Living long term in Japan is not without its frustrations, and a phenomenally infuriating number of them there can be at times, but stumbling upon a sight such as this a few streets from home can,
with its happiness,
and history,
quickly turn a grimace,
into a grin.
And one which may even stay put,
long after the procession has lumbered past.
dirtydog says
Very cool images.
Maggie says
The words that accompany these images pretty much sum up my experiences in Japan. Lots of daily frustrations, and a few moments of absolute wonder. Thanks for reminding me. The occasional festival procession (impromtu, or so it seemed to me) was fun to catch!
Lee says
Thanks to you both. And glad it brought back some memories Maggie. Being Japan, I guess such events are what could be called meticulously planned spontaneity…
adam says
I reiterate Maggie’s comment, although I think I had more wonders than frustrations.
The last shot is absolute sex. perfect lighting/aura/abstract quality I lack the voabulary for. Lee that is probably one of my favorites you have ever done. Tip-top!
Lee says
Wow, thanks for the kind words Adam. Very much appreciated.
MrSatyre says
So nice to see b&w images of what just about anyone else would have shot in color (or at least presented in color). Thanks for the retro! I don’t think there’s anything in any of those pics which would indicate that they weren’t taken forty years ago.
Lee says
You are welcome MrSatyre! I did actually shoot them in colour, but changing them to black & white just seemed the right choice, especially as the mass of colours on display tended to focus attention away from the people participating, and also detract from the timeless feel most of these festivals have.
Glad you agree.
Misawamom says
I live in Misawa and have had the pleasure two years in a row of participating in the local Mikoshi shrine parade in August as part of the Japanese American Friendship Association here. It really is as fun as it looks. There are beer trucks that follow each float and one of the rules is “you can carry your beer with you, but it’s a foul if you spill it!” If you ever get the chance, join in, you’ll never regret it! They rank as the most enjoyable experiences my family has had in the country!