 Most viewed - CHIBA 千葉県 |
The biggest taiko drum festival in the Kanto region is held annually in April. Various taiko drum troupes perform for two full days on various outdoor stages in Narita, including the main stage in front of the Narita-san temple.1631 views
|
|
Chiba Marine Stadium is next to the ocean behind the Makuhari Messe convention center. Near JR Kaihin-Makuhari Station on the Keiyo Line, about 40 min. from Tokyo Station.1579 views
|
|
White weeping cherry blossoms1539 views
|
|
1188 views
|
|
All the baby-carrying men must be careful not to slip and fall in the mud. Warabi Hadaka Matsuri in Yotsukaido, Chiba.1172 views
|
|
Statue of an ama woman diver sitting on a rock on the Onjuku Station train platform. These women dived deep in the ocean (without scuba gear) from small boats to harvest shellfish and other seafood.1028 views
|
|
Musashimaru and Dejima981 views
|
|
Mud Brings Happiness, at Warabi Hadaka Matsuri in Yotsukaido, Chiba.978 views
|
|
New Status Symbol at Warabi Hadaka Matsuri in Yotsukaido, Chiba.900 views
|
|
I can't see... That's what he said: "Mienai" The kids nearby were screaming with laughter.895 views
|
|
Actress Riho Makise throwing setsubun beans at Narita-san895 views
|
|
A Touch of Mud. One custom is to receive a touch of mud on your face.856 views
|
|
Naoko Yamazaki gets help in the donning of her shuttle launch and entry suit in preparation for a water survival training session...841 views17 Sept. 2009 --- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, STS-131 mission specialist, gets help in the donning of her shuttle launch and entry suit in preparation for a water survival training session in the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL) near NASA's Johnson Space Center. United Space Alliance suit technicians assisted Yamazaki.
|
|
Mud Fight832 views
|
|
Mud Spotting, Warabi Hadaka Matsuri in Yotsukaido, Chiba. The men hold babies and use mud to paint a mud spot on the baby's face. It is to wish for happiness for the baby.830 views
|
|
The End(s)817 views
|
|
Musashimaru throws setsubun beans at Narita-san786 views
|
|
A large banner adorns JR Matsudo Station (Joban Line) to celebrate Matsudo native and astronaut Yamazaki Naoko's return to Earth from her Space Shuttle mission in April 2010.783 views
|
|
Being next to the Pacific Ocean, Chiba has quite a few festivals held on the beach. The Kazusa Junisha Matsuri is one of the larger ones. Sept. 13, 2009 (Sun.) was the main festival day when they went in the water at the beach. 782 views
|
|
Keep in mind that this is in the middle of winter.762 views
|
|
Musashimaru gets his setsubun beans at Narita-san.757 views
|
|
Sacred Water (and Mud). On the the left, the water feeding the paddy is enclosed by a sacred rope. This makes the water (and mud) sacred.731 views
|
|
Baby Blessings at Warabi Hadaka Matsuri in Yotsukaido, Chiba. Infants are blessed in front of the shrine.720 views
|
|
662 views
|
|
After warming up at the fire, they run back to the mud.659 views
|
|
Hikaru Nishida at center in red for Naritasan Setsubun in Feb. 2001.659 views
|
|
Babies to Mud at Warabi Hadaka Matsuri in Yotsukaido, Chiba. The men carry babies to the mud paddy and use a straw strand to paint a dot on the baby. Sometimes they use a finger to do it.656 views
|
|
Mud Fight. After clashing and crashing to the mud, they throw mud at each other.643 views
|
|
They are in the mud for only a few minutes. Then they go back up to the shrine nearby and warm up near a fire. They go back and forth between the shrine and mud paddy about 4 or 5 times.636 views
|
|
Warm Up636 views
|
|
Bag of beans. I caught this from Dejima. They throw little bags of beans instead of individual beans. Bean bags are much easier to catch and to clean up afterward.628 views
|
|
Mud on Your Face: Fashionable, at Warabi Hadaka Matsuri in Yotsukaido, Chiba.606 views
|
|
View of Chiba Park from monorail. 綿打池603 views
|
|
Narita Gion Matsuri598 views
|
|
597 views
|
|
Mud for All Ages584 views
|
|
A Man and a Baby at Warabi Hadaka Matsuri in Yotsukaido, Chiba.583 views
|
|
The festival is also nicknamed "Doronko Matsuri" which means Mud Festival.574 views
|
|
Narita-san Setsubun bean throwers. Sumo wrestlers, Nishida Hikaru, Makise Riho, etc.574 views
|
|
Mimusubi Shrine, Yotsukaido, Chiba. The small shrine that conducts the festival. (皇産霊神社)564 views
|
|
556 views
|
|
549 views
|
|
Statue of Chiba-no-suke Tsuneshige built in Dec. 2001 to commemorate Chiba city's 80th anniversary. 千葉介常重547 viewsLord Chiba-no-suke Tsuneshige was the founder of Chiba Castle in 1126.
