さよなら Sayonara

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.

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!!!

I would especially like to thank everyone who has commented, including the regulars: Kat & Satoshi's from "Our Adventures in Japan" which is a really fun food journal of Japan, A. and Y. Ikeda from "Tochigi Daily Photo" (+2 other great blogs) which are stunning and informative photography journals (I will miss participating in Show-me-Japan), and last but not least Anzu from Ann & Natsu, who has a super cute furry family.

Cheers,

Jonathan

Header

History of the DekoBoko Header to this point. . .

Out for a Walk

Kobe Harbor

神戸ヴィーナスブリッジ

The view from the Kobe Venus Bridge.

January Yatai Stuffs.

I previously mentioned that January in Japan is full of festivals, and usually festivals go hand-in-hand with Yatai. 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.

It's-a me, Mario!

"Here we go!!!" Mario is-a full of da-bouncy children.

クマ Bear

Graffiti in downtown Kobe, this fellow is a クマ (Kuma) or in Kanji 熊.

The Bear goes: ガオーー (Gaooo).

Previous Animals:

Monkey

Goat

Frog

Kobe Port

Kobe Port Panoramic.

Kobe Port Birds

Birds at the Kobe Port.

Dragon Dance #2

Kobe, Japan

Dragon Dance #1

Kobe, Japan

Show Me Japan: 1.17.1995

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. Kobe City Hall is located on Flower Road, just south of JR Sannomiya Station and the observation floor is free to visit. 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 candles.

Photograph is my entry for this weeks Show-Me-Japan (Vol.1 Issue 10).