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About the Kannon statue34 views
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Inside Inari-do Hall 稲荷堂34 views
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Chronology of Ii Naotora and Naomasa.34 views
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Going up to Iinoya Castle site.34 views
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Quite a few steps to go to the top of Iinoya Castle.34 views
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JR Ochanomizu Station.34 views
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Where Ochanomizu got its name "Tea Water."34 views
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Holy Resurrection Cathedral (Nicholai-do). We can enter, but no photos inside.34 views
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Hijiri-bashi Bridge over the Kanda River goes to Yushima Seido temple. See this album.34 views
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About 800,000 crowded the sidewalks along the 2.5 km route on Chuo-dori that goes through Ginza 4-chome.34 views
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Boccia medalists 廣瀬隆喜 杉村英孝34 views
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Yui Kamiji, bronze medalist in women's single wheelchair tennis. 上地結衣34 views
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Paralympians not on wheechairs.34 views
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Misato Michishita, silver medalist in women's Paralympic marathon in Rio 2016. 道下美里34 views
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Misato Michishita, silver medalist in women's Paralympic marathon in Rio 2016. 道下美里34 views
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A small stage was setup along the main path to Meiji Shrine for traditional performances.34 views
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Chrysanthemum exhibits on the main path to Meiji Shrine.34 views
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Yabusame is one of Japan's hallmark traditional arts and commonly staged for visiting heads of state at Meiji Shrine.34 viewsFormer US president Ulysses Grant saw it with Emperor Meiji at Ueno Park in 1879, Ronald Reagan in 1983 at Meiji Shrine, George W. Bush (with PM Koizumi) at Meiji Shrine in 2001, and Obama (with Caroline Kennedy) at Meiji Shrine in 2014.
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The archer shoots at the first target. The second target is in the middle of the track and the third is toward the end of the track.34 views
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Higashi Ginza Station is closest to Higashi Ginza, home of the Kabuki-za Theater, Japan's most famous kabuki theater.34 views
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Crowd come for the newly rebuilt Kabuki-za Theater's first New Year's performance in Jan. 2014.34 views
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Kabuki plays for Jan. 2014.34 views
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Corner of the Kabuki-za Theater has a small Shinto shrine and torii.34 views
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Shinto shrine at Kabuki-za Theater.34 views
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Roof of Kabuki-za Theater34 views
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Iwate Prefecture gift shop in Higashi Ginza, Tokyo.34 views
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Canon Photo Salon Gallery, product showroom, and service center in Higashi Ginza34 views
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Building on the other end of the underground Cine Past mall. March 2013.In front of the Mitsui Garden Hotel. Also closed in34 views
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Judging from theor clothing, they look to be a well-to-do family.34 views
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Part of the castle site is Shiroyama Park with nice views of the pearl island. 34 views
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Shiroyama Park at Toba Castle.34 views
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Shiroyama Park at Toba Castle.34 views
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About Shiroyama Park at Toba Castle.34 views
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About the castle wall.34 views
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Train wheels displayed on the way to the museum from Tetsudo-Hakubutsukan Station.34 views
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Opened in October 2007, the Railway Museum in Saitama is one of Japan's largest train museums. 34 viewsThe highlight exhibits include the first locomotive that was used for Japan's first train line between Shimbashi and Yokohama, the 0 Series first-generation Tokaido shinkansen, the 0 Series first-generation Tohoku shinkansen, and sleeper trains.