|
|
546 views
|
|
542 views
|
|
531 views
|
|
Preparing unagi eel, Narita, Chiba. Also see the video at YouTube.518 viewsSlicing it in half lengthwise.
|
|
517 views
|
|
Mud Slinging507 views
|
|
Men Take Strands of Straw506 views
|
|
Cherry blossoms and Chiba Castle499 views
|
|
Mud Fight Round 2496 views
|
|
491 views
|
|
485 views
|
|
Some babies wear beautiful kimono for the occasion.478 views
|
|
"Shidare" actually means "drooping."476 views
|
|
Chiba Park approach470 views
|
|
Chiba Castle469 views
|
|
466 views
|
|
Tired from walking, Narita Gion Matsuri466 views
|
|
Naoko Yamazaki, STS-131 mission specialist, addresses a large crowd of well-wishers at the STS-131 crew return ceremony on April 21, 2010 at Ellington Field...464 views21 April 2010 --- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, STS-131 mission specialist, addresses a large crowd of well-wishers at the STS-131 crew return ceremony on April 21, 2010 at Ellington Field near NASA's Johnson Space Center.
|
|
Exhibits inside the castle, a folk and history museum for the Chiba clan and Chiba city.463 views
|
|
462 views
|
|
459 views
|
|
Mud Paddy. Main site of the Warabi Hadaka Matsuri held every Feb. 25.458 views
|
|
Narita-san during Narita Gion Festival452 views
|
|
439 views
|
|
Narita Gion Matsuri439 views
|
|
Narita-san Park's Ukimido Floating Hall437 views
|
|
Narita-san temple's main hall.436 views
|
|
Cherry blossoms and Chiba Castle431 views
|
|
White weeping cherry blossoms425 views
|
|
Group photo of bean throwers. Sumo wrestlers at the top.423 views
|
|
14 Sept. 2009 --- Naoko Yamazaki, attired in a training version of her shuttle launch and entry suit, participates in a training session...422 views14 Sept. 2009 --- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, STS-131 mission specialist, attired in a training version of her shuttle launch and entry suit, participates in a training session near one of the full-scale trainers in the Space Vehicle Mock-up Facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center.
|
|
|
412 views
|
|
Cleanup.412 views
|
|
Ohara Hadaka Matsuri411 views
|
|
409 views
|
|
Chiba Castle as seen from Kencho-mae monorail station.407 views
|
|
Poster for Setsubun in Feb. 2001. The following photos are from Feb. 3, 2001.400 views
|
|
Monorail to Chiba Koen Station 千葉公園駅399 views
|
|
Gathering at Narita-san temple391 views
|
|
Drum troupe from S. Korea388 views
|
|
382 views
|
|
A prince and princess on camels. This monument was built in 1969. 月の沙漠378 views
|
|
|
Striping off the boney spine.367 views
|
|
One great thing about this hadaka matsuri is that there are women as well. Most hadaka matsuri have only men.362 views
|
|
Pulling the float, Narita Gion Matsuri360 views
|
|
359 views
|
|
Names of celebrity bean throwers in 2001. They include actresses Hikaru Nishida and sumo wrestlers Yokozuna Akebono, Musashimaru, Dejima, and Asashoryu.358 views
|
|
Onjuku Beach is a wide, expansive beach. 御宿海岸356 views
|
|
Priests at Narita-san.355 views
|
|
21 April 2010 --- Dr. Kuniaki Shiraki, executive director, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), addresses a large crowd of well-wishers at the STS-131 crew return ceremony on April 21, 2010 at Ellington Field near NASA's Johnson Space Center.355 views21 April 2010 --- Dr. Kuniaki Shiraki, executive director, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), addresses a large crowd of well-wishers at the STS-131 crew return ceremony on April 21, 2010 at Ellington Field near NASA's Johnson Space Center. Also pictured (seated from the left) are JSC director Michael L. Coats (mostly obscured), NASA astronauts Alan Poindexter, commander; James P. Dutton Jr., pilot; Rick Mastracchio, Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, Stephanie Wilson, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Naoko Yamazaki and NASA astronaut Clayton Anderson, all mission specialists.
