tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10031500744673892482024-02-19T14:42:35.845+09:00DEKOBOKOA Photographic Travelogue of Uneven Perceptions 凸凹Jonathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07602637136211839422noreply@blogger.comBlogger443125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003150074467389248.post-90126318669067255812011-01-27T13:46:00.004+09:002011-02-23T13:15:31.938+09:00さよなら Sayonara<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG16oWqD0dMZitYyA8EEL1udIL5pcKhtn27qbEWtwnxs3_q7flWhyphenhyphenrFAGo7e2Eg7iTfYw0LRD9d2tLo4pI0qhDbc_Oob0vVLl__xi6OJX4NkTwQasGTGS6ExD36vn24rP9Uw6wGV0P12k/s1600/DSC01399.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG16oWqD0dMZitYyA8EEL1udIL5pcKhtn27qbEWtwnxs3_q7flWhyphenhyphenrFAGo7e2Eg7iTfYw0LRD9d2tLo4pI0qhDbc_Oob0vVLl__xi6OJX4NkTwQasGTGS6ExD36vn24rP9Uw6wGV0P12k/s400/DSC01399.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566510615902660626" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Unfortunately, today is my last day in Japan. I am traveling to the West Coast of the United States, so this post marks the end in this chapter of DekoBoko. I am unsure what the ultimate fate of the blog will be at this time. I am sure to continue taking pictures, so perhaps I will continue to post from my new residence and from my future travels. I am sure that the posting will halt for a time as I settle into a new routine. If you are interested please check back in a few weeks and I will let you know what, if anything, will become of DekoBoko. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">To those of you who have spent your precious time viewing my amateur attempts at photography, and tolerated my dry and pointless prose . . . I thank you!!!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I would especially like to thank everyone who has commented, including the regulars: Kat & Satoshi's from "</span></span><a href="http://katnsatoshiinjapan.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Our Adventures in Japan</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">" which is a really fun food journal of Japan, A. and Y. Ikeda from "</span></span><a href="http://www.tochigidailyphoto.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Tochigi Daily Photo</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">" (</span></span><a href="http://extractingabstract.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">+2 other great blogs</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">) which are stunning and informative photography journals (I will miss participating in Show-me-Japan), and last but not least Anzu from </span></span><a href="http://natsu910.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Ann & Natsu</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, who has a super cute furry family.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Cheers,</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Jonathan</span></span></div>Jonathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07602637136211839422noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003150074467389248.post-19645887911555051452011-01-27T13:43:00.001+09:002011-01-27T13:45:09.599+09:00Header<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXZphnij6XcH3CgmhF4SzoFrNu8SqsP-pBaJBPAaAD9a3kZKUcdpxvuKigtJJgz4XR0mEyLYBSjhkTk_FG7mao50dJPq_HW3x8U4D7ObfSFhYp8kvPMtqA0Tjl4T3_LY1OH04W0XjJUPA/s1600/2010-02-22.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXZphnij6XcH3CgmhF4SzoFrNu8SqsP-pBaJBPAaAD9a3kZKUcdpxvuKigtJJgz4XR0mEyLYBSjhkTk_FG7mao50dJPq_HW3x8U4D7ObfSFhYp8kvPMtqA0Tjl4T3_LY1OH04W0XjJUPA/s400/2010-02-22.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566722124517806530" /></a><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">History of the DekoBoko Header to this point. . . </span></span>Jonathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07602637136211839422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003150074467389248.post-46895235603180389002011-01-27T13:41:00.002+09:002011-01-27T13:43:08.057+09:00Out for a Walk<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC7YW208qJyvki6oYB-C8gnyU9jxmYYKSo0Vj2V1LU66BJZ1wQEcEvT8O8qZe4J_dzsSoIJnjT9b__w8jH0fqr-tZzqPtgCQSr_iE9OYUONcqoWdJO0SMGE1iZx7GY0-ep3_cwg3xLjoE/s1600/DSC03793-1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC7YW208qJyvki6oYB-C8gnyU9jxmYYKSo0Vj2V1LU66BJZ1wQEcEvT8O8qZe4J_dzsSoIJnjT9b__w8jH0fqr-tZzqPtgCQSr_iE9OYUONcqoWdJO0SMGE1iZx7GY0-ep3_cwg3xLjoE/s400/DSC03793-1.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566721533565291154" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Kobe Harbor</span></span>Jonathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07602637136211839422noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003150074467389248.post-9426752580912584812011-01-26T23:54:00.001+09:002011-01-26T23:57:10.447+09:00神戸ヴィーナスブリッジ<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq5qBbfl1RiOdR3YrBpVyvPVj7qEeVdVCL933d9_ybMMhzZ968euzPboKz_OTmIw8jaxjPNcMNqI5lBKynkXzXWy5ApeZ4Ybvrkx7Z8YW2K2sgnO1ooMsJeYZrAR-zEk5W2qrqlocS72M/s1600/DSC03623.