Enoshima Coastline

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Sailboat in the Pacific Ocean near the shore of Shichiri-hama Coast in Kamakura

ISO 100 for 1/250 sec. @ f/11

#ocean #PacificOcean #sailboat #sailing #ShichirihamaCoast #yachting #SagamiBay

Water from mouth of dragon flowing into the purification fountain (temizuya 手水舎) where shrine visitors rinse their hands and mouth in symbolic purification. In ancient lore, dragons were a symbol of water since they were the diety that created rain.

ISO 100 @ f/4.5 for 1/25 sec.

#temizuya #手水舎 #Shinto #shrine #dragon #fountain

Early blooming cherry trees near the the top of Enoshima Island.

ISO 100 @ f/5.6 for 1/180 sec.

#cherryblossom #桜 #hanami #お花見 #EnoshimaIsland #江ノ島

A warbling white-eye (Japanese white-eye 目白) foraging for nectar from the blossoms. A significant pollinator for many plants. Can hear their lovely song during morning dog walks. 

ISO 100 @ f/5.6 for 1/320 sec.

#cherryblossom #桜 #目白 #メジロ #pollinator #EnoshimaIsland #江ノ島 #JapaneseWhiteEye #warbler

Enoshima Sea Candle

The Shonan Observatory Lighthouse (also known as the Enoshima Sea Candle) located at the original the site of a botanical garden established by a British Merchant in 1880.

ISO 100 @ f/11 for 1/125 sec.

#lighthouse #observatory #Enoshima #island #EnoshimaSeaCandle #江ノ島 #江の島シーキャンドル #展望灯台

A black kite (tobi トビ or Toni トンビ) flying over Enoshima Island. This kind of raptor can be found near rivers and coastal areas. Black kites gliding over Japanese beaches are infamous for swoopig down and stealing food from beachgoers as they are trying to eat. 

ISO 100 @ f/9 for 1/320 sec.

#JapaneseRaptor #kite #BlackKite #tobi #tonbi #トビ #トンビ #鳶 #鴟 #鵄

Abandoned concrete building that would have had a beautiful view of the Shonan coastline and Mt. Fuji on a clear day.

ISO 100 @ f/5.6 for 1/200 sec.

#building #coastalbuilding #abandonedbuilding #Enoshima #江ノ島 #廃屋 #廃家 #廃墟

Man fishing off the coastline of Enoshima Island at dusk facing west with the Izu Peninsula in the distance on the opposite side of Sagami Bay.

ISO 100 @ f/11 for 1/200 sec.

#fishing #fisherman #coastline #sunset #釣り #江ノ島 #日没 #夕焼け #湘南

Huge stone Japanese-style lantern (dai-dōrō 台灯籠 lit. platform lamp) overlooking Sagami Bay at sunset from halfway down the eastern cliffs of Enoshima Island.

ISO 100 @ f/11 for 1/200 sec.

#JapaneseLantern #StoneLantern #toro #灯籠 #daidoro #台灯籠 #江ノ島 #日没 #夕焼け #湘南

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Pix4Japan by R.D.S. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Toyoyama Endai-in Temple

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One of two wooden Kongorikishi guardian statues holding a “diamond club” at the entrance of a Buhhdist temple in the neighborhood. (Toyoyama Endai-in Temple in Naka Ward, Yokohama, Japan.)

Sony HDR-GW77V 1/125 sec. @ f/1.8

#ToyoyamaendaiinTemple #東耀山円大院 #BuhhdistTemple #御寺 #Yokohama #Kongorikishi #金剛力士

Copper roof of Toyoyama Endai-in Temple and wooden eaves of temple entrance gate.

Sony HDR-GW77V 1/1000 sec. @ f/4

#Toyoyamaendai-nTemple #東耀山円大院 #BuhhdistTemple #寺 #Yokohama

A metal rokuyou (rokuyou kanamono 六葉金物) used to conceal a nail head (kugikakushi 釘隠) with a protruding cask cap (taru-no-kuchi 樽の口) 

Sony HDR-GW77V 1/125 sec. @ f/1.8

#ToyoyamaendaiinTemple #東耀山円大院 #BuhhdistTemple #寺 #Yokohama

Decorative metal work fitting (hassou kanamono 八双金物) bent around the hinged edge of a door leaf.