|
|
353 views
|
|
Women too, while they are careful to prevent any nip slips.353 views
|
|
Held in July, Narita Gion Matsuri Festival has ornate floats pulled on the streets of Narita and to Narita-san temple. Pulling a float on the street351 views
|
|
Narita-san Park's Ukimido Floating Hall350 views
|
|
348 views
|
|
|
|
Narita-san Dai-hondo main worship hall. These people are waiting to see the taiko drum performance. 大本堂339 views
|
|
One thing unusual about this festival is that they carry the mikoshi with their hands and arms only, and not on their shoulders.339 views
|
|
Yotsukaido Station is on the JR Sobu Line on the way to Narita Airport. Map: http://www.kanko.chuo.chiba.jp/c_event/5705/338 views
|
|
Many more portable shrines follow.337 views
|
|
Some photos taken by Iwase. There are still ama divers in Onjuku, but they now wear wetsuits. No topless women.333 views
|
|
Narita Gion Matsuri327 views
|
|
Narita-san Park's Ukimido Floating Hall326 views
|
|
Naoko Yamazaki, attired in a training version of her shuttle launch and entry suit, participates in a training session in one of the full-scale trainers in the Space Vehicle Mock-up Facility at Johnson Space Center.322 views14 Sept. 2009 --- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, STS-131 mission specialist, attired in a training version of her shuttle launch and entry suit, participates in a training session in one of the full-scale trainers in the Space Vehicle Mock-up Facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center.
|
|
Offering prayers at Narita Gion Matsuri319 views
|
|
Narita Gion Matsuri316 views
|
|
Museum of Aeronautical Sciences315 viewsThe museum is right at the end of the runway of Narita International Airport.
|
|
Platform for bean throwers.315 views
|
|
Kazusa Junisha Matsuri Festival, Ichinomiya, Chiba on Sept. 13, 2009.313 views
|
|
312 views
|
|
311 views
|
|
Statue of Chiba-no-suke Tsuneshige and Chiba Castle tower 千葉介常重310 viewsLord Chiba-no-suke Tsuneshige was the founder of Chiba Castle in 1126.
|
|
Corners307 views
|
|
Chiba Park306 views
|
|
NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) director Michael L. Coats (center background) and the STS-131 crew members are pictured at the STS-131 crew return ceremony on April 21, 2010 at Ellington Field near JSC.306 views21 April 2010 --- NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) director Michael L. Coats (center background) and the STS-131 crew members are pictured at the STS-131 crew return ceremony on April 21, 2010 at Ellington Field near JSC. Pictured from the left are NASA astronauts Alan Poindexter, commander; James P. Dutton Jr., pilot; Rick Mastracchio, Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, Stephanie Wilson, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Naoko Yamazaki and NASA astronaut Clayton Anderson, all mission specialists.
|
|
2009 May 15 -- Checking the fit of her pressurized suit at Johnson Space Center.303 views
|
|
299 views
|
|
At 2 pm, the 18 portable shrines gather at the Ohara Fishing Port. 大原漁港に参集298 views
|
|
When it's windy, the sand flies.297 views
|
|
9 Dec. 2009 --- Naoko Yamazaki dons a training version of her shuttle launch and entry suit in preparation for a training session in the Space Vehicle Mock-up Facility...294 views9 Dec. 2009 --- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, STS-131 mission specialist, dons a training version of her shuttle launch and entry suit in preparation for a training session in the Space Vehicle Mock-up Facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center. United Space Alliance suit technician Toni Cost-Davis assisted Yamazaki.
|
|
Festival girls posing for me. They love the attention.290 views
|
|
|
Shopping area near Chiba Station282 views
|
|
Tower of Peace, Narita-san Heiwa no Daito 平和の大塔279 views
|
|
Tossing the mikoshi into the air.279 views
|
|
275 views
|
|
17 Sept. 2009 --- Naoko Yamazaki dons a training version of her shuttle launch and entry suit in preparation for a water survival training session...275 views17 Sept. 2009 --- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, STS-131 mission specialist, dons a training version of her shuttle launch and entry suit in preparation for a water survival training session in the waters of the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL) near NASA's Johnson Space Center.