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 90px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq5qBbfl1RiOdR3YrBpVyvPVj7qEeVdVCL933d9_ybMMhzZ968euzPboKz_OTmIw8jaxjPNcMNqI5lBKynkXzXWy5ApeZ4Ybvrkx7Z8YW2K2sgnO1ooMsJeYZrAR-zEk5W2qrqlocS72M/s400/DSC03623.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566508590407184546" /></a><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The view from the Kobe Venus Bridge.</span></span></div>Jonathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07602637136211839422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003150074467389248.post-11552437232477153912011-01-26T23:25:00.003+09:002011-01-26T23:53:36.491+09:00January Yatai Stuffs.<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7_McqYIjGSFaqzeX0riFp9JnRgDIaqmzO8jeL-H0iiBxTjrA0joGqo6HoP3LwcNz8h32K7dhdfOw-fuLE3XyPqmZm0TM9tdahN4McW9m292XwDqp2eHzzz76TkOqYYbCB4gOgKNIfFIo/s1600/Collages.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7_McqYIjGSFaqzeX0riFp9JnRgDIaqmzO8jeL-H0iiBxTjrA0joGqo6HoP3LwcNz8h32K7dhdfOw-fuLE3XyPqmZm0TM9tdahN4McW9m292XwDqp2eHzzz76TkOqYYbCB4gOgKNIfFIo/s400/Collages.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566501208539676482" /></a><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I previously mentioned that January in Japan is full of festivals, and usually festivals go hand-in-hand with </span></span><a href="http://dekobo.blogspot.com/2010/07/matsuri-yatai.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Yatai</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">. These are some of the highlights, roasted nuts of some sort - tasty but get stale very quickly - best enjoyed hot as you walk around the festival. Next are Daruma dolls (達磨), which are hollow and roundish dolls modeled after Bodhidharma; the founder of the Zen sect of Buddhism. The eyes of Daruma are often blank when sold, one eye is filled in upon setting a goal and then the other upon fulfilling it. In this way, the Daruma is a good luck charm as well as a reminder of a particular goal. Next, this tasty mollusk was simmered with dashi (soup stalk) in its shell on an open grill - enjoyed with warm Saki - yum! Finally is Kuri Manju which is a wonderful baked bun stuffed with chestnut paste. </span></span></div>Jonathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07602637136211839422noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003150074467389248.post-26444113467195240002011-01-25T17:00:00.001+09:002011-01-25T22:35:48.885+09:00It's-a me, Mario!<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEcjWxV-oGP9MIA4KiyYyKLhmuylkWw9sQNZhf_goZPF2rsqcpYsQ5J4ArtT6Y3TVUyrbqdCOupyRs5dxMqJJ3vE4bUDPr6HT1FfnT3fyDLHZQMOYUjuEgO_-xiwfm1Uc3dsgAN6-x8rc/s1600/DSC03794-1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEcjWxV-oGP9MIA4KiyYyKLhmuylkWw9sQNZhf_goZPF2rsqcpYsQ5J4ArtT6Y3TVUyrbqdCOupyRs5dxMqJJ3vE4bUDPr6HT1FfnT3fyDLHZQMOYUjuEgO_-xiwfm1Uc3dsgAN6-x8rc/s400/DSC03794-1.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564969878721623458" /></a><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEcjWxV-oGP9MIA4KiyYyKLhmuylkWw9sQNZhf_goZPF2rsqcpYsQ5J4ArtT6Y3TVUyrbqdCOupyRs5dxMqJJ3vE4bUDPr6HT1FfnT3fyDLHZQMOYUjuEgO_-xiwfm1Uc3dsgAN6-x8rc/s1600/DSC03794-1.JPG"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"Here we go!!!" Mario is-a full of da-bouncy children.</span></span></div>Jonathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07602637136211839422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003150074467389248.post-35014084689310788212011-01-25T08:00:00.005+09:002011-01-25T22:36:50.001+09:00クマ Bear<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZFbO1EtQ5gF6DwK_LgOvj7kRsubw9GvLX-goKN5G9G2dXoUDdTHvBZtl2p0KgnTnL5ABN8UpK8cgxuMef5z8VXAUyLDObIYVUjc7zdLgTF1S_9rZLjNC_lNq8FeG7-8IUdyQSRYojXy4/s1600/2010-04-012.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZFbO1EtQ5gF6DwK_LgOvj7kRsubw9GvLX-goKN5G9G2dXoUDdTHvBZtl2p0KgnTnL5ABN8UpK8cgxuMef5z8VXAUyLDObIYVUjc7zdLgTF1S_9rZLjNC_lNq8FeG7-8IUdyQSRYojXy4/s400/2010-04-012.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566116984865265602" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Graffiti in downtown Kobe, this fellow is a </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">クマ (Kuma) or in Kanji </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">熊.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; line-height: 20px; white-space: normal; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Bear goes: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">ガオーー</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> (Gaooo</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">).