Until a few hours ago, I was completely unaware that Japan’s Mt. Fuji has a special day of its own. But according to this news report, today has been designated Mt. Fuji Day. So, to help commemorate the most photographed subject in Japan, here’s one of my renditions of this famous landmark: In December 1992, I [...]
In Japan, November 15 is an eventful day for young children. Known as the day of Shichi go san (literally, 7-5-3), the festive occasion celebrates the rite of passage for children who turn three, five, and seven years of age. Traditionally, this festival day is marked by visiting a Shinto shrine, and for girls turning [...]
Most readers are probably not interested in what cameras I use to take the pictures that appear on this blog and website. But for those just the teeniest bit curious, here’s the scoop: all of these pictures were shot with full size Nikon cameras. Until now. There are times when carrying around a big camera [...]
Last week I had the good fortune to photograph an electrifying performance of taiko, the Japanese name for drum and the art form as well. My chance to shoot came at the fall concert of Portland Taiko, in the Newmark Theatre of Portland Center for the Performing Arts. Just as they showed at the packed Washington [...]
Following on the heels of Japan’s recent Respect for the Aged Day, another national holiday occurred last week on September 23. Shubun no hi, or Autumnal Equinox Day, is also part of a 7 day period called higan on the Japanese calendar. In Buddhist tradition, it’s a time to honor one’s ancestors by visiting and [...]
In Japan, the third Monday of September is annually celebrated as Keiro-no-hi, or Respect for the Aged Day. Traditional Japanese culture accords elders with great respect, and this national holiday was designated to honor and celebrate all elderly citizens and their achievements. In 1988, I was visiting the renowned Senso-ji (Asakusa Kannon temple) in Tokyo when I [...]
Those of you who follow professional sumo in Japan know that the venerable sport is experiencing some troubling times. Japan’s national sport has been plagued by a number of controversies over the past year involving rikishi (professional sumo wrestlers) and, most recently, a widespread betting scandal. Amidst the turmoil, the tournaments proceed on schedule. A few [...]
To those in the US and Canada, Labor Day is a familiar holiday. Japan doesn’t celebrate this day in September, but a national holiday similar in concept occurs in late November. In Japan, cleaning is a type of labor that’s ingrained as an essential cultural trait. At least it seems that way. During the early [...]
It’s pretty safe to say that without telephoto lenses, my photography of architectural details would be extra-challenging. With the zoom lens, I can pull in sections of tall buildings that would be hard to see otherwise. Using the zoom ring, I can also fine tune the composition while standing in the same spot. Some photographers [...]
Last week the Asahi Shimbun reported on the findings that the oldest wooden structure in the world may be a Zen Buddhist hall in Nara, Japan. Until now, that title has been held by the well-known Horyu-ji (temple), also in Nara. The famed Todai-ji is in Nara as well, and is known not only as [...]
One of the joys of photography can be encountering the unexpected, (though for some photographers, “joy” may not be exactly the right word ). But being observant can lead to photographs other than what you intended to shoot. Such was the case when I was recently photographing music group performances at Tom McCall Waterfront Park in Portland, Oregon. The [...]
For more than 15 years, I’ve been fortunate to photograph countless performances of the renowned drumming group Portland Taiko. The ancient art of Japanese drums and drumming, called taiko, has a history in Japan going back hundreds of years. In the US, taiko has become immensely popular, with taiko groups and players found in many [...]
Every year in early August, a number of summer festivals occur in Tohoku, the northern region of Honshu island in Japan. Among the numerous festivals, or matsuri, is the famous Kanto Matsuri in Akita city, in the Prefecture of the same name. Back in 1999, I traveled with my wife to the Tohoku region to [...]
Most of the time, you can count on buildings to just sit there, looking solid or stately or however it is that buildings like to appear. Movement, though, is not something you expect buildings to do, except maybe during earthquake season. And if you like your pictures sharp and in focus, it’s best not to [...]
July in the Pacific Northwest means that the familiar purple blossoms of lavender make their appearance at various farms around the region. On a summer trip in 1999, I had the chance to take pictures on a lavender farm in Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan. Some of the landscape of Hokkaido looks a lot [...]
Today’s camera technology makes it really easy to get decent pictures. But good photographs still depend on the person behind the camera—most of the time, anyway. Sometimes, all you need is the right subject. Like flowers, for instance. You have to try really hard to get a bad photograph of them. Their inherent beauty almost always [...]
About two months ago, the Japanese press reported that the 55-year old Grand Prince Hotel Akasaka in Tokyo will be closing its doors next March. Known also as Akasaka Prince Hotel, the 40-story building was designed by renowned architect Kenzo Tange, and is a well-known landmark in the Akasaka district. In November of 2000, I [...]
A couple weeks ago, I attended a wonderful performance of Japanese dance in the auditorium at Two World Trade Center in Portland, Oregon. The event, sponsored by Japan-America Society of Oregon, featured performances by members of the Japan dance groups Sobukai and Nippon Minya Kenkyu-kai of Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture. The performance showcased a range [...]
Earlier this year, the press in Japan reported that the renowned Himeji Castle in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, would soon undergo renovation work and not be accessible again to the public until March 2015. The famous castle dates from the 17th century, and is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A few years ago, I was [...]
In the US, Memorial Day occurs annually on May 30, in honor of all US persons who died while serving in the military. With the American flag being the most widely displayed symbol to commemorate the day, countless flag pictures of various types likely will appear in many blogs today—including this one. A few years [...]
On one of those rare sunny afternoons in Seattle, Washington, I was heading towards the famed Pike Place Market, when I looked up to see clouds reflected in the windows of the Fourth and Blanchard building, Moving to a corner of the building, I crouched down as low as I could, ignoring the creaking sounds [...]
