the0lady's Photobucket Tokyo album media

Sumida-gawa

the0lady — Tue, 2 Dec 2008 09:27:11 MST

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Sumida-gawa - DSC00388.jpg

This was taken from a ferry going upriver on the Sumida river from the Tokyo Bay area towards the north of the city.

Tsukiji fish market

the0lady — Tue, 2 Dec 2008 09:22:51 MST

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Tsukiji fish market - DSC00339.jpg

This bench has obviously been doing service as a tuna chopping station for generations; the grain of the wood and the light falling on it was irresistible. The man whose hand you can just see on the left had just been washing it down with buckets of water when I took the picture.

Shinto priest

the0lady — Tue, 2 Dec 2008 06:42:02 MST

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Shinto priest - PB110133.jpg

This guy seemed to have been the senior priest, and he never said anything the wole time and didn't communicate with the celebrants in any way. He sat on a raised platform separate from everyone and everything and the only thing he did was unroll a big scroll and read it out very loudly and melodically. It was strangely impressive.

Shinto ceremony

the0lady — Tue, 2 Dec 2008 06:41:43 MST

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Shinto ceremony - PB110140.jpg

I don't know what was going on there, but it was a whole family and the ceremony revolved around the little girls in the center - obviously some sort of coming of age thing. It was very beautiful and serene, without all the smoke and noise associated with Buddhist ceremonie and other Eastern religions.

Torii gates

the0lady — Tue, 2 Dec 2008 06:41:15 MST

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Torii gates - PB110143.jpg

Purification fountain

the0lady — Tue, 2 Dec 2008 06:40:41 MST

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Purification fountain - PB110145.jpg

Shinto banners

the0lady — Tue, 2 Dec 2008 06:40:12 MST

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Shinto banners - PB110153.jpg

Paper lanterns

the0lady — Tue, 2 Dec 2008 06:39:35 MST

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Paper lanterns - PB110167.jpg

Smoked fish

the0lady — Tue, 2 Dec 2008 06:29:28 MST

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Smoked fish - DSC00271.jpg

These were hanging above the charcoal grill in a great northern-style restaurant we had lunch in one day.

Seiko

the0lady — Tue, 2 Dec 2008 06:28:53 MST

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Seiko - DSC00293.jpg

The chef is the fourth generation proprietor of this amazing tempura restaurant, which he runs with his brother on very traditional lines. The whole meal was like a piece of performance art on his part, and tempura has never tasted so wonderful before! The guy behind me is Masao, Alan's ex-student who took us to this tiny hole in the wall place with only ten seats, which we'd never have found by ourselves.

Mt Fuji

the0lady — Tue, 2 Dec 2008 06:11:22 MST

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Mt Fuji - DSC00321-1.jpg

Pretty corny, but I felt like I had to take the picture, even if millions of people already have done! Too bad about the light going though, it was getting pretty dark already when we sailed past.

Akihabara

the0lady — Tue, 2 Dec 2008 06:02:44 MST

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Akihabara - DSC00484.jpg

I liked that amazing red building - the individual squares kept blinking on and off.

Me in my yukata

the0lady — Tue, 2 Dec 2008 05:59:15 MST

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Me in my yukata - DSC00332.jpg

This was taken in our hotel room - you can just see the edge of the futon. Alan says I looked really Japanese and kept taking pictures of me in this gear. This is the best one.

Buddhist monk begging

the0lady — Tue, 2 Dec 2008 05:58:39 MST

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Buddhist monk begging - DSC00460.jpg

I liked the way this guy positioned himself, like he was trying to make the most beautiful picture possible.