</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Previous Animals:</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><a href="http://dekobo.blogspot.com/2010/10/saru-monkey.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Monkey</span></span></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://dekobo.blogspot.com/2010/09/yagi.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Goat</span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://dekobo.blogspot.com/2010/09/frog.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Frog</span></span></a></div>Jonathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07602637136211839422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003150074467389248.post-90639274939287623672011-01-24T15:22:00.002+09:002011-01-24T15:26:08.948+09:00Kobe Port<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZo2IvB7wuB2DxmwKrIPdjCTAU19lzAgmDcG2vzJOX94D8QTcvLbJu3j4eaqhd1BMQPyy9RZ6UeuFEhUlp-g8acCY_ynOZp9skDBjCNJuk1HzGooPWuv7JWkfhpgiB3RAEBy68SWF4BvU/s1600/DSC03693.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 90px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZo2IvB7wuB2DxmwKrIPdjCTAU19lzAgmDcG2vzJOX94D8QTcvLbJu3j4eaqhd1BMQPyy9RZ6UeuFEhUlp-g8acCY_ynOZp9skDBjCNJuk1HzGooPWuv7JWkfhpgiB3RAEBy68SWF4BvU/s400/DSC03693.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565634182303643474" /></a><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Kobe Port Panoramic.</span></span></div><div><br /></div>Jonathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07602637136211839422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003150074467389248.post-81151853732668106722011-01-24T14:39:00.003+09:002011-01-24T15:25:54.186+09:00Kobe Port Birds<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWI7gauhxhM4dYrdOXTD5ktYGxjBnl5nA66Y2qSe7P12aivBcfRnkIzKO_WWI28qjFtm9KvsN2wwt9dcERBXNeYKdIHjguPtEY0htL8jSa1gyRYUhYhzFEh8Or-lQhw16Coi45XK-lU4Q/s1600/DSC03731.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWI7gauhxhM4dYrdOXTD5ktYGxjBnl5nA66Y2qSe7P12aivBcfRnkIzKO_WWI28qjFtm9KvsN2wwt9dcERBXNeYKdIHjguPtEY0htL8jSa1gyRYUhYhzFEh8Or-lQhw16Coi45XK-lU4Q/s400/DSC03731.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565623459163567026" /></a><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Birds at the <a href="http://dekobo.blogspot.com/2011/01/kobe-port.html">Kobe Port</a>.</span></span></div>Jonathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07602637136211839422noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003150074467389248.post-21853659908711654052011-01-23T08:00:00.000+09:002011-01-23T08:00:01.863+09:00Dragon Dance #2<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2iYvvamtVkcX4RHh2HgKVNQZmtCv5dL7gXYHcwLh-VlJN9mceTLOtKIef2T_uZR57YvJYig4vcWAnB0rnlSaMjgXgVyCsO7b9_TPAm7LKjiRvywbGPvUU2TJM48noAiYwX4QQDnbAmUI/s1600/DSC03453-1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2iYvvamtVkcX4RHh2HgKVNQZmtCv5dL7gXYHcwLh-VlJN9mceTLOtKIef2T_uZR57YvJYig4vcWAnB0rnlSaMjgXgVyCsO7b9_TPAm7LKjiRvywbGPvUU2TJM48noAiYwX4QQDnbAmUI/s400/DSC03453-1.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564941849900776290" /></a><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Kobe, Japan </span></span></div>Jonathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07602637136211839422noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003150074467389248.post-64682298228772798582011-01-22T18:27:00.003+09:002011-01-22T18:34:26.280+09:00Dragon Dance #1<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMPZwM0OJ64Ou75IHdNHmRNq0c5mivgl_JLO0u1RInZD_NbyjVRlEn52TgEMbP3WvZO0ugBGtquTFKxGxJjjdnRPkOlMN5j5ApRkyh_ek9YBNSWP_P2iCK8iOFK4zFlFwMPAjeJ3MHO8/s1600/DSC03420-2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMPZwM0OJ64Ou75IHdNHmRNq0c5mivgl_JLO0u1RInZD_NbyjVRlEn52TgEMbP3WvZO0ugBGtquTFKxGxJjjdnRPkOlMN5j5ApRkyh_ek9YBNSWP_P2iCK8iOFK4zFlFwMPAjeJ3MHO8/s400/DSC03420-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564939979107006738" /></a><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Kobe, Japan </span></span></div>Jonathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07602637136211839422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003150074467389248.post-51009176329831916572011-01-21T12:00:00.000+09:002011-01-21T12:45:14.104+09:00Show Me Japan: 1.17.1995<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPCowQteYN3UdDsSwOg6WtOFaAFIgh2gBIMPL5oWcGoFbV2ZD3frb-3uKzCiKzdRf2N4wPTdR_fPEOJjPoT8M3FFwDGo_RViTwoE9Eh46tD4mfM1yJUlve7pjkl-k9iJl94xgOOZZBVEs/s1600/P1090736.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPCowQteYN3UdDsSwOg6WtOFaAFIgh2gBIMPL5oWcGoFbV2ZD3frb-3uKzCiKzdRf2N4wPTdR_fPEOJjPoT8M3FFwDGo_RViTwoE9Eh46tD4mfM1yJUlve7pjkl-k9iJl94xgOOZZBVEs/s400/P1090736.