Photos of Japan

Fanfan · Post by **Fanfan** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 12:50 -0700

(continuation of another post : greetings from Tokyo)
I have published about 500 photos of my trip in Japan, less of Korea, and of the APEC festival :

http://ladrevert.free.fr/galerie/category.php?cat=13

you can add directly commentary on each photo on my new web gallery

Classification :
# GinkakuJi KinkakuJi [15]
# Miyajima [63]
# Nara [33]
# Nikko [46]
# Arashiyama [33]
# Hiroshima [42]
# Himeji [35]
# Tokyo
# Tokyo city tour [48]
# Tokyo by night [16]
# Tokyo Zen and Mitaka Ghibli Museum [34]
# Kyoto
# Kyoto by day [61]
# Kyoto by night [29]

some thumbnails :

and Usagi 's mon in Korea

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 19:25 -0700

Thank you for posting the photos. They're terrific.

Did you walk up to the Ieyasu Tokugawa Shrine in Nikko? When I was there I made it a point to make my pilgrimmage to there.

I just read a report that the Shinto antler cutting ceremony took place a few days ago, but your pictures show antler-less deer. Were there any deer with antlers when you were there? Or did they import some deer just for the ceremony. The tradition began in 1671.

I chuckled when I saw your photo of the Asahi building along the Sumida River in Tokyo. That is the one with the large "yam-like" balloon shape on top. The locals call it the "Unko Biru" or the "Poop" Building.

hakucho · Post by **hakucho** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 3:54 -0700

What is the Shinto antler cutting ceremony? And how come there's a shrine to Tokugawa - is it because he united Japan when he became shogun?

These photos are brilliant - I wish I was in Japan right now! ^_^ Did you enjoy yourself, Fanfan?

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 9:40 -0700

hakucho wrote:What is the Shinto antler cutting ceremony? And how come there's a shrine to Tokugawa - is it because he united Japan when he became shogun?

The deer in Nara are very tame, and can be petted and hand fed (though they've gotten a bit aggressive over the years, looking for food in purses, hands, etc. Their antlers are cut off every year to prevent injury to themselves as well as visitors. Of course, there is a ceremony to promote good fortune, prosperity, etc. Here's a link

http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/ ... 5000c.html

The Tokugawa Ieyasu mausoleum is in an area called the Okusha, a short walk from the main Toshogu Shrine in Nikko. When I was there, the walkway and steps were covered with ice and VERY slippery. The Hoto, where the remains are actually held, was finished in 1636. Ieyasu was the first of the Tokugawa Shogun, and united Japan in the time called the Sengoku Jidai (The Era of Warring States). In his will, he stated that he would become a kami (or diety) after he died, and would watch over the Tokugawa family. He also ordered that he should be enshrined at Mt Nikko, one of the most beautiful places in Japan. Nikko was also a center for mountain worship since ancient times, being the home of the gods. It is now a national park.

Fanfan · Post by **Fanfan** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 11:50 -0700

Stan wrote

Thank you for posting the photos. They're terrific.

Domo!

Did you walk up to the Ieyasu Tokugawa Shrine in Nikko? When I was there I made it a point to make my pilgrimmage to there.

I just read a report that the Shinto antler cutting ceremony took place a few days ago, but your pictures show antler-less deer. Were there any deer with antlers when you were there? Or did they import some deer just for the ceremony. The tradition began in 1671.

In all places for tourists i made, there where antler-less deer (nara, miyajima...) except if you walk in forest and your path cross deers. But they are there harder to approach...
I saw a huge horse in Nikko, i have understand that it was the final point of a ceremony (?).
Ieyasu Tokugawa Shrine and all Nikko is impressive...

but about deers, i suppose they are imported for ceremonies or they catch deers from the national park of Nikko.

hakucho wrote :

Did you enjoy yourself, Fanfan?

thanks hakucho for your commentaries on the site ! about the trip please read the summary i did before in another post (greeting from Tokyo). But in a word, i still have good feelings about Japon... and had rediscovered some things, reading my notes, viewing photos, and penpaling with Japanese dance team "BAKAN KIHEITAI" from Shimonoseki-shi that i met in Busan (during APEC festival).

Stan wrote

the walkway and steps were covered with ice and VERY slippery

No rice for me... but i have an anecdote about my first night in Seoul, we found my friend Morgane and I a rice ball when we waked up in front of our door ? no explanation... i wonder if they believed we were just married and...

----------------------------------

Mr Sakai, i hope you enjoyed photos of Miyajima !

The locals call it the "Unko Biru" or the "Poop" Building.

For our reader Asahi is an important beer (biru) in Japan !
Sumida river is quite fun : there are a lot of american and french bridge, the tokyo tower (eiffel tower), and i have seen on map another copy of the liberty statue (there is one in France, one in USA, and one in Japan)

Usagi · Post by **Usagi** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 7:28 -0700

Holy patatos! Those are some fabulous Pictures! I mean Wow! They are like profess queality for like books and stuff! Wonderful gallary you put up as well! Really Amazing..

Leonardo-san · Post by **Leonardo-san** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 18:13 -0700

Thank you for posting the pics!! They are very good!

I was in Japan last March, and I got to visit Nikko. I did get all the way up to the shrine for Tokugawa Ieyusu. It really was an absolutely lovely place.
We were mostly around the Tokyo area, so I enjoyed your pictures of places I saw, as well as the things I didn't see. (We never got down around the Sumida River area, for instance.)

I should get my best pictures posted so I can share them, too.

(Of course, if I didn't have to work so much overtime these past few months I might have time for things like posting pictures.)

Fanfan · Post by **Fanfan** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 2:55 -0700

Usagi wrote :

Holy patatos! Those are some fabulous Pictures! I mean Wow! They are like profess queality for like books and stuff! Wonderful gallary you put up as well! Really Amazing..

Thanks ! please let a message on my guest book !

Leonardo, please share your photos, Maka made a wonderful movie, it is always interesting to see other point of views !

Post by **Maka** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 6:12 -0700

Usagi wrote: Holy patatos! Those are some fabulous Pictures! I mean Wow! They are like profess queality for like books and stuff! Wonderful gallary you put up as well! Really Amazing..

Ditto! I finally got around to looking at your pictures. You have an artist eye for capturing the interesting. Great job. Thanks for sharing.

Peace,

maka

Fanfan · Post by **Fanfan** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 11:41 -0700

thanks Maka !
it is quite some work to do good photos...
i really enjoyed your movie, i hope you will made another one for your next trip !

hazlov2004 · Post by **hazlov2004** » Sat Oct 22, 2005 5:17 -0700

oh wow those are very good fanfan i just like those pics