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Train display on the way to the museum from Tetsudo-Hakubutsukan Station. 167 series train for school excursions.34 views
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Tohoku shinkansen's snow sweeper.34 views
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1970s children's book about traveling.34 views
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1970s children's cards about transportation.34 views
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Inside the 0 Series Tokaido shinkansen.34 views
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Side table34 views
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Corridor34 views
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Early history of shinkansen.34 views
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Inside the Asama Limited Express.34 views
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Inside Hibari Limited Express.34 views
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Ueno Station turnstile.34 views
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Vendor34 views
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Chuo Line, 101 series.34 views
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Tokaido shinkansen commemorative medals.34 views
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This sandy hill is named "The Horse's Back" because it's similar in shape. It's the most touristy part of the sand dunes.34 views
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Bus stop to Hyakusaiji Temple.34 views
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Visit the next Koto Sanzan Temple at Kongorinji or Saimyoji in Kora.34 views
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A week before the festival, we visited the studio of two of the Sagicho floats. This is one of them at Miyauchi-cho. 宮内町34 viewsEach float is named after the district that it represents. It could be one or more neighborhoods in the city. A volunteer group for each float takes 2 months to make the float at their studio.
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I was told that out of the 12 zodiac creatures, making the dog was the most difficult and making the dragon was the easiest. 34 viewsThe dog is difficult because it's the most familiar animal to humans, so people know exactly what a dog supposed to look like. People can get very critical if the dog doesn't look like what it supposed to look like. Details like the curvature of the legs, etc. So they refer to a thick photo book of all kinds of dogs to make sure everything looks real.
Making the dragon is easy because no one has seen a real dragon. So people don't know exactly what a dragon supposed to look like. It doesn't have be so exact like a dog.
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The dog fur is made of jute fibers (黄麻). Very realistic. They had only one person meticulously put on most of the dog's fur.34 viewsThey could've had a few people help, but then the fur would look uneven because each person would do it differently. But they still wanted to train the younger folks to do it, so the trainees were allowed to put fur on the less noticeable spots on the dog.
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I also asked what was the most difficult thing about making the float. He said, "deciding on the float's design." 34 viewsTheir committee members make their own designs with their computers and present them to the committee. Apparently, it takes a lot of haggling and time, but once the design is decided, the rest is pretty mechanical and easy.
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I asked the float's leader about the cost. I was told that they spent ¥200,000 for edible float materials and ¥800,000 for festival expenses even with free labor.34 viewsThey work on the float in the evenings after work or school. They solicit donations from neighborhood residents and sponsors.
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The float decorations are all made of edible materials especially grains (soybeans, black beans, adzuki beans, sesame seeds, etc.) and seafood (dried bonito, kelp, aoi-nori seaweed powder, cuttlefish, dried fish, etc.).34 views
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This is the base for the dog. All edible materials. Notice the flower's yellow stamen in the center.34 views
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The flower's stamen were made with these small, banana-shaped chocolate candy. As long as it is edible, they can use anything on the float, even modern junk food.34 viewsBanana-shaped chocolate candy for a flower's stamen, such great imagination. Year-round, they always look at edible things and imagine what it can be used for on a Sagicho float. Compared to the old days, they now have a lot more edible choices and colors to choose from to make the float decorations.
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This is one of the three children's floats which are smaller than the normal floats. Uwai-cho float. 魚屋町34 views
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Sanwakai children's float. 参和会34 views
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Float bearers spin around while shouting "Cho-yare" or "Masse masse!" Dai-niku float 第二区34 views
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Dai-niku float 第二区34 views
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In front of the torii gate, two floats join up.34 views
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Dai-ikku float's Tosa dog. 第一区34 views
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Dai-niku float 第二区34 views
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Jukku-kai float. 十区会34 views
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This one has a picture of the famous Azuchi Castle which is in Omi-Hachiman. The castle was built by warlord Oda Nobunaga in the 16th century. This festival originated in Azuchi. Jukku-kai float. 十区会34 views
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Ishin-cho float. 為心町34 views
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All the floats gather at Himure Hachimangu Shrine. Sagicho Festival,34 views
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This is in front of the shrine where all the floats gathered and lined up. Judges examined the floats to determine the winning float designs.34 views
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Azuchi Castle on Jukku-kai float. 十区会34 views
