Category Archives: Japan
Little flowers and fluffy clouds
On a little side road in the Japanese countryside I stopped to say hi to some flowers and a cloud.
Tri-X@200 in D-76. I really do NOT like this combination, however, it worked for this picture.
Continuing with my hina matsuri photos
As I mentioned in previous posts, the area I live in was fortunately not directly affected by the massive earthquake and tsunami. People here are going about their business as normal despite potential for a triple nuclear meltdown at the striken Fukushima nuclear power plant. I guess while I sit here too and wait for some good information (which has been in scarce supply), I’ll go about finishing up my series on the Hina Matsuri.
This came from a roll of film I was experimenting with. I shot Tri-X at EI200 and pulled development a bit. Some people say this produces really nice images. I personally am not impressed and prefer Fujifilm Acros@200 over Tri-X@200.
Japan is still here and life is normal in most places
The news both local (to me in Japan), as well as international, has been showing the massive destruction in Japan from the magnitude 9 earthquake followed by the powerful tsunami one week ago. Without downplaying the seriousness of the situation, the severe destruction in some towns in the region, and the suffering of those involved, I think it’s important to point out that a majority of Japan was not directly affected.
The earthquake was off the coast, centered on the ocean floor, therefore the shaking of Japan in most cases, while severe, was less than the magnitude 8.9 rating of the quake at it’s source. The horrible tsunami hit the Pacific north-east coast and came as much as a mile or so inland in some areas. Many towns were leveled by it and thousands killed. We must do everything we can to help them, and this will likely be the most expensive natural disaster in history and the human suffering is enormous with over 6,000 deaths and 10,000 missing at this point. However, I think it is also important to remember that this represents a moderately small portion of this island nation of 127,000,000 people. Japan is by no means out for the count.
Away from the scenes of destruction, there are scenes of normality everywhere.
So please, keep Japan in your thoughts, make donations and send any help you can, but try not to let the images lead you into thinking that the whole nation is in such a dire situation. Japan will recover and it will still be a beautiful and exotic place that you should visit!
Continuing the series of Hina Matsuri dolls
This doll that I found in the garden of a temple in Yanagawa is SO CUTE. I wonder if they would sell him to me :-3
The emperor and empress dolls wear traditional kimonos from the Heian era (792-1192AD) consisting of 12 layers, no doubt a part of the reason for the high cost of these.
Vintage Hina Doll
My girlfriend and I went around a historic part of town which had several houses and buildings open with many Hina Matsuri dolls on display inside, including some vintage dolls.
Servant of the Emperor
In previous years I never learned much about or took much note of the Hina Matsuri. I am endeavoring to correct that this year.
Ohinasama
I went to an historic district in my town to see more of the Hina Matsuri. Many dolls, including some vintage ones were on display in some old historic buildings. Some Hina matsuri dolls are worth thousands of dollars.
