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The chigo parade of bygone days was much longer with a lot more kids. 昔の築地本願寺の花まつり: かなり長い行列でした。1176 views
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Baton-twirling club, Tsukiji Hongwanji, Tokyo 千代田女学院 バトン部1054 views千代田女学院
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Baton-twirling club from the Chiyoda Jogakuin Junior/Senior High School followed by the elephant572 views千代田女学院
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Established in 1617, Tsukiji Hongwanji temple is the Tokyo headquarters of the Nishi Hongwanji Jodo Shinshu sect. The present temple, based on Indian architecture, was built in the 1930s.536 viewsThe temple is the only one in Japan which is under the direct control of the sect. Its head priest is the Monshu Abbot himself. April 8 is observed as Buddha's birthday, called Hana Matsuri ("Flower Festival) in Japan.
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Map of Hama-rikyu Gardens. Main entrance is on the upper left corner.506 views
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Female schoolmates of the baton twirlers block the cameras of unrelated photographers when the baton twirlers passed. カメラ小僧を妨害するバトン部の先輩たち。476 viewsThis was the first time for me in Japan to see people blocking photographers from taking pictures at a festival. They did it to me as well. If they don't want to be photographed, why do they appear in this public festival??

妨害しても無駄だと思いますが。撮られるのがいやでしたら、まつりに出ない方がいいですよ。
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The parade was over after 30 min. (11:30 - 12 pm).476 views
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Cold-water ablutions is not unusual in ascetic Buddhism, but to see it at a Shinto shrine is unusual.461 views
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Baby Buddha statue450 viewsLadles are provided for pouring the sweet tea over the Buddha. Sweet tea is also provided to worshippers. It symbolizes the sweet rain that fell when the Buddha was born.
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Oedo Sukeroku Taiko troupe. They were all girls and super good!434 views大江戸助六太鼓
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Children dressed for the chigo parade (photo session), Tsukiji Hongwanji, Tokyo432 views
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Oedo Sukeroku Taiko troupe392 views
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Hama-rikyu Onshi Teien Gardens is a waterfront garden built by the Tokugawa shoguns in the 17th century. 371 viewsDuring the Meiji Period, it became a Detached Palace for the Imperial family who gave the garden to the Tokyo in 1945. It used to have duck-hunting grounds. It was also the site of the Enryokan State Guesthouse where foreign dignitaries stayed such as former US president Ulysses Grant and Hawaii's King David Kalakaua.
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Children dressed for the chigo parade, Tsukiji Hongwanji, Tokyo355 viewsIt took a long time before they could get all the kids to settle down for the picture and to get all the mothers out of the picture.
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昔の築地本願寺の花まつり: 日大のバトン部か354 views
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Chigo children. They have two black dots on the forehead and a white stripe on the nose. They don't paint the white stripe today. 昔の築地本願寺の花まつり: 鼻に白い線が塗っている。今は、塗らない。351 views
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Look at all those Cub Scouts. They don't participate today. 昔の築地本願寺の花まつり340 views
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Officially called the Tokyo Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market, this sprawling complex handles mainly fish, but also fruits and vegetables. This is outside the market building.338 viewsUpdate: Tsukiji Fish Market closed on Oct. 6, 2018 since it moved to Toyosu. These pictures were taken when toursts were still free to roam around the auction area and inner market. Now a blast from the past. Sorry you missed it.
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Hanamatsuri celebrates the Buddha's birthday on April 8. This is Tsukiji Honganji in Tokyo.328 viewsThe flowers symbolize Lumbini Garden where the Buddha was born in present-day Nepal.
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昔の築地本願寺の花まつり321 views
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Entering the temple gate293 views
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Buddhist flag. 昔の築地本願寺の花まつり293 views
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Side view of 300-year-old pine tree280 views
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Teppozu Inari Shrine, near Hatchobori Station on the Hibiya subway line.280 views
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Tsukiji Hongwanji temple gate with wisteria crest.278 viewsThe emblem is a wisteria flower and symbol of the Jodo Shinshu sect.
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Statue of St. Shinran (1173-1263), founder of the Jodo Shinshu (Pure Land) Buddhist Sect.268 views
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Band from the Chiyoda Jogakuin Girls Junior/Senior High School263 viewsNo problem photographing them.