|
|
274 views
|
|
Platform for bean throwers.272 views
|
|
JR Chiba Station and Yokosuka Line271 views
|
|
United Space Alliance crew trainer Robert (Rob) Tomaro briefs Naoko Yamazaki in preparation for a water survival training session...271 views17 Sept. 2009 --- United Space Alliance crew trainer Robert (Rob) Tomaro briefs Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, STS-131 mission specialist, in preparation for a water survival training session in the waters of the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL) near NASA's Johnson Space Center. Yamazaki is wearing a training version of her shuttle launch and entry suit.
|
|
Narita-san priests269 views
|
|
Deck268 views
|
|
Also at night.267 views
|
|
Another room in the museum describes how the Spanish galleon "San Francisco" was shipwrecked on Onjuku Beach in 1609. Over 300 of the crew were rescued by local residents.266 views
|
|
264 views
|
|
Haruka Ayase is in the title role of Yae Niijima in this year's NHK Taiga Drama.260 views
|
|
Path to Chiba Castle (visible on left)259 views
|
|
Last group258 views
|
|
Entrance to Inohana Park257 views
|
|
Festival poster for Sept. 23-24, 2004.257 views
|
|
257 views
|
|
L-R: Haruka Ayase, Kotaro Koizumi (son of former Prime Minister Jun'ichiro Koizumi), and Hidetoshi Nishijima at Naritasan Shinshoji Setsubun festival on Feb. 3, 2013.257 views
|
|
The small coastal town of Katsuura holds one of Japan's most impressive hina matsuri doll festival during late Feb. to early March. 256 viewsA whopping 25,000 hina ningyo dolls are displayed all over town. Photo: JR Katsuura Station on the Sotobo Line. Katsuura is about 2 hours from Tokyo on non-express trains. Board the Sotobo Line at Chiba Station.
|
|
14 Sept. 2009 --- Attired in training versions of their shuttle launch and entry suits, the STS-131 crew members await the start of a training session in the Space Vehicle Mock-up Facility at Johnson Space Center.256 views14 Sept. 2009 --- Attired in training versions of their shuttle launch and entry suits, the STS-131 crew members await the start of a training session in the Space Vehicle Mock-up Facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center. Pictured from the left are Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, mission specialist; NASA astronauts James P. Dutton Jr., pilot; Alan Poindexter, commander; Stephanie Wilson, Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, Clay Anderson and Rick Mastracchio, all mission specialists.
|
|
Outside JR Chiba Station255 views
|
|
254 views
|
|
29 Jan. 2010 --- Naoko Yamazaki, attired in a training version of her shuttle launch and entry suit, awaits the start of an ingress/egress training session...254 views29 Jan. 2010 --- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, STS-131 mission specialist, attired in a training version of her shuttle launch and entry suit, awaits the start of an ingress/egress training session in the Space Vehicle Mock-up Facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center.
|
|
Inside Onjuku Station.253 views
|
|
|
Model of the shipwrecked Spanish galleon. The ama women divers even used their bodies to warm the bodies of the weak Spanish crewmen. This has led to friendly relations between Onjuku and Spain.250 views
|
|
Naoko Yamazaki (left) and NASA astronaut Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, attired in training versions of their shuttle launch and entry suits, await the start of an ingress/egress training session...250 views29 Jan. 2010) --- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Naoko Yamazaki (left) and NASA astronaut Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, both STS-131 mission specialists, attired in training versions of their shuttle launch and entry suits, await the start of an ingress/egress training session in the Space Vehicle Mock-up Facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center.
