyo Apache cheerleaders cheered, these Lakestars boosters cheered. The guy on the right later gave his Lakestar banner to the Apache cheerleader who was a good sport to accept it.53 views
|
|
Coach Robert Pierce53 views
|
|
Cohey and Fujiwara Takamichi at it again. They must be tired of seeing each other's faces all the time.53 views
|
|
Mikey Marshall is from Texas and played for Oita Heat Devils and Osaka Evessa before.53 views
|
|
Tokyo Apache Dance Team in another outfit.53 views
|
|
Joho Masashi played for Tokyo Apache up until last season. He was welcomed back by Apache fans whom I'm sure miss Joho in Tokyo.53 views
|
|
Joho Masashi53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
The close the gate doors.53 views
|
|
After the front torii, there is a 300-meter gravel path lined with pine trees.53 views
|
|
Then turn left to see the Taikobashi Bridge and red torii.53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
The horseback archer faced the shrine and gave a ritualistic prayer with a bow at 2:20 pm. He was followed by the eight horseback riders who bowed to the shrine.53 views
|
|
They pay their respects to the shrine.53 views
|
|
Then the remaining horses ran a few times as well, three times each.53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
Float pullers definitely look better with happi coats.53 views
|
|
They didn't have any signs indicating the name of the float. Isamu hikiyama float (勇).53 views
|
|
Torii to Zaiji Hachiman Shrine, the birthplace of Todo Takatora (1556-1630). Since 1998, the Takatora Summit has been held once every two years in one of four places (Kora, Tsu and Iga in Mie, and Imabari, Ehime) having a close connection with Takatora.53 views
|
|
More booths.53 views
|
|
Mayor of Tsu, Mie Prefecture. Tsu Castle was built by Takatora.53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
At 2 pm, the "Summit" was held on stage.53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
Sightseeing map of Kora-cho.53 views
|
|
Next, the boat carrying the main mikoshi is taken upstream. 53 views
|
|
The kabuki plays are scheduled so that you can see kabuki on both floats consecutively at the same location. They are not performed at the same time.53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
The second hikiyama called Asahiyama 旭山, starts its kabuki play.53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
Turning the wheels using wedged sticks.53 views
|
|
It was quite a bit of work to turn this float.53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
They perform the same play.53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
Finally, they are in sight of Sannomiya Shrine.53 views
|
|
It took them about 90 min. to reach the shrine.53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
Boy taiko drummers.53 views
|
|
Manyo no Mori forest53 views
|
|
Rakujuen also has a small amusement park.53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
Vending machines with Azai sisters moif.53 views
|
|
Entertainment stage near Tokyo Big Sight.53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
Tiger Mask53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
Asakusa Kaminarimon paper lantern.53 views
|
|
Tokyo Tower53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
Samba group called G.R.E.S. Festanca at Tokyo Marathon.53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
Approaching Kiyotaki, a small settlement next to a mountain.53 views
|
|
About the Kyogoku Clan graves at Tokugen-in temple. It was Kyogoku Takatoyo, lord of Marugame in Shikoku, who in 1672 acquired the temple land and gathered all the Kyogoku graves scattered in the area to Tokugen-in.53 views
|
|
Kashiwabara Bank opened in 1901 by local merchants. There were other branches nearby such as Omi-Nagaoka and Imasu. The bank merged with Shiga Bank and closed in 1943.53 views
|
|
Cherry blossoms next to Kashiwabara Junior High School sports ground.53 views
|
|
Other Kyogoku Clan graves.53 views
|
|
Kashiwabara-juku stone marker.53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
Jizo-bon is held along the Nakasendo road with various displays of paper mache figures made by local school children.53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
Jizo altar at Jizo-do temple in Samegai, Maibara.53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
Exhibition in Mizunoeki53 views
|
|
Taiko drummers send off the rowers.53 views
|
|
Omi-Maiko is famous for Japanese pine trees lining the beach.53 views
|
|
|
|
Rowing past Nagahama Dome, a sports and event complex.53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
Aburahi Shrine worships Sarutahiko, a god of strength also revered by the samurai. A large torii over the road near the Aburahi Station.53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
Haiden Hall53 views
|
|
About Aburahi Shrine.53 views
|
|
The Nagamochi yakko (luggage coolies) group arrive at the shrine. 長持奴53 views
|
|
挟箱奴53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
Behind the four Hasami-bako yakko box bearers are the Keyari-yakko who are two men carrying fur-tipped spears. 毛槍奴53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
The yakko-furi are followed by low-ranking samurai called Okado (or Kachi). 徒士53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
Inside Heiwado dept. store in front of Nagahama Station.53 views
|
|
Heiwado dept. store in front of Nagahama Station.53 views
|
|
Odani Castle and the Azai sister trio.53 views
|
|
Busy road in front of Namura Jinja Shrine.53 views
|
|
About Namura Shrine's Romon Gate.53 views
|
|
The exact year when the shrine was established is unknown, but records go back as far as the year 969.53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
Namura Shrine and Sagicho pile to be burned. Ryuo-cho, Shiga.53 views
|
|
Namura Shrine's Higashi Honden, an Important Cultural Property 苗村神社東本殿53 views
|
|
Poster for Namura Shrine's Sekku Matsuri Festival held on May 5. May 5 is Children's Day and the festival prays for their healthy growth along with a good harvest.53 views
|
|
Namura Shrine's Sekku Festival's highlight is the yabusame horseback archery. There's a path in front of the Romon Gate for horses. They had two archery targets set up along the path.53 views
|
|
| 71458 files on 284 page(s) |
 |
|
196 | |
|
|