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563708417537646114" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:13px;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The 24th floor of Kobe City Hall is a great place to get a bird's eye view of the entire city center, especially in the evening. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Kobe City Hall is located on Flower Road, just south of JR Sannomiya Station and the observation floor is free to visit. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Next to Kobe City Hall is Higashi Yuenchi Park, which features a permanent earthquake memorial monument dedicated to those who lost their lives in the Hanshin-Awaji earthquake. This photograph was taken on January 17, 2011, which marked the 16th anniversary of the quake, and the date is actually made of thousands of </span></span><a href="http://dekobo.blogspot.com/2011/01/sannomiya-11795-memorial.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">candles</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Photograph is my entry for this weeks</span></span><a href="http://www.budgettrouble.com/2011/01/show-me-japan-vol1-issue-10.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></a><a href="http://www.budgettrouble.com/2011/01/show-me-japan-vol1-issue-10.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Show-Me-Japan</span></span></a><a href="http://www.budgettrouble.com/2011/01/show-me-japan-vol1-issue-10.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">(Vol.1 Issue 10).</span></span></span></div><div><br /></div></span></span>Jonathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07602637136211839422noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003150074467389248.post-33603961873417720212011-01-20T08:00:00.001+09:002011-01-20T08:00:01.639+09:00Lighting Candles<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBBcSdBff_Nky9Xdq26_DLdGgL1jXIg-6nFlhfHbLkM48v83gn2iDNq2d7hV_eecu0HkGc9b8LCtGKv-9Y6Alc0uFC3ecqkaf3FZSzMrNgJGteL6bZMED0LDxQyNJwJcotG4tDXKQU4Q/s1600/DSC03554.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBBcSdBff_Nky9Xdq26_DLdGgL1jXIg-6nFlhfHbLkM48v83gn2iDNq2d7hV_eecu0HkGc9b8LCtGKv-9Y6Alc0uFC3ecqkaf3FZSzMrNgJGteL6bZMED0LDxQyNJwJcotG4tDXKQU4Q/s400/DSC03554.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563704983220048226" /></a><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sannomiya earthquake memorial <a href="http://dekobo.blogspot.com/2011/01/sannomiya-11795-memorial.html">1.17.2011</a>.</span></span></div>Jonathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07602637136211839422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003150074467389248.post-48818887369681351222011-01-19T08:00:00.001+09:002011-01-21T12:46:33.119+09:00Sannomiya 1.17.95 Memorial<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhipO9a2LATfmYnVfGt5zY6FBZNYx98hzPlgb8fB3Cx28boVoVA1fi5Jq2IzYdO7hnMdrXMjfyStsSCUdYDeqn6I0hjUR4Vl_i1_WU9nbOLDC2UkDKN_v9G2QlhTMIlNMo6zhPjRqwrTDk/s1600/DSC03565.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhipO9a2LATfmYnVfGt5zY6FBZNYx98hzPlgb8fB3Cx28boVoVA1fi5Jq2IzYdO7hnMdrXMjfyStsSCUdYDeqn6I0hjUR4Vl_i1_WU9nbOLDC2UkDKN_v9G2QlhTMIlNMo6zhPjRqwrTDk/s400/DSC03565.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563702907937194402" /></a><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Perhaps the largest of the earthquake memorials in Kobe is located in Sannomiya. <a href="http://dekobo.blogspot.com/2011/01/lighting-candles.html">Candles </a>are placed in cut bamboo segments and organized to form a large </span></span><a href="http://dekobo.blogspot.com/2011/01/shin-nagata-memorial.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">1.17.1995</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. </span></span></div><div><br /></div>Jonathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07602637136211839422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003150074467389248.post-57324402306252857702011-01-18T22:33:00.012+09:002011-01-21T13:30:50.563+09:00Nagata 1.17.95 Memorial<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_DSktFxBlrtaUXFf8YxEu107rrqtr-axo3sswYqzQGCqfwiVjQ8W4W62yU4z4PWA8UZ9B1NP7whU4oL0UFLEhOg73ekr0sUjRZpx6nsf3F8ceFEKDCDgNzMfWKDz4Fty_5VJmIsSGBJQ/s1600/2011-01-17.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_DSktFxBlrtaUXFf8YxEu107rrqtr-axo3sswYqzQGCqfwiVjQ8W4W62yU4z4PWA8UZ9B1NP7whU4oL0UFLEhOg73ekr0sUjRZpx6nsf3F8ceFEKDCDgNzMfWKDz4Fty_5VJmIsSGBJQ/s400/2011-01-17.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563524018426008786" /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Monday, January 17, 2011, marks the 16th year since the 1995 <a href="http://dekobo.blogspot.com/2010/02/earthquake-memorial-service.html">earthquake</a> that devastated Kobe. The quake struck at 5:46am and lasted for approximately 20 seconds, and when it was done Kobe was left in ruins and many lost their lives. Bells are sounded just before 5:46, issuing silence over the many earthquake memorial gathering spots throughout Kobe. Candles are set in honor of the lives lost and hardships some still face since that day 16 years ago. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Nagata, was one of the areas hardest hit by the quake and this is one of the memorials held in the area. The atmosphere of the events vary, some are somber and others more celebratory; some play music and sing songs, while others share stories or stand in silence. In the dark, windy, and bitter cold morning I am reminded how grand my humble but warm apartment - with its running water, electricity, and shelter - really is, and how difficult the uprooted lives of those who survived must have been. </span></span></div>Jonathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07602637136211839422noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003150074467389248.post-49223377659757964852011-01-17T08:00:00.001+09:002011-01-17T08:00:00.526+09:00Dondo-yaki Ash<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifPKYgjGhQ5jciITF40_uOD2JepXCMHJJRCBSQmuLOSTCw03Aoyib1oxs7TyEfojfxitShDByozeZmUKvA4maHD-vlIMht11cpppHHVMGitg7ZxpGkE3qOn4NqEDx-j4WolWW-j3C0Xsc/s1600/DSC03381-1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifPKYgjGhQ5jciITF40_uOD2JepXCMHJJRCBSQmuLOSTCw03Aoyib1oxs7TyEfojfxitShDByozeZmUKvA4maHD-vlIMht11cpppHHVMGitg7ZxpGkE3qOn4NqEDx-j4WolWW-j3C0Xsc/s400/DSC03381-1.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562437334145380818" /></a><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The ashes from the Dondo-yaki bonfire are collected, and one-by-one folks come up to the pile and fill bags with the now cooled, dark-black charcoal. The ashes are placed around the outside of homes and businesses to ward off evil spirits. I have seen many little piles of ash all around Shin-Nagata; these mounds would be a rather odd sight if I had not seen their origin.</span></span></div>Jonathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07602637136211839422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003150074467389248.post-36782866663296695702011-01-16T22:00:00.002+09:002011-01-16T22:06:06.333+09:00Dondo-yaki Ablaze<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH3Cb5yyehg89EHt2MoPTr8NeukoEwMTa_KzeZqYI4rsTdBrCiW_6t6uDmjzF3uF8lU0dFjGWhWz6LrOWbU6dhPRkVfNmhuWPwcWiCypx5FO-BFYuyqAsXKGyk5h2LmpqBDvIE0B5zRhc/s1600/DSC03333-1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH3Cb5yyehg89EHt2MoPTr8NeukoEwMTa_KzeZqYI4rsTdBrCiW_6t6uDmjzF3uF8lU0dFjGWhWz6LrOWbU6dhPRkVfNmhuWPwcWiCypx5FO-BFYuyqAsXKGyk5h2LmpqBDvIE0B5zRhc/s400/DSC03333-1.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562769246877432706" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimeHqf4HXVKrU5V67UPqnVW00YkBlA9_FTCqIvaV1tzpnl45yCvuSfNgefsH4FQ_kDap8nbOMQXIP7xTSyyl01T5S-XQuxGIQmTlq6tJFzatzwwms14Xy2FnNS-qlKtoWalFt8GQtX__s/s1600/DSC03333.JPG"><br /></a></div>Jonathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07602637136211839422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003150074467389248.post-63813239784869547922011-01-16T08:00:00.002+09:002011-01-16T08:00:01.117+09:00Dondo-yaki どんどやき<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1eZEuZF41TfAFlzlkPvErOkzK9fKmJtz316NctLU4N-3Pe0dNT9OKGYyqpc_udRJK5HZyjp7WHBhcNzWjK_8eUPKII8RGG4ebw0X_-0AlD3l7DKGzllcoMOwUXE7mpDVx1yM7_9-ORs/s1600/DSC03335-1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1eZEuZF41TfAFlzlkPvErOkzK9fKmJtz316NctLU4N-3Pe0dNT9OKGYyqpc_udRJK5HZyjp7WHBhcNzWjK_8eUPKII8RGG4ebw0X_-0AlD3l7DKGzllcoMOwUXE7mpDVx1yM7_9-ORs/s400/DSC03335-1.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562390500125196834" /></a><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Yesterday I attended a Dondo-yaki, which is basically a special bonfire held as part of the </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px; "><a href="http://dekobo.blogspot.com/2011/01/shogatsu.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Oshogatsu</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> celebration.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> According to tradition, a Kami named Toshitokujin, the goddess with responsibility for auspicious directions and happenings for the coming year (and when appeased, insures prosperity and an abundant harvest) visits during Oshogatsu, and brings with her Shōgatsu-sama, an “Honorable New year”. </span></span></div><div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">One of the primary traditions linked to Dondo-yaki is the burning of New Year’s decorations such as <a href="http://dekobo.blogspot.com/2011/01/himeji-shrine.html">kadomatsu and shimenawa</a>, and objects such as <a href="http://dekobo.blogspot.com/2011/01/lantern-at-minatogawa-jinja.html">Omomori</a>, and </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'lucida grande';font-size:medium;">Kakizome</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'lucida grande';font-size:medium;">. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'lucida grande';font-size:medium;">The town or village gathers at some central place and burns all these sacred symbols for the greeting of the New Year, and by burning them it is believed that they are sent off to the Kami as gifts. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'lucida grande';font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'lucida grande';font-size:medium;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'lucida grande';font-size:medium;">I intoduced Kadomatsu and shimenawa in yesterdays post, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'lucida grande';font-size:medium;">Omamori お守り are charms dedicated to particular Shintō and Buddhist deities. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'lucida grande';font-size:medium;">Kakizome 書き初 or “first writing,” is a term for the first calligraphy (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'lucida grande';font-size:medium;"><a href="http://dekobo.blogspot.com/2010/07/tanabata-matsuri.html">Shodō</a>) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'lucida grande';font-size:medium;">written at the beginning of a year. As the burning paper and ash flies high, it is believed that the person who created the calligraphy will be able to rise above their limitations and write even better in the coming year. I did my kakizome last wednesday so I hope my Shodō improves this year - I certainly smelled of smoke all day.</span></div></div>Jonathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07602637136211839422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003150074467389248.post-68720568434122341972011-01-15T21:50:00.002+09:002011-01-15T23:00:54.333+09:00姫路神社 Himeji Shrine<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibVq2IIIeqnn0dBywWoxLedq_JT1DzXfxH-3sO7hcuG16JKGKaq1_y971W9p6XcRM_ZFhmQM_9ksgT2MzS_9nq5Ktvp-vwl37zw2ydyXB1PSIEfiPo_vp99rq6k-8IPaanUWELoCAYrSQ/s1600/DSC03150.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibVq2IIIeqnn0dBywWoxLedq_JT1DzXfxH-3sO7hcuG16JKGKaq1_y971W9p6XcRM_ZFhmQM_9ksgT2MzS_9nq5Ktvp-vwl37zw2ydyXB1PSIEfiPo_vp99rq6k-8IPaanUWELoCAYrSQ/s400/DSC03150.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562394372451923538" /></a><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I am discovering that </span></span><a href="http://dekobo.blogspot.com/2011/01/shogatsu.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Oshogatsu</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> is basically a month long celebration, not just a one day event as the New Year is commonly celebrated in the States. Another Oshogatsu tradition are the decorations pictured here in front of the Himeji Jinja, called kadomatstu. A kadomatsu 門松, literally “gate pine,” is placed in pairs in front of homes, temples, and or business in late December, with the intention of welcoming ancestral spirits or kami and acting as temporary housing for them.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Also pictured here is a Shimenawa 標縄, "enclosing rope," which are lengths of sacred ropes made of rice straw, used for purification in Shintō. At New Years these are often replaced, being hung across the tops of gates or entryways to ward off evil. Often shimenawa are decorated with shide 紙垂, paper folded in a </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">zigzag, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">or tassels (such as these); which also symbolize purification.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>Jonathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07602637136211839422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003150074467389248.post-17600174188106544112011-01-14T09:57:00.004+09:002011-01-14T10:56:52.268+09:00Show Me Japan: Akashi-jō<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMHmpABkrjqwJO0P-OH0DEt2VH_4LUX3BWjcMF1D6xgv94WGfNvqkHxvLtxvUQs-CxsB5Q0zNZuXS0PeTjGulksod2xup7i4q9uY6HYp7X0ufjLzdnrWpPvnlihqIMUqsKwOncih_6nY/s1600/DSC03187.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMHmpABkrjqwJO0P-OH0DEt2VH_4LUX3BWjcMF1D6xgv94WGfNvqkHxvLtxvUQs-CxsB5Q0zNZuXS0PeTjGulksod2xup7i4q9uY6HYp7X0ufjLzdnrWpPvnlihqIMUqsKwOncih_6nY/s400/DSC03187.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561839987305162450" /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; line-height: 20px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">B</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">ecause Himeji castle is currently under restoration, and is consequently not very picturesque, I visited Akashi castle (jō) as an alternate. I am glad that I did, this is a quite and relatively empty area in the evening, with a atmosphere rich in history. However, if you visit in the winter as I did, bundle up as it is quite cold. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This castle was constructed by Ogasawara Tadazane in one year, which was a relatively short amount of time for such a project. The speedy progress of construction was aided by a law issued in 1615 that limited one castle per clan. Meaning that Akashi castle is partially constructed from materials, and in some cases whole sections, of previous castles in the area. Akashi castle was built on order from the Tokugawa shogunate, for its strategic value in watching over the western lords. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Pictured is the Tatsumi Turret (巽櫓) with the constellation of Orion "the hunter" poised above it. In Japanese the phrase Yowatashi Boshi, or passing the night stars, is applied to prominent star groups which appear in the East at sunset and set with the dawning sun. Orion is certainly one of the most noticeable Yowatashi Boshi; </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; font-size: medium; ">most especially the three belt stars or Mitsu Boshi.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px; "><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Photograph is my entry for this weeks </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.budgettrouble.com/2011/01/show-me-japan-vol1-issue-9.html">Show-Me-Japan</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> (Vol.1 Issue 9).</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div>Jonathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07602637136211839422noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003150074467389248.post-7247163398543120802011-01-13T07:38:00.002+09:002011-01-13T07:54:40.774+09:00姫路護国神社<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSx_pJDG3lG9X3ocb6175PskBoxzIZ-7LSAQG3Z6IyDJLw5yaaBjW9PU-kI_kD1pgsTbh05zoKoAZDX4JB2dDUN3k-a3pW_ShCARLlDPnEsW8HxLURgxR8nfiQagX0t1s9yaBxnzaoU5Y/s1600/DSC03166.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSx_pJDG3lG9X3ocb6175PskBoxzIZ-7LSAQG3Z6IyDJLw5yaaBjW9PU-kI_kD1pgsTbh05zoKoAZDX4JB2dDUN3k-a3pW_ShCARLlDPnEsW8HxLURgxR8nfiQagX0t1s9yaBxnzaoU5Y/s400/DSC03166.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561434006080078002" /></a><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Himeji shrine for the r</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">emembrance of the patriots from the Western District, Hyogo Prefecture </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">near the Shiromi stand park and </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Himeji Castle. The lanterns are setup for <a href="http://dekobo.blogspot.com/2011/01/shogatsu.html">o</a></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; font-size: medium; line-height: 20px; "><a href="http://dekobo.blogspot.com/2011/01/shogatsu.html">shogatsu</a>, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; font-size: medium; line-height: 20px; ">The Japanese New Year celebration, and must have looked stunning at nightfall. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; font-size: medium; line-height: 20px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; font-size: medium; line-height: 20px; ">Unfortunately, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; font-size: medium; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; ">Himeji Castle is under restoration until 2014 and is totally covered in scaffolding.</span></div>Jonathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07602637136211839422noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003150074467389248.post-14320060055696954912011-01-12T08:00:00.000+09:002011-01-12T08:00:01.604+09:00Dezome-shiki One Last Time<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNW1hlDhhVxbN3bbClKGLK4goh0CQqqoFOYZgmlv2pPOcgfTbxZudryFxGED5By41waHL8L2DXzpe4gJWmoBY5NlEoyBGYqvFTTrRYYduUW8oVlbncBm8K9MHNHc7X0zIwahWEa1d_5M/s1600/DSC03299.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNW1hlDhhVxbN3bbClKGLK4goh0CQqqoFOYZgmlv2pPOcgfTbxZudryFxGED5By41waHL8L2DXzpe4gJWmoBY5NlEoyBGYqvFTTrRYYduUW8oVlbncBm8K9MHNHc7X0zIwahWEa1d_5M/s400/DSC03299.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560892277026701234" /></a><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">One last shot from the Kobe Dezome-shiki, some of the uniformed superiors oversee the last of the final demonstration. These taller towers of water are actually emanating from the fire-fighting ships in the port waters. </span></span></div>Jonathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07602637136211839422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003150074467389248.post-87819691265688535722011-01-11T20:21:00.004+09:002011-01-11T20:49:40.879+09:00Fireman's Parade Display<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-YX2lyD8qiPbG5ojumCm6d71Usx0YcgpVeUCEV4bvdguz7NVUkP4nji7kp8rXemMj38POnMHVNVsd5AjfiliiEUQ5xjYAklm8b52FuJqDMPwLa4zbjbNMUxksLWh3ouc2bmAvM4xoGw/s1600/DSC03269.