I think I have seen more fish in the past 9 months than I had in my prior 40 years.

Today’s photo is of some Japanese kids feeding the carp found in Shin Edogawa Koen (新江戸川公園 or New Edo Park).

Posted on May 28th, 2010 under Japan. Tags: kids. Comments: None

While waiting for Takeda Shingen (武田信玄) and Yamamoto Kansuke (山本勘助) to arrive at Takeda Jinja there wasn’t much to do but take pictures of people in the crowd. People were taking pictures of me, the token foreigner at the event, so I got in on the action as well.

First off, we have some of Takeda Shingen’s army.

Some Japanese ladies of various ages…

This dance group featured music and performances to welcome the main Shingen group and to see them off. It was almost comical given how un-Shingen era the style and sound was. I’ll put a video at the end of this blog entry so you can see and hear more.

The night before I arrived there was a Koihime Contest (湖衣姫コンテスト), or so my Shingen Festival program says. The winner got 300,000 yen (about $3,200). Was this the winner? I’m not sure. She was in the regiment with Shingen so I’m thinking she could have been the contest victor and won this honor in addition to the cash.

These were the festival faces people wanted to see the most, Takeda Shingen and the favorite of his 24 generals Yamamoto Kansuke. Takeda Shingen (on the left) was portrayed by Ikki Sawamura (沢村一樹) and Yamamoto was acted out by Goro Ibuki (伊吹吾郎). Both are apparently quite famous actors in Japan. I hadn’t heard of either.

Posted on April 19th, 2010 under Japan. Tags: kids, kofu, people, video. Comments: 1

Today’s top photo is of Omokagebashi (面影橋), a popular starting point for a 1.5 kilometer walk of non-stop cherry blossoms along the Kanda River.

Posted on April 6th, 2010 under Japan. Tags: bikes, cherry blossoms, kids, sakura. Comments: 2

As I was walking back to my hotel one day in China, this little guy came up to me and started talking. His little lectures always ended with what sounded like a question. Of course I couldn’t understand anything he was saying, and I told him so even though he wouldn’t be able to understand me either. He would make a little “humph?” sound like he misheard me and ask the question again. We went on like this for several rounds until he spotted my camera. I showed him some pictures. He looked amazed, like he’d never seen a camera before or pictures so I took the above photo of him to show him. He was awestruck when I showed him his picture. I don’t think he had ever seen a picture of himself before, maybe not even his own reflection from the look of his reaction.

A man on a scooter then pulled up with this little girl, and they began talking with the boy and his mom. I’m not sure if they were related, friends, or complete strangers, but the boy wanted me to show the girl his picture. So I did, and she smiled from ear to ear. I then took her picture, above, and the boy jumped into the picture at the last second. Another 5 minutes of showing them their pictures (they were both thrilled, as was the man on the scooter), and I finished my walk.

It wasn’t the first, or last, time that taking a Chinese person’s picture caused such excitement on this trip. Things may change over the next few decades, but right now the vast majority don’t own cameras, and many seem to be completely unfamiliar with them.

This little girl was hanging out in Lvyin Park.

And this one was riding one of the lucky turtle statues at Shaolin Temple.

Posted on March 29th, 2010 under China. Tags: kids, shaolin temple. Comments: None

On March 26 we visited Shinjuku Gyoen (新宿御苑) for the first time. It was still a week or so too early for the peak of the cherry blossoms (sakura), but a half dozen of the trees were in full bloom. Hanami was in full swing regardless. The best cherry blossom viewing time varies a bit each year, but this year, like most years, it looks like the first week of April will be the best time to view sakura in Tokyo.

Some didn’t care about the flowers. They were there to play on the grass.

Others came only for pictures of the flowers with some serious equipment.

There were other flowers in full bloom, like these Chaenomeles.

Posted on March 26th, 2010 under Japan. Tags: buddhist, cherry blossoms, kids, people, sakura, shinjuku. Comments: 2