Kine Imai
1924 - 2008

As we've been expecting any moment since her stroke at the beginning of the year, Fumie's grandmother (Fumie's mother's mother) passed away Friday afternoon. She was born Kine Ueda on Amami Ooshima (an island in southern Japan) in 1924. She was 84.

The last time I talked with her was while looking at maps and satellite photos of Amami, prior to my first trip there during the new-year's holiday, as she talked about the place she left as a teenager and longed to return to. She last visited about 10 years ago, but a mild stroke soon after left further trips unlikely.

Meeting Her Great Grandson for the First Time
when Anthony was seven months old

Children have a way of tying together the future and the past, even more so, of course, when the children in question are your children's children's children.

Four Generations

The next picture was taken Jan 1, 2006, just after three-year-old Anthony surprised her with a big hug and a kiss (something that Japanese kids rarely do now, and certainly would have never done in past generations). She was a bit flustered the first time, but soon became accustomed to it.

Her husband and siblings all passed before her. She is survived by Fumie's folks, Fumie, Fumie's brother Shogo, me, and Anthony.

The funeral is tomorrow.

Child's Mini Toy Pinball Game

A friend had this little toy pinball game, seen here on my knee (via my old crappy cellphone camera). I was struck by the emotional depth of the directions/commentary on the back, seen here...

Reverse

Just in case you can't read that fuzzy picture, here's the full text:

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 44 mm — ¹/250 sec, f/6.3, ISO 250 — map & image data — nearby photos
Sturdy
Main door to the grounds of Nijo Castle, Kyoto Japan

Driving by Nijo Castle today, I remembered that I hadn't really posted much yet from my previous visit there (which was my first visit, which is embarrassing to admit because I've lived in or near Kyoto for 12 years).

So, here are some pictures of the main gate, a huge, heavy, thick wooden door augmented with bands of steel.

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 17 mm — ¹/160 sec, f/4, ISO 500 — map & image data — nearby photos
View from the Inside
In the glow of the setting sun

The wide-angle lens I used to achieve the picture above camouflages the sheer size of the door. Note the small opening at left, and the size of someone sitting just outside the door.

This shot of the other side of the doors gives a better sense of the size, although it lacks the glow of the ones above because it's completely shielded from the setting sun.

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 23 mm — ¹/350 sec, f/4, ISO 500 — map & image data — nearby photos
Photo Op

Earlier in my visit, when the doors were open and the more highly decorated outside face was actually facing in toward the sun, I took this shot, which might make a nice desktop background, so I've provided those versions as well....

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 17 mm — ¹/500 sec, f/3.2, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Impenetrable

Desktop-Background Versions
Standard: 1024×768  ·  1440×1080  ·  1600×1200      Widescreen:  1280×800  ·  1680×1050  ·  1920×1200  ·  2560×1600

The doors are so heavy that over the years it appears that they've started to sag under their own weight, and now little wedges have been added under the doors to make them appear – at least at first glance – less saggy.

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 45 mm — ¹/180 sec, f/4, ISO 500 — map & image data — nearby photos

And finally, just to add some life to an almost-colorless post, here's a shot from the interior...

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 30 mm — ¹/60 sec, f/3.2, ISO 500 — map & image data — nearby photos
Parasol and Moat

Yesterday afternoon, prior to the Pleasant Day Along the Kamo River, I had to kill an hour with Anthony near his school. We decided to go with a classmate, Mizuki-chan, across the street to the grounds of Kyoto's old imperial palace...

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 180 mm — ¹/750 sec, f/4, ISO 500 — map & image data — nearby photos
Heading To The Park

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 70 mm — ¹/640 sec, f/5.6, ISO 500 — map & image data — nearby photos
After I Said “Okay, You Have an Hour to Play”

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200 mm — ¹/500 sec, f/5.6, ISO 320 — map & image data — nearby photos
Must.    Inspect.    Rocks.

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200 mm — ¹/200 sec, f/6.3, ISO 320 — map & image data — nearby photos
Just Being Kids

While they played, I and the camera noticed some things...

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 110 mm — ¹/320 sec, f/5, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Baby Pinecone?

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200 mm — ¹/640 sec, f/7.1, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Field of Purple

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 135 mm — ¹/1000 sec, f/7.1, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Agriculturally Minded
“Planting” flowers brought from a field

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 125 mm — ¹/640 sec, f/7.1, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Final Touches

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 98 mm — ¹/320 sec, f/3.2, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Blossoms Gone, Leaves Green

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — ¹/1000 sec, f/1.4, ISO 1000 — map & image data — nearby photos
( In Seven Months, They'll Look Like This )
— from the same outing as this post and this post —

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 98 mm — ¹/2500 sec, f/3.2, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Rock-Throwing Competition
With her excellent form, Mizuki-chan was consistently better

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 95 mm — ¹/4000 sec, f/3.2, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Even Losing is Fun
when it involves throwing stuff

At one point they played a game similar to what American kids might do with a turkey wishbone. Pine needles tend to fall in pairs, so they found old dried ones on the ground, hooked the two together, then pulled. The holder of the pair that doesn't break wins.

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200 mm — ¹/640 sec, f/5.6, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Pine-Needle Wishbone Game

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 70 mm — ¹/250 sec, f/5.6, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos

Once the hour was up, they went to their gymnastics, and I took the camera over to the Kamo river, as seen in yesterday's post

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 135 mm — ¹/800 sec, f/5.6, ISO 320 — map & image data — nearby photos
Sketching
( I love how the sun reflecting off his pad makes a wonderful fill light for his face )

Today was a sunny, gorgeous day in Kyoto, with temperatures in the low to mid 70s. Totally pleasant. Conveniently, I