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Nakajima-no-Ochaya Tea House262 views
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Plum blossoms249 views
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Chigo children. 昔の築地本願寺の花まつり243 views
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300-year-old pine tree241 views
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Chigo children. 昔の築地本願寺の花まつり239 views
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On the road in front of the temple232 views
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Many little kids held a long rope to pull the white elephant. 昔の築地本願寺の花まつり232 views
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Moat229 views
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Final performance226 views
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Plum blossoms226 views
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Moat with Tsukijigawa River219 views
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Bridge to Hama-rikyu Gardens. Guests staying at the Enryokan State Guesthouse during the 19th century would cross this bridge.214 viewsShort walk from JR Shimbashi Station and Shiodome Station on the Oedo Subway Line and the Yurikamome line.
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Nihonbashi Bridge side view211 views
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Huge 300-year-old pine tree209 views
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Site of the Enryokan State Guesthouse. Built in May 1869, it was Japan's first Western-style building made of stone. It served as an office of the Japanese navy before it was refitted as guest house. 延遼館209 views
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The double-arched bridge was built in 1911, made of granite.206 views
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A small garden and little stream which was behind the Enryokan State Guesthouse.206 views
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Hanamatsuri service inside the Tsukiji Hongwanji temple202 views
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Entrance to Hama-rikyu Onshi Gardens202 views
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Nakajima-no-Ochaya Tea House on the small island in the pond.201 views
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The elephant follows the band.200 views
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Nakajima-no-Ochaya Tea House200 views
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Hiroshige's woodblock print of Nihonbashi from his "Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido Road" series.199 views
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昔の築地本願寺の花まつり197 views
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Camellia196 views
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Chigo children194 views
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Frozen crab190 views
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Start of the Hanamatsuri parade which also promotes traffic safety.188 viewsThe starting point was a nearby park.
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Nihon University college band was part of the parade. 昔の築地本願寺の花まつり188 views
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Nihonbashi Bridge ahead, with the expressway over it.186 views
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White elephant to anchor the parade. Notice the Buddha altar riding on the top. Before she gave birth to the Buddha, Queen Maya dreamed of a white elephant.184 views
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Styrofoam cartons trashed. Also see my YouTube video here. Another YouTube video here.182 views
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Gingko tree and pine tree in autumn181 views
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Site of the Enryokan State Guesthouse. Former U.S. President Ulysses Grant and his wife stayed there for two months in 1879 during their world tour. Hawaii's King Kalakaua also stayed here in 1881. He traveled by horse carriage to meet Emperor Meiji.175 views
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Site of the Enryokan State Guesthouse. Under former Tokyo Governor Masuzoe, Tokyo had plans to faithfully reconstruct the Enryokan in time for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Plan has been shelved.171 views
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Sightseeing boat pier170 views
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Parade starts...167 views
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Chuo-dori avenue looking toward Nihonbashi Bridge.167 views
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These fish can be huge, bigger and heavier than a sumo wrestler.167 views
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Marker indicating the garden as a sightseeing spot and Special Historic Site.165 views
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There is no map of the place so you may or may not find the tuna auctions. It's also easy to get lost in the market. This is the fresh fish tuna storage area.164 views
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The U-shaped Enryokan was used as a guest house until 1883 when the new Rokumeikan 鹿鳴館 guest house was completed. Due to old age, the Enryokan was torn down in 1889. Many new Shiodome skyscrapers loom over the site.163 views
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The garden would look better without all these skyscrapers in the background.162 views
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300-year-old pine tree161 views
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English explanation for yuki-zuri which are those strings propping up the pine tree branches as a countermeasure against snow.161 views
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Gingko tree and pine tree in autumn159 views
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Tea house, pond, and pine tree159 views
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Former boat landing for the shogun159 views
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The market is near Tsukijishijō Station on the Toei Ōedo Line and Tsukiji Station on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line. The first subway arrives at around 5:20 am. First you walk through the fruit section..159 views
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Tails are cut off to show the flesh color.158 views
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The priest is all smiles after the bath.158 views
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Tako157 views
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Nihonbashi Bridge and the ugly expressway above.155 views
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The original Nihonbashi Bridge was built in 1603, out of wood.155 views
