A nice and random collection of images here today. Only one is seasonal, the rest could be at any time of year, except for that somewhat chilly winter tone that gives you a hint of when they were taken. You can see them all above, but let's give a rundown.
The first is the entrance gate to Okazaki castle. Like most castles and castle related buildings in Japan, it's not original, but the construction or it was made as closely to the original as possible so there is that. It's a pretty impressive building! Right in front of it is a New Year's decoration, still out a few days after the event. Actually, two New Year's decorations. I applied some texture to this photo because... well, why not, eh?
The next is an unusual sight in Japan. Well, English in general isn't a common sight, but profanity even less so. This was some kind of factory.
The next two are shots from the castle looking downtown. Interesting collection of buildings for you guys to look at
Moving on, we have a can! Yes, unfortunately, despite what you might imagine about Japan litter is an issue here, as it is everywhere around the world I suppose. These coffee cans are an especially common object of litter. They are steel cans making them quite sturdy. People stuff all kind of things in them and then throw them somewhere, usually under a bridge or in the river or somewhere else that is somewhat hidden from view. Lots of smokers use them as ashtrays too.
Next one is the same scene you saw before, just slightly different. Then we have an open field by the castle. Many city events will be setup in this field, so it's a useful area. When my kids were younger we came here quite often to see live-action Anpanman shows. Band competitions will also be held here.
Next we zoom in on someone's laundry. It may be winter and quite chilly outside, but people still hang their laundry out. Laundry dryers are not very common in Japan. You can find them, but they are pretty expensive. So almost everyone hangs their laundry out, even in winter. Houses are built with this in mind so there is usually at least one area with enough overhang to shield hung-out laundry from the elements.
Next we have a close-up of a pattern from a house wall. Many houses that have yards are surrounded by a wall, and it usually has some interesting patterns like this. This pattern kind of resembles the traditional pattern called seigaiha (青海波), but I'm far from knowledgable about design so that may be way off.
Finally we have a typical view from a modernish neighborhood. Some houses there for you to see, complete with laundry hanging areas and wall, and a park with the netting for trash day to prevent ravens from having a feast.
And... that's all. I don't think I missed anything. Enjoy the tour! And let me know if you have any questions about anything you see in any of the photos.
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David LaSpina is an American photographer and translator lost in Japan, trying to capture the beauty of this country one photo at a time and searching for the perfect haiku. |
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