Sony HDR-GW77V 1/125 sec. @ f/1.8

#ToyoyamaendaiinTemple #東耀山円大院 #BuhhdistTemple #寺 #Yokohama

Ornamental metal fittings called “kazarikanagu” (飾金具) wrapped around the base of structural pillar, presumably to hinder the wood from rotting.

Sony HDR-GW77V 1/250 sec. @ f/2.2

#ornamentalfitting #東耀山円大院 #飾金具 #寺 #JapaneseArchitecture

Decorative roof tile at ends of the main ridge of the roofing usually found on a Buddhist temple. Originally used prevent leaks and weathering. From the late 12th century, become more decorative and “onigawara” (鬼瓦) motifs become more common to ward off evil and fire.

Sony HDR-GW77V 1/350 sec. @ f/3.7

#onigawara #鬼瓦 #Oniita #鬼板 #JapaneseBuddhistTemple #JapaneseArchitecture

Dragon to protect the temple carved out of the wooden support beam holding up the temple gate roof.

Sony HDR-GW77V 1/60 sec. @ f/2.65

#dragon #竜 #JapaneseBuddhistTemple #JapaneseArchitecture #東耀山円大院

Large bronze tank to catch rainwater in the shape of a lotus bud and seedling.

Sony HDR-GW77V 1/125 sec. @ f/2.4

#lotus #蓮のつぼみ #JapaneseBuddhistTemple #JapaneseArchitecture #東耀山円大院

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Pix4Japan by R.D.S. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Heiraku Neighborhood

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Kotohiraowashi Shrine (金刀比羅大鷲神社) a Shinto shrine that is popular among small business owners and entrepreneurs praying for success in the new year and offering gratitude for the previous year’s successes.

ISO - for 1/60 sec. @ f/1.8

#shrine #Shinto #ShintoShrine #金刀比羅大鷲神社 #阪東橋 #よこはまばし #横浜

Paper lanterns at the Kotohiraowashi Shrine (金刀比羅大鷲神社) near Bandobashi in Yokohama.

ISO - for 1/60 sec. @ f/2.8

#lantern #paperlantern #ShintoShrine #金刀比羅大鷲神社 #阪東橋 #よこはまばし #横浜

Japanese komainu (狛犬) or so-called lion-dog for guarding Shinto shrines.

ISO - for 1/30 sec. @ f/2.8

#komainu #liondog #ShintoShrine #KotohiraowashiShrine #金刀比羅大鷲神社 #狛犬 #横浜 #神社

Rusty old gate at Negishi Kyodo Cemetery, Minami Ward, Yokohama
ISO - for 1/1000 sec. @ f/4
#cemetery #gate #rustygate #cemeterygate #墓地 #横浜 #根岸 #根岸共同某地

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Pix4Japan by R.D.S. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Chinese Cemetery

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Painted doors facing courtyard of building in Chinese cemetery in Naka Ward, Yokohama.

南京墓地(地蔵王廟)

ISO - for 1/180 sec. @ f/2

#Chinesecemetery #courtyard #painteddoors #Chinesedoors #NanjingGraveyard #ZāngwángTemple #横浜

Decorated eaves seen inside courtyard of building in Chinese cemetery in Naka Ward, Yokohama.

南京墓地(地蔵王廟)

ISO - for 1/60 sec. @ f/2.4

#ChineseOrnamentation #courtyard #windowshutter #Chineselamp #NanjingGraveyard #ZāngwángTemple #横浜

Red brick building in Chinese cemetery in Naka Ward, Yokohama.
南京墓地(地蔵王廟)
ISO - for 1/500 sec. @ f/3.4
#redbrick #NanjingGraveyard #ZāngwángTemple #赤レンガ #横浜 #南京墓地 #地蔵王廟

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Pix4Japan by R.D.S. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

New Year's Day 2017

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Yokohama Bay Bridge at sunrise.

