阪神タイガース

The Tigers made it to the Japan Series in 2014, thanks to a strange advancement past Hiroshima in the first stage of the Climax Series (equivalent to the division playoffs in MLB). They won the series by tying the Carp. By virtue of their higher seed, that was all they needed to advance. Ultimately, they lost to Fukuoka in the Japan Series (equivalent to the World Series in MLB).

Today’s photo comes from a game I went to between the Tigers and the Dragons in 2013. I am not a fan of either team, but I wanted to sit with the crazy Tigers’ fans. However, the Tigers’ fan section was sold out (even though this was a game in Nagoya, not Osaka). So I bought a ticket in the upper deck, behind the crazy fans of the Tigers as did others who couldn’t get the “real” cheering section tickets. The seats were mostly empty, and the fans weren’t nearly as interesting as those below, but they still showed their support in more subdued ways.

Posted on November 21st, 2014 under Japan. Tags: baseball, Nikon AF-S VR Zoom-NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED Telephoto Lens, Nikon D600. Comments Off on Hanshin Tigers fan

こってり 牛すじラーメン

Beef based ramen recommended by Kan Otake (大竹寛) of the Hiroshima Carp? Not for me on an extremely hot and humid summer day. In the winter or in an air conditioned restaurant, with freshly made ingredients, and I wouldn’t be able to pass this up.

BTW, koi (鯉) means carp in Japanese. KoiCourt is the food court at the stadium of the Hiroshima Carp.

Posted on November 20th, 2014 under Japan. Tags: baseball, food, hiroshima, Nikon AF-S VR Zoom-NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED Telephoto Lens, Nikon D600, ramen. Comments Off on Baseball ramen

Inuyama Castle fireworks

Posted on November 18th, 2014 under Japan. Tags: castle, festivals, inuyama, matsuri, Nikon 24-120mm f/4 VR G lens, Nikon D600. Comments Off on Getting ready for the show

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in the rain (広島平和記念公園)

Time, children, rain–renewers of life.

Posted on November 15th, 2014 under Japan. Tags: hiroshima, Nikon 24-120mm f/4 VR G lens, Nikon D600, rain, 広島平和記念資料館 Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. Comments Off on Earth Abides

居酒屋 だるま Daruma

As promised, today’s photo features my pizza and the cook on a very pleasant evening in Kyoto. Here is the address: 京都府京都市上京区小山町908

I have no idea if the ladies that work here speak a lick of English. They are hilarious in Japanese though. The establishment has been in the family for generations.

Posted on November 14th, 2014 under Japan. Tags: beer, food, kyoto, Nikon 24-120mm f/4 VR G lens, Nikon D600. Comments Off on Daruma Mama-San