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Never saw this much tuna in my life.154 views
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Shiori-no-Ike Pond with ducks. This is a tidal pond.152 views
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Prawns152 views
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Otsutaibashi Bridge over the pond.150 views
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Duck hunting gutter150 views
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First they give a few prayers led by the shrine priest.150 views
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Another entrance148 views
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Buyers check the color of the flesh to determine how fatty the fish is.145 views
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Walking through the Enryokan site, now dotted with pine trees.144 views
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The shrine priest was followed by some 15 or so people ready for their freezin-cold water ablution bath.144 views
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Shiodome skyscrapers overwhelm the little tea house143 views
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Everyone followed the priest's lead.143 views
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Gingko tree in autumn142 views
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All the fish are labeled. They might indicate where the fish was caught (or raised).141 views
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Gargoyles on bridge140 views
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Falconry demonstrations held at Hama-Rikyu Gardens on Jan. 3 in Tokyo.140 views
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Nihonbashi Bridge today is the 19th reconstructed Nihonbashi Bridge since 1603. 日本橋139 views
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This was the entrance and bridge which the Emperor passed through when visiting the garden.139 views
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After the aikido, falconry demonstrations were held at Hama-Rikyu Gardens on Jan. 3 as a New Year's event. (放鷹術実演) 139 viewsHama-Rikyu Garden used to be where the Tokugawa shoguns and the Imperial family practiced falconry.
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昔の築地本願寺の花まつり138 views
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Camellias138 views
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Where the head was attached.138 views
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Duck-hunting wall137 views
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Fresh tuna137 views
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They don't use the same type of falconry birds that were used by Tokugawa shoguns. They now use Harris' hawks or red-tailed hawks imported to Japan. 137 viewsThey are highly intelligent birds and can recognize human faces.
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They allowed a few people from the audience to try falconry. This is an Italian who was lucky enough to be chosen to hold and release this hawk.137 views
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Hanamatsuri altar136 views
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Straw band wrapped around the pine tree trunk to catch bugs crawling on the trunk.136 views
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This size is easy to sell to mom and pop sushi restaurants.136 views
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After the demo, they showed off the hawks for photos.136 views
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Without flinching, he took a dip. This is quite tame compared to what he does every Feb: Swim in the icy Sea of Okhotsk off Abashiri, Hokkaido.135 views
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Tiny slits to look at the ducks134 views
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Watch out for these speeding trolleys. They are almost everywhere.134 views
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Cut-off tails134 views
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First the shrine priest came out.134 views
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Falconry demonstrations held at Hama-Rikyu Gardens on Jan. 3 in Tokyo.134 views
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Nihonbashi as seen from Mitsukoshi Dept. Store.133 views
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Otsutaibashi Bridge133 views
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Tuna head133 views
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One of the worse urban-planning decisions of the 1960s.132 views
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Prawns132 views
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Chigo kids enter the temple131 views
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Camellias131 views
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Fruit section.131 views
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Looks good to me.131 views
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The rest of the people also jump in the tub.131 views
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The shrine priest had charisma and spunk.131 views
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The tuna flesh between the rib-like bones is also choice meat. It is scraped off with a spoon.130 views
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It was all over after about 30 min. See the shrine's office site here.130 views
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Pine trees along the shore129 views
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Tuna knives129 views
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Caught in the Pacific Ocean.129 views
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The shrine priest is Nakagawa Masamitsu, still looking youthful in his 80s. This freezing water bath event started at a health club in Ichikawa, Chiba in 1956. But 4 years later, it could not be held any longer so it moved here.129 views
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The shrine priest was then the first to enter the bath. 128 views
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Headless tuna carcasses127 views
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Then the shrine priest, who was in his 80s, started some warm-up exercises.127 views
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Play room for kids on Hanamatsuri126 views
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In 2007, the water tub was replaced with a much larger pool able to fit 60 people. But I like this smaller tub.126 views
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Hanamatsuri service inside the temple125 viewsNotice the Hanamatsuri altar at the center.
