Muza-chan's Gate to Japan

Harumi Passenger Ship Terminal Night View

Muza-chan — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:01:46 +0000

Tokyo is one of largest ports in Pacific and it is well known for its multiple cargo and container terminals, but the Port of Tokyo also includes passenger terminals. The newest Tokyo passenger ship terminal, Harumi, opened in 1991, features an observatory and restaurants, from where the passengers can admire Tokyo, Rainbow Bridge and even the Tokyo Tower. But not only the passengers can admire the scenery, from the promenade near the Harumi terminal the view is also spectacular and this is actually one of the best places to admire Rainbow Bridge at night time.

The design of the terminal’s building is gorgeous and original and by night it looks breathtaking…

Click on photo for higher resolution:

Harumi Passenger Ship Terminal, Tokyo

Info:

Nikon D90
Lens: VR 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6G
Focal Length: 29mm
Aperture: F/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/1s
ISO Sensitivity: ISO 200

Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Japanese Customs and Traditions - Chinowa, the ring of purification

A Japanese Song per Day: Globe - Perfume of love

Muza-chan — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 06:30:24 +0000

Globe - Perfume of love:

Japanese Customs and Traditions - Chinowa, the ring of purification

Muza-chan — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:01:00 +0000

If you visited Shinto shrines during summer or winter, you probably noticed these large straw circles, about 2 meters diameter, placed like in this photo from the Ohtori Shrine, Asakusa, Tokyo. This is an old Shinto tradition, with roots in a very old Japanese legend:

Somin Shōrai was a good man who once hosted for a night, in his house, the Kami (Shinto god) of the sea and storms, Susanoo-no-Mikoto. As a reward, Kami taught him how to protect his family against an epidemic that was affecting the village: by wearing around the waist a ring made of reeds.

This ritual takes place twice a year, on the last days of the sixth month of the lunar calendar (which is in June or July) and of the twelfth month (in December). Large rings made of reeds called chinowa, decorated with shide, are installed in front of the shrines, and the passing through chinowa signifies purification and protection against misfortune.

Click on photo for higher resolution:

Ohtori Shrine, Asakusa, Tokyo

Info:

Nikon D90
Lens: 8-16mm F/4.5-5.6
Focal Length: 8mm
Aperture: F/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/400s
ISO Sensitivity: ISO 200

Photo participating to Travel Photo Thursday

Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Osaka Castle glamorous gold decorations and a travel tip

A Japanese Song per Day: Versailles - The Love From A Dead Orchestra

Muza-chan — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 06:30:22 +0000

Versailles - The Love From A Dead Orchestra:

Osaka Castle glamorous gold decorations and a travel tip

Muza-chan — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:01:54 +0000

The Osaka Castle is one of the most glamorous Japanese castles, built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi as a symbol of its power and richness. It is known that Hideyoshi liked gold so much that he was using it to ornate furniture, weapons and armors… but this was not unusual for the powerful Japanese lords.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi went further and with the help of the tea-ceremony master Rikyu Sen, he built an entire golden tea room: the walls, the pillars and the ceiling were covered in gold and all the tools and vessels were made from gold. An original idea… I wonder if the tea tasted better…

But Hideyoshi went even further with its passion for gold: he covered with gold leaf the tower’s exterior architectural ornamentation, including the shachi (roof ornaments in the form of a mythical ocean fish, creature believed to protect against fire) and the 8 giant fusetora (tigers)… The Osaka Castle was completely rebuilt in 1931, with all the details and ornaments - but, of course, they are not made from gold anymore…

Travel tip: At the 2nd floor of the Osaka Castle’s main tower you can admire a full replica of a golden shachi and fusetora (1.5 meters tall, 3.3 meters wide). Also, the golden tea room was rebuilt and can be admired at the 3rd floor.

Click on photo for higher resolution:

Osaka Castle, Main Tower, Osaka

Info:

Nikon D90
Lens: VR 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6G
Focal Length: 40mm
Aperture: F/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/500s
ISO Sensitivity: ISO 200

Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Traditional Japanese fire lookout tower

A Japanese Song per Day: Granrodeo - Infinite Love

Muza-chan — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 06:30:04 +0000

Granrodeo - Infinite Love:

Traditional Japanese fire lookout tower

Muza-chan — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:01:56 +0000

Throughout the history of Japan, the fires were among the main threats: not only because the traditional Japanese houses were built from flammable materials (wood, bamboo, straw and paper), but since the houses were built close to each other, the fire was quickly spreading to adjacent buildings. That’s why, during the Edo period, each neighborhood had its own fire lookout tower (Hinomi-yagura), which was usually the tallest construction in the area. From above, the firemen were able to see a large area, sounding the alarm with a bell…

