Mt. Fuji

The scene looks rather bleak, but Mt. Fuji looks good whenever you have the rare chance to see it.

Posted on September 18th, 2013 under Japan. Tags: mt. fuji. Comments Off on Mt. Fuji lives on

Fourteen photos were photomerged together to come up with this more than 180 degree view from the Togetsu Bridge (渡月橋)
Kyoto, Japan

Posted on September 16th, 2013 under Japan. Tags: arashiyama, kyoto, Nikon 24-120mm f/4 VR G lens, Nikon D600, panorama, photomerge. Comments Off on Arashiyama panorama

Godzilla on Shosenkyo

While standing at the feet of Eric Bloom and Buck Dharma last night I recalled seeing Godzilla just last month. Sure enough, a quick look through some of my photos from my visit to Shosenkyo and I found today’s image. By the way, Tokyo is a two-syllable word (some would say four, but it certainly isn’t three).

Posted on September 12th, 2013 under Japan. Tags: Nikon 24-120mm f/4 VR G lens, Nikon D600, shosenkyo. Comments Off on Oh no, there goes Tokyo

Shinyodogawa (新淀川) from Umeda Sky Building (梅田スカイビル)
Osaka, Japan

Posted on September 11th, 2013 under Japan. Tags: aerial photography, Nikon 24-120mm f/4 VR G lens, Nikon D600, osaka, Umeda Sky Building 梅田スカイビル. Comments Off on Osaka sunset

Wladimir Balentien hits a 3-run home run for the Yakult Swallows on June 22, 2013

Balentien rounds the bases in Hiroshima

Coco Meter for Balentien just prior to him tying Japan’s home run record

With 23 games to go in the Nippon Professional Baseball season, my Yakult Swallows have no hope of winning the title this year as they are dead last in the standings. However, there is still much excitement for the team as one of their players is almost a sure bet to set the single-season home run record for Japan. I went to two Swallows games this year, and they were both won by the Swallows thanks to the heroics of Wladimir Balentien.

When I saw them in Hiroshima, Balentien hit a home run with two runners on base. The Swallows beat the Carp 3-0 on that day. Yakult also won when I saw them in Tokyo in August, a day in which Balentien drew two walks, was hit by a pitch, and scored two runs in a 2-1 victory. (Unfortunately, the Swallows are 45-71-2 when I wasn’t in attendance; perhaps they should make sure I’m at all of the games.)

The “Coco Meter” projects 65 HRs for Balentien, which will best the prior record (co-held by Alex Cabrera, Tuffy Rhodes, and Sadaharu Oh) by 10 home runs. He currently has 54 home runs for the season.

Posted on September 10th, 2013 under Japan. Tags: baseball, hiroshima, Nikon AF-S VR Zoom-NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED Telephoto Lens, Nikon D600, yakult swallows. Comments Off on Wladimir Balentien – Home Run King?