Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 38 mm — 1/250 sec, f/7.1, ISO 640 — map & image data — nearby photos
Old Truck Ready for the New Year
Kakeroma-Jima Island, Amami Island Group, Japan
For reasons I've yet to fully investigate, it's common around this time of year to see vehicles in Japan adorned with some kind of display incorporating twine, an evergreen twig, white strips of paper, and sometimes a tangerine. Just based on what else I know of Japan, I'm sure it's related to Shinto, because the white strips of paper are usually the zigzag streamers used in Shinto rituals. It's probably mostly just a non-religious custom now, having evolved from a religious purification ritual of some sort. That's my guess.
Anyway, the picture above is of an old truck on Kakeroma-jima Island that I took on our trip to Amami a year ago. The plastic bag used to protect the sprigs/tangerine completely destroys the visual aesthetic, so I'm guessing this one is actually more ritual and less custom.
A few more sort of random shots from my collection...
taken with an old cellphone — map & image data — nearby photos
Storefront
selling Lord knows what
Kyoto, Japan
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 55 mm — 1/60 sec, f/4, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Geisha Stickers
on a post in a restaurant in Kibune
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 145 mm — 1/800 sec, f/7.1, ISO 320 — map & image data — nearby photos
Boys Will Be Boys
the world around
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 23 mm — 1/125 sec, f/7.1, ISO 250 — map & image data — nearby photos
Very Thin Building
Kyoto, Japan
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 55 mm — 1/180 sec, f/3.5, ISO 320 — map & image data — nearby photos
BOSS is the Boss of Them All
Vending machine on Amami Island, Japan
“BOSS” is a brand of Suntory ice coffee (for which Tommy Lee Jones is a pitchman). The yellow sticker in the corner of the vending machine says “Value! 100 Yen. Only in Kyushu” (Kyushu being the region of Japan that Amami is part of).
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200 mm — 1/250 sec, f/5.6, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Enjoying the Great Outdoors
sketching on the grounds of the Old Imperial Palace
Kyoto, Japan
Nothing too exciting today, sorry. I've been tired and uninspired lately.
I actually really like these random slices of life posts.
The New Year’s car decoration is like putting a wreath on your car in America– there is no special meaning but it is arguably linked to Shinto practice.
Hi,
I have a Girl Scout troop that will be representing Amami Island in our World Friendship Fair in Kansas. I am at a loss trying to find out about these islands. I have seen your wonderful pictures and was wondering if you can maybe help us on our adventure. We need to represent our country with information for the public to view. We need a back drop, table covering, maybe a food we can sale (hopefully make at home), and we’ve decided on making a passport stamp with Amami Island in the native written language. Do you have any suggestions for us? Also do you have any idea where we can get a map of the island? (A big map) If you can help that would be great.
Thanks in advance,
Catherine
(I replied to Catherine via email. —Jeffrey)