|
|
Poster for a local festival.249 views
|
|
247 views
|
|
247 views
|
|
Chiba Park weeping cherries247 views
|
|
|
242 views
|
|
Chiba Park241 views
|
|
Chiba Castle tower240 views
|
|
Picture of Iwase Yoshiyuki (1904-2001) who photographed many topless ama women divers in Onjuku during the 1930s to 1960s. He even organized photo shoots featuring the divers.239 views
|
|
JAXA Astronaut Naoko Yamazaki at her welcome home parade in Matsudo, Chiba Prefecture on May 22, 2010.239 views
|
|
JR Chiba Station238 views
|
|
Chiba Koen Station 千葉公園駅237 views
|
|
Chiba Station as seen from the monorail237 views
|
|
Beach volleyball courts. Should come back in summer.235 views
|
|
234 views
|
|
To the beach and water.234 views
|
|
Front view232 views
|
|
231 views
|
|
231 views
|
|
Chiba Station and monorail229 views
|
|
227 views
|
|
They run around while carrying a portable shrine.227 views
|
|
226 views
|
|
Chiba Station as seen from the monorail226 views
|
|
From the beach, the portable shrines are paraded in town.226 views
|
|
Onjuku Beach226 views
|
|
2010 March 5 --- During the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test, the crew sit in Space Shuttle Discovery for a countdown simulation. In the middle is Naoko.226 views
|
|
225 views
|
|
Actress Haruka Ayase (left) throws beans at Naritasan Shinshoji temple on Feb. 3, 2013.225 views
|
|
Chiba Castle and paper lanterns224 views
|
|
The crowd try desperately to get a shot of Haruka Ayase. I was shooting blind as I raised my camera in the air to shoot. Narita-san Shinshoji temple Setsubun bean throwing.224 views
|
|
JR Onjuku Station on the Sotobo Line. From Tokyo Station, catch the Yokosuka or Sobu Line to Chiba Station, then switch to the Sotobo Line. Takes about 2 hours by local train. Faster by express train. There are no coin-operated lockers.222 views
|
|
221 views
|
|
JR Chiba Station221 views
|
|
They keep going round and round. Quite rowdy.221 views
|
|
220 views
|
|
|
Chiba Castle Sakura Matsuri lantern219 views
|
|
219 views
|
|
Vending machines218 views
|
|
Negatives of photos taken by Iwase who was a sake brewer in Onjuku. He was an avid amateur shutterbug who tended to ignore his sake-brewing duties and went after the ama divers instead. (Can't blame him.)218 views
|
|
217 views
|
|
JR Chiba Station platform217 views
|
|
View from monorail217 views
|
|
Monument for "Desert of the Moon," a famous children's song created on Onjuku Beach in 1923 by Kato Masao (加藤まさを). (Tsuki no Sabaku) 月の沙漠217 views
|
|
216 views
|
|
Prayers at Narita-san215 views
|
|
Bekkoame candy stand214 views
|
|
Komyodo Hall, Important Cultural Property at Narita-san. Built in 1701 and dedicated to the Dainichi Nyorai Buddha, the principal image of Shingon Buddhism. 光明堂213 views
|
|
Iwase took many precious photos of these young and old hardworking women. He put them in a book called Groups of Women Ama Divers. They were topless because it felt more comfortable.212 views
|
|
Origami hina dolls211 views
|
|
A man who got bumped and fell is quickly brought to his feet by other people.209 views
|
|
Tossing a portable shrine, a common sight during the festival.208 views
|
|
207 views
|
|
207 views
|
|
Chiba Koen Station monorail207 views
|
|
206 views
|
|
Nice mikoshi.205 views
|
|
Main stage at Narita-san temple.204 views
|
|
203 views
|
|
View from monorail203 views
|
|
2010 March 5 --- For the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test, Naoko Yamazaki is about to board Space Shuttle Discovery.203 views
|
|
202 views
|
|
202 views
|
|
202 views
|
|
202 views
|
|
Chiba Station as seen from the monorail201 views
|
|
200 views
|
|
199 views
|
|
Taiko troupe from Okinawa199 viewsThis group stole the show with a dragon dance, lion dogs, and eisa taiko drummers.
|
|
Chiba Prefectural Capital199 views
|
|
The road in front of Onjuku Station goes toward the beach. Follow the palm trees. A short walk to the beach.199 views
|
|
The men covered their bellies, while the women covered their bellies and chests.199 views
|
|
Side entrance to Narita-san temple.198 views
|
|
Outside JR Chiba Station198 views
|
|
197 views
|
|
197 views
|
|
196 views
|
|
196 views
|
|
Katsuura fish market196 views
|
|
Narita-san Shinshoji temple holds its Setsubun Bean-throwing Festival on Feb. 3. It was jam-packed on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013. 196 views
|
|
195 views
|
|
195 views
|
|
Entrance to Chiba Monorail Station195 views
|
|
Baruto and Yokozuna Hakuho at Naritasan Shinshoji for Setsubun bean throwing on Feb. 3, 2013.195 views
|
|
194 views
|
|
Chiba Monorail Station194 views
|
|
A few hotels overlook the beach.194 views
|
|
This is where they offload fish.193 views
|
|
192 views
|
|
192 views
|
|
192 views
|
|
Looks like a sand dune, but it's solid concrete looking like sand.192 views
|
|
191 views
|
|
Pink weeping cherry blossoms191 views
|
|
| 1947 files on 8 page(s) |
1 |
 |
|
|
|
|