Today, these towers can be seen only in museums, and I was happy to find this one on the street from Boso no Mura Open Air Museum. It is the simplest version, actually just a 7 meters tall ladder, without any platform, just with the alarm bell… I wonder how the fireman was standing up there…

Click on photo for higher resolution:

Edo fire lookout tower, Boso no Mura Open Air Museum, Chiba

Info:

Nikon D90
Lens: 8-16mm F/4.5-5.6
Focal Length: 16mm
Aperture: F/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/120s
ISO Sensitivity: ISO 200

Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Japanese superlatives, Totekiko, the smallest Japanese Zen rock garden

A Japanese Song per Day: Seira - Love letter no kawari ni kono uta wo

Muza-chan — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:30:49 +0000

Seira - Love letter no kawari ni kono uta wo:

Japanese superlatives, Totekiko, the smallest Japanese Zen rock garden

Muza-chan — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 01:01:47 +0000

Generally, the Japanese Zen gardens are small, covering just dozens of square meters. The reason is that the viewer must be able to see the entire garden, to understand the symbolic meanings. Some of them are very small, just a few square meters… but the smallest Japanese Zen rock garden is Totekiko, one of the gardens from the Ryōgen-in Temple, Kyoto.

Totekiko was designed by Nabeshima Gakusho in 1958 and it represents a Zen kōan: The harder a stone is thrown in, the bigger the ripples. The garden was built in the small space between two of the temple’s buildings and, depending on the weather outside, in some moments of the day a ray of light comes in and it makes it breathtaking…

Click on photo for higher resolution:

Totekiko, the smallest Japanese Zen rock garden, Ryogen-in Temple, Kyoto

Info:

Nikon D300
Lens: 8-16mm F/4.5-5.6
Focal Length: 8mm
Aperture: F/7.1
Shutter Speed: 1/50s
ISO Sensitivity: ISO 320

Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Cute Jizo Gashapon Machine

A Japanese Song per Day: The Scanty - I Love You

Muza-chan — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 06:30:24 +0000

The Scanty - I ♥ U:

Cute Jizo Gashapon Machine

Muza-chan — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 01:01:47 +0000

Gashapon (or gachapon) is a brand, owned by the famous company Bandai, referring to capsule toys, but also to the capsule vending machines. The name comes from two onomatopoeia, gasha and pon, sounds made by the capsule while going through the vending machine and dropping into the cup.

Of course, there’s a large variety of gashapon products in Japan and what differentiates them from the toy vending machines available in other countries is that the products are generally of good (or even very good) quality. Of course, the prices are also higher, varying from 100 to 500 yen - that’s about 6.5 US dollars now.

For a collector like me, gashapon is always a big temptation, because, “you never know what you’re gonna get!”. I tried a lot of items, from lapel pins (these are top-quality in Japan) to phone straps or figurines. But sometimes you can find unique gashapon machines, like these found in Higashiyama, Kyoto, with a collection of statues representing cute chibi Jizo statues… and next to it, obviously, one with lucky cats…

Click on photo for higher resolution:

Gashapon Machine, Higashiyama, Kyoto

Info:

Nikon D90
Lens: VR 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6G
Focal Length: 22mm
Aperture: F/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/125s
ISO Sensitivity: ISO 200

Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Japanese spiritual architecture, Prince Shotoku Hall

A Japanese Song per Day: Taja - Love Today

Muza-chan — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 06:30:01 +0000

Taja - Love Today:

	`Nikon D90`
	`Lens: VR 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6G`
	`Focal Length: 29mm`
	`Aperture: F/5.6`
	`Shutter Speed: 1/1s`
	`ISO Sensitivity: ISO 200`

	`Nikon D90`
	`Lens: 8-16mm F/4.5-5.6`
	`Focal Length: 8mm`
	`Aperture: F/5.6`
	`Shutter Speed: 1/400s`
	`ISO Sensitivity: ISO 200`

	`Nikon D90`
	`Lens: VR 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6G`
	`Focal Length: 40mm`
	`Aperture: F/5.6`
	`Shutter Speed: 1/500s`
	`ISO Sensitivity: ISO 200`

	`Nikon D90`
	`Lens: 8-16mm F/4.5-5.6`
	`Focal Length: 16mm`
	`Aperture: F/5.6`
	`Shutter Speed: 1/120s`
	`ISO Sensitivity: ISO 200`

	`Nikon D300`
	`Lens: 8-16mm F/4.5-5.6`
	`Focal Length: 8mm`
	`Aperture: F/7.1`
	`Shutter Speed: 1/50s`
	`ISO Sensitivity: ISO 320`

	`Nikon D90`
	`Lens: VR 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6G`
	`Focal Length: 22mm`
	`Aperture: F/5.6`
	`Shutter Speed: 1/125s`
	`ISO Sensitivity: ISO 200`