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Ishin-cho float. 為心町34 views
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Shinmachi-dori float. 新町通り34 views
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Miyauchi-cho float 宮内町34 views
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Honmachi float 本町34 views
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Shichikukai children's float. 紫竹会34 views
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Dai-Juikku float's Tosa dog. 第十一区34 views
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Shinmachi-dori float leaving the shrine. 新町通り34 views
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Watch your step!34 views
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Shichikukai float. 紫竹会34 views
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Shichikukai float. 紫竹会 Lots of peas and beans.34 views
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Shichikukai float. 紫竹会34 views
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Dai-Juikku float's Tosa dog. 第十一区34 views
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This was the winning float design. Another Tosa fighting dog. Sure looks like a lot of work went into this. I didn't have a chance to ask what the yellow braids were made of. Dai-Juikku float. 第十一区34 views
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Honmachi float 本町34 views
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Honmachi float 本町34 views
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Shinmachi-dori float. 新町通り34 views
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Suwai-cho float. 仲屋町34 views
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Dai-ikku children's float. 第一区34 views
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Dai-niku float sold this hand towel and mini Sagicho for ¥500. 第二区34 views
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The float battles are prone to damage the float decorations. A few dogs lost their heads or broke their legs in the battles. All those intricate works of art, only to be soon destroyed. But no one really cares.34 views
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This clashing (or crashing) of floats is called "kenka" (fight). It lasts until 5 pm in front of the shrine (parking lot).34 views
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Float leader directing the float bearers carrying the float. Jukku-kai float. 十区会34 views
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Miyauchi-cho float won 3rd place in the float design competition. 宮内町34 views
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At 6 pm, the children's floats are torched first. Sanwakai children's float is set afire.34 views
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The shrine has a long history, spanning 1,400 years beginning with Shotoku Taishi who built Kawaraji temple on this mountain and also prayed at Tarobo shrine known for making miracles happen. Map34 views
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Saicho, founder of Tendai Buddhist Sect, also prayed at Tarobo. Up to when Shinto and Buddhism was separated during the Meiji Period, both Shinto and Tendai followers worshipped at Tarobo.34 views"Tarobo" is the name of the Tengu goblin serving as the guardian of this shrine. The shrine god is known as the "God of Victory," for business prosperity, winning something, beating a disease, or passing an exam.
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Mt. Mitsukuriyama, home of Tarobogu Shrine.34 views
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A significant rock.34 views
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Legend says that the god split the Wedded Rocks in two. Legend also says that the rocks will crush any person who has a malicious heart or has told a lie. Most local kids therefore run through here to escape the god's crush. Meoto-iwa 夫婦岩34 views
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Inside Ichigansha Shrine 一願社 (一願成就社). 34 views
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Mountain ascetic priests chanting.34 views
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Chiyo was the devoted wife of samurai Yamanouchi Kazutoyo.34 views
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And the parade proceeded to Gifu Castle park.34 views
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Taxi with Nobunaga design.34 views
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Shin-Yokaichi Station looks brown from the sides, but it's green on the front.34 views
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Farm tools34 views
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History of the emigrant center: 2007-200934 views
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Emigrant's living quarters.34 views
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Lodging facility reconstructed here.34 views
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Electronical appliances.34 views
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Exhibition room showing emigration photos.34 views
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The tower's top five floors are lookout decks accessible by elevator.34 views
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Entrance to Kobe Port Tower.34 views
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Kobe Mosiac34 views
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Restaurant inside Kobe Port Tower.34 views
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They had to overcome many problems (mostly egotistical, financial, and logistical) before they could get all 31 floats to agree to gather together every five years.34 viewsIt's a grand festival held only eight times so far. The one in 2012 attracted over 500,000 spectators. I believe it, there was a lot of people in this otherwise sleepy city.
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Intricate woodcarvings on a float. They all tell a story, but I haven't had time to learn about it.34 views
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JR Handa Station34 views
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Chintoro-bune boat floats on the river. ちんとろ船34 views
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The bridge.34 views
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Uminoko official Web site here (in English) shows the inside of the ship.34 views
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