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-YX2lyD8qiPbG5ojumCm6d71Usx0YcgpVeUCEV4bvdguz7NVUkP4nji7kp8rXemMj38POnMHVNVsd5AjfiliiEUQ5xjYAklm8b52FuJqDMPwLa4zbjbNMUxksLWh3ouc2bmAvM4xoGw/s400/DSC03269.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560887199288176546" /></a><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The final event for the </span></span><a href="http://dekobo.blogspot.com/2011/01/dezome-shiki.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Dezome-shiki</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> in Kobe was a demonstration by all of the different brigades. They aimed their fire hoses and water cannons, including those on the fire-fighting ships in the port, up into the air and showered icy bay water into impressively tall and graceful arches. </span></span></div>Jonathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07602637136211839422noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003150074467389248.post-27131373519630787032011-01-10T21:24:00.006+09:002011-01-10T22:19:10.234+09:00Dezome-Shiki<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBC8X3OvfRR-mYFkaMqa-LFsK1GNZNBsUVNqA_ZJjx581s8sRrwX5oYJwBgJ15KerDVcdNa_GdBHINz6z1_enyVGOqGvExOw1TCEpLY9uomiAcfS5Mx2CE4-1TIXeHrZ3acUnPoXND4uk/s1600/DSC03237.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBC8X3OvfRR-mYFkaMqa-LFsK1GNZNBsUVNqA_ZJjx581s8sRrwX5oYJwBgJ15KerDVcdNa_GdBHINz6z1_enyVGOqGvExOw1TCEpLY9uomiAcfS5Mx2CE4-1TIXeHrZ3acUnPoXND4uk/s400/DSC03237.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560534620065654386" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Dezome-shiki, the Fireman's Parade (or the New Year's parade of fire brigades as it is also called) is an annual event held throughout major cites in Japan. Perhaps the largest and most famous of these is in Tokyo, which showcases the acrobatic prowess of fire fighters atop tall wooden ladders. Kobe has a </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Dezome-shiki of its own and while I didn't witness any acrobatics of the type famous in Tokyo, this event was no less spectacular as a demonstration of the ability and expertise of Kobe's firefighters. The event (which took place at </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://dekobo.blogspot.com/2010/07/mosaic-kobe-port.html">Meriken park</a>)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> featured may booths, vehicles and vessels, and personnel from all over the area. The event centered around a training scenario that involved all manner of firefighting, rescue, and disaster skills. Pictured is a rescue helicopter performing some low altitude maneuvers, later two rescuers would repel from the helicopter and secure a rescue dummy for airlift evacuation. </span></span></div>Jonathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07602637136211839422noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003150074467389248.post-66001084851726976312011-01-09T22:25:00.008+09:002011-01-09T23:37:02.398+09:00Merry Umbrella Project<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWKabobbugNisdXphWt9EhvQMY8tVr32hIzYav9-h0J88tsQNldCtpVI_vAHbK809xUyJ6rctkd4wzipBFIy4IxhjJ-x_CnTtkTRAl2U7uGSlbS5ut4vDC-kx4ZKBjoE-quWZYy7o515c/s1600/DSC03227-1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWKabobbugNisdXphWt9EhvQMY8tVr32hIzYav9-h0J88tsQNldCtpVI_vAHbK809xUyJ6rctkd4wzipBFIy4IxhjJ-x_CnTtkTRAl2U7uGSlbS5ut4vDC-kx4ZKBjoE-quWZYy7o515c/s400/DSC03227-1.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560176901822239570" /></a><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This is a small selection of 100 umbrellas printed with </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">children's faces from around the world, from a public art project dubbed Merry Umbrella, at the earthquake memorial at </span></span><a href="http://dekobo.blogspot.com/2010/07/mosaic-kobe-port.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Meriken park</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> in Kobe. Larger projects than this one were held in Hiroshima, Nagasaki and Okinawa in hopes of spreading messages of peace. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The project is the work of Koji Mizutani, who also took the</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> pictures of the children featured on the umbrellas from Mianyang, China, in the wake of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, as well as in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, after the 2004 Sumatra earthquake, and in Kobe in the aftermath of the 1995 Hanshin Earthquake.</span></span></div>Jonathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07602637136211839422noreply@blogger.com0