Looking for the lost

by Lee on 1/11/2010

in Photography

With Tokyo being more than a bit maze-like, when trying to find something for the first time, a map is a mighty fine idea — a must even. And yet even such measures don’t always make things easy, meaning the knowledge of a native is sometimes necessary.

Which unfortunately could well create even more confusion.

Tokyo streets

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It has been an especially long and tiring journey, but it would seem that there is still at least a little way to go yet.

Japanese old lady

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Dog tired

by Lee on 1/7/2010

in Odd, Photography

Despite being a bit daft, the feline-based fad of cat carrying it seems has now been commandeered by canine lovers, making the duty of taking the dog for a walk,

Japanese man carrying a dog

a very different deal indeed.

Japanese man carrying a dog

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The sight of musicians presumably not wanting to annoy their neighbours with noise by practicing outside are a fairly common sight in Tokyo, especially so when it comes to wind instruments.

Little old ladies cranking out chords on keyboards on the other hand are, somewhat sadly, considerably less common.

Japanese musician

The soothing sounds of which can be sampled here:

Listen!

And, after taking these few photos, I left her to it, blissfully unaware of other people,

Japanese musician

or indeed even the park’s, presence.

Japanese musician

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Masked Miffy

by Lee on 1/5/2010

in Odd

The possibilities of swine flu mutating are extremely well documented, but at the same time I don’t recall reading about it being a risk to rabbits.

Miffy Japan

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Apart from the homes of their parents, and possibly even pachinko, the place most Japanese people will set out to visit over the New Year is the shrine. An event that, apart from a quick pray, invariably involves coughing up for a new collection of lucky charms.

Japanese new year

And, more often than not, an omikuji (random fortune), which, after the fun of finding out if it’s a good or bad one,

Japanese new year

can be securely fixed to something suitable and swiftly forgotten.

Japanese new year

Thus allowing for arguably the most favoured part of most Japanese festivities, the food, which invariably comes from a fascinatingly varied selection of vendors, serving up equally varied victuals.

Japanese new year

All the way from the savoury,

Japanese new year

to the sweet.

Japanese new year

Plus, for a bit of continuity, below are a couple of the same characters from last year, although one of them seemed decidedly dejected about the new decade.

Japanese new year

And cooking with what appears to be his replacement, this still spritely old fella could well be tackling 2010 as a retiree.

Japanese new year

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Happy New Year

by Lee on 1/1/2010

in Photography, Religion

I trust that 2010 will bring all that you hope for, and happen even a bit more.

reading in Tokyo

Happy New Year!

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