Father and Son

Kofun Park, Utsunomiya, today:

First day of Kindergarten

This is from a couple of weeks ago and the cherry blossoms are gone now, sadly...

Where even statues don't like to get wet

This is a Watery Wednesday entry. It was raining like crazy today.

Lu-Tze The Sweeper?

Sleeping Cat Charm

at Toshogu in Nikko.

Black cat in Nikko

The cat seems to belong to the old man who sells whistles on the path to Toshogu

Sarutahiko

To read more about this strange dude please visit this post on our other blog.

Fishing - Lake Chuzenji

Woods Around Takinoo Shrine

Futara shrine gate

So you have this bizarre no-name film and you're not sure whether it's any good. But you do shooting anyway.

This is the disgusting monstrosity they're building next to Futara shrine in Utsunomiya. When it's finished, it will be the tallest building in the city.

What Shinto Priests Wear - Shoes

Sumo Wrestlers Visiting Nikko

Day Trip to Tokyo

We had some errands to run in Tokyo today and I, for one, am glad we don't live there. I hate that place.

And this is why I think that Japanese parents are brainless morons:

If that was my kids, he'd be yanked out of his seat so fast, his ear would burn for days afterwards. And here, nothing, his mother was just standing there, not doing or saying a thing.
One day, when his mother gets to be that old lady's age, maybe she'll figure out her parenting mistake.

Yayoi 2010 one last time

Yatai (festival float):

Priests on the sacred bridge (Shinkyo bridge):

Mikoshi (portable shrine):

Other Yayoi posts are here and here.

And if you want to read more about this festival, visit this post on our other blog.

Girls of Yayoi Festival 2010

Some shots from Nikko today - Yayoi festival, April 16, 2010.
The girl edition:


A helpful girl:

A sad girl:

Singing girls:

Band girls:

A religious girl:

And girls going home:

More pics of the Yayoi festival in Nikko are here.

Daily Commute Cut Short

An hour ago at Takiyacho:

At the Yayoi Festival in Nikko

The festival goes from April 13 until April 17.
Here are some priestly shots from today:

Looking sufficiently bored...


Mask? What mask?

Gonna take it off now, nobody's looking anyway....


And meanwhile, the procession struggles on:

And the yellow smocks are dying for a break.


The break finally comes:

Yellow smocks enjoy each other's company while creating some "holy water".


And the question of the day was: why broccoli?

Cherry Blossoms at Futara Shrine

This year it doesn't look very nice, because they're building some monstrosity next to the shrine. The monstrosity will soon become the tallest building in Utsunomiya. I wonder what kind of bribes had to change hands to get this project approved.

Moka Line

Single car Moka Line train:

And a double:

Swan Boat on Chuzenji Lake

Or is it a duck boat? I suck at biology.

Gone fishing

This is what happens when you give your husband a fish-eye lens for his birthday and a box of 35 mm film:

Korinji temple grounds, 35 mm, Nikon F801S

Jikoji temple grounds, 35 mm, Nikon F801S

And our favorite Akamon.

Under a spreading cherry tree...

there we sit both you and me:

oh how happy we would be

Under a spreading cherry tree

And that's what happens to your brain if you sing enough children's songs and no chestnut trees are blooming.

Anyway, here's another shot of cherry blossoms at the Red Gate at night.

More cherry blossoms

at Akamon at night:

Cherry blossoms at night

Sakura (cherry blossoms)

They seem to be late this year...

Utsunomiya Tower

Fisheye

Bicycle, bicycle, I want to ride my bicycle...

Pimp my bike:

Hummer, now with a cup holder:

The future of SAAB - bicycles:

There are right-wing cars, and there are right-wing bikes too:

Huge Daruma Doll in Shimotsuke City