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Tuna belly, the fatty part of the fish for toro sashimi.125 views
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Cutting up a fresh fish. They use a long, sharp knife, and not a band saw.125 views
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The man on the lower right kept hugging this big block of ice.125 views
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Shiori-no-Ike Pond124 views
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Nihonbashi Bridge monument123 views
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Nihonbashi River123 views
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Packaged to sell.123 views
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Fish waiting to be decapitated.123 views
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Hanamatsuri in the old days (lot more children and people). 昔の築地本願寺の花まつり: 子供の数が大多かった。121 views
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Sky roof121 views
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I wonder how long it takes to be able to cut up a giant tuna.121 views
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Beating backward: Oedo Sukeroku Taiko drummers120 views大江戸助六太鼓
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This shrine priest does not appear in recent photos of this ritual, so he might have passed away. This festival won't be the same without him.120 views
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Going to the chigo parade's starting point119 views
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Many pine trees in the garden119 views
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The man is still hugging his ice.119 views
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Japan's Zero Milestone for Roads 日本国道路元標118 views
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The market building has many signs of its old age.118 views
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There were no musicians on stage like they have now. It was a pretty quiet ritual, and the crowd was quite small.118 views
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The local neighborhood association wants this expressway to go underground.117 views
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Memorial square for the Zero Milestone for the Five Major Roads116 views
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Shrimp116 views
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For about 5-10 min. they all sat in the frigid water and chanted while praying. They prayed for good health for themselves and their families.116 views
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This was the second time I saw this, and each time there was one woman.116 views
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A very long hanamatsuri parade leaves the temple. 昔の築地本願寺の花まつり: 集合は別院内、これは出発。115 views
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Expressway above the bridge.114 views
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Distances from the Zero Milestone to major cities such as Yokohama, Kyoto, and Kagoshima.114 views
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Frozen tuna anyone?114 views
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Each fish is worth thousands or tens of thousands of US dollars.114 views
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Puffer fish swim happily, ignorant of their ultimate fate.114 views
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Eisen's woodblock print of Nihonbashi from his Kisokaido series.114 views
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Pouring sweet tea over the Buddha113 viewsWhen the Buddha was born in Lumbini Garden in Nepal, sweet rain is said to have fallen. Thus, sweet tea is poured over the baby Buddha statue in the Hanamatsuri altar.
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Frozen tuna auctions at Tsukiji Fish Market.113 views
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Sea urchin (uni), one of my favorites.113 views
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Bridge ornaments112 views
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Frozen tuna head112 views
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Japan's Zero Milestone 日本国道路元標111 views
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In front of the shrine were two large tubs of freezing-cold water with a few large blocks of ice await. The Kanchu Suiyoku (Mid-winter Cold Water Bath) is held on the second Sunday of Jan.111 views
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Another entrance110 views
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Headless frozen tuna.110 views
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These frozen fish did not show any signs of melting. Wonder how long it takes for them to defrost.109 views
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After the auctions are over, they haul out the fish using a variety methods.109 views
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Temple gate and flag108 views
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Chigo children. 昔の築地本願寺の花まつり108 views
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Frozen tuna auctions. Buyers signal the auctioneer. Also see my YouTube video here.108 views
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The frozen tuna is cut up into quarters lengthwise by a band saw.108 views
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The huge fish market consists of rows and rows of fish monger stalls, divided by narrow aisles.108 views
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Fish and more fish...108 views
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These photos were taken in the 1997.108 views
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The white elephant107 views
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Looks yummy.107 views
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All full and ready to go. Gee, how much is all that tuna worth??107 views
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Hand-drawn cart, good for four fish.107 views
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The band saw easily cuts through the frozen flesh. Also see my YouTube video here.107 views
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The fresh tuna is cut up into smaller blocks.107 views
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Thank you banners in Tokyu Dept. Store in Nihonbashi on Jan. 31, 1999, last day.107 views
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Bridge lamps106 views
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Octopi106 views
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Then they ran around the shrine.106 views
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Taiko drum performance by Oedo Sukeroku Taiko troupe. 大江戸助六太鼓105 viewsTheir Web site: http://www.oedosukerokutaiko.com/

大江戸助六太鼓
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Crowd in Tokyu Dept. Store in Nihonbashi on Jan. 31, 1999.105 views
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To this man, ice water is a healthy thing. I know I would never do this.105 views
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Outdoor food court104 views
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Cutting fish. See how they do on my YouTube video here.103 views
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Praying to the Hanamatsuri altar102 views
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