ISO - for 1/250 sec. @ f/2.8

#YokohamaBayBridge #横浜ベイブリッジ #OsanbashiPier #大さん橋国際客船ターミナル #sunrise #日の出 #横浜 #cablestayedbridge

Port of Yokohama sunrise
ISO - for 1/1000 sec. @ f/4.5
#PortofYokohama #YokohamaPort #OsanbashiPier #sunrise #横浜湾 #大さん橋国際客船ターミナル #日の出 #横浜

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Pix4Japan by R.D.S. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Japanese Court

Back in July of this year, two tenants in my building got into a fight over some issue. The fight escalated to the point where one guy attacked the other guy with an aluminum baseball bat.

I was witness to the initial confrontation and witness to the act of violence where the victim was actually struck with the baseball bat.

I was the one who called the police and assisted with identifying the two parties involved. I spent hours and hours at the police station going over my statement time after time after time.

Then, when it came to preparing for the trial, I spent hours again going over the details with the prosecutor. The court finally held the trial today. I answered all the questions the prosecutor had repeatedly asked me before. Then, under cross-examination by the defendant's lawyer, I realized that he was trying to discredit my statements. The wonderful thing about the truth is that you only have to tell the truth and not worry about covering your tracks.

The trial finished just minutes ago and I feel exhausted. The defendant looked totally different -- he was clean, well groomed, dressed in clean clothes, and seemed despondent or repentant. Before the trial, I was afraid that he might actually try to attack me in court out of spite or anger. He was a short-tempered, volatile person when he lived in my building.

Today, I actually felt kind of sorry for him. My company got him evicted from our building; he seems to have no family whatsoever; has been living off of welfare (which is barely enough to survive); and will most likely be jailed for the next couple of years. When he gets out of jail, I wonder if he will try to start a new life, become homeless, or seek me out for revenge.

I am sure there are many cases where foreigners find themselves in court. I could barely follow along with all of the questions from the judge and the defendant's lawyer since I am unfamiliar with courtroom terminology. Such a situation must be extremely stressful for foreigners who cannot speak or understand any Japanese to begin with.

I had an interpreter, but I could see a couple of cases where her translation lost the nuance of what I was trying to say. So, for the rest of the trial, I just tried to get by with my own Japanese and used the interpreter only occasionally for clarification, especially for questions from the defendant's lawyer.

The defendent's lawyer gave me the impression of a cunning rat! He seemed to be trying to make me commit an act of purjury. He kind of pissed me off! I know he was just doing his job, but I could see where someone could get tripped up by the way he asked questions using double negatives, and such.

I now realize why so many people would rather not involve the police in a civil issue that might go to trial. It would be much easier to ignore the situation and move to another apartment where you hope your fellow tenants are more respectful of fellow tenants and take an investment in maintaining harmony in the building and neighborhood.

If anything, I wish I could send the defendant a bill for the hardship he caused me and get reimbursed for my moving expenses, lost time at work, and expense of going to the station, prosecutor's office, and the trial.

Funny how life is so unpredictable. Who would have guessed a skinny little farmboy from "Smalltown" U.S.A. would have a year where he buries his wife of 20 years, lives alone with a border collie, and goes to a Japanese courtroom to help convict a violent neighbor.

I hope and pray 2017 will be a better year. What else could possibly go wrong?


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Cloudy Flora

田んぼから歩いて行ける。

Walking away from rice paddies.
(Odawara, Japan. Sept. 11, 2014)

[f/5.6 at ISO 3200 for 1/500 sec.]

#Pentax #K50 #小田原 #田んぼ

赤いベールに包まれた。Wrapped in a red veil.
(Odawara, Japan. Sept. 11, 2014)

[f/7.1 at ISO 3200 for 1/50 sec.]

#Pentax #K50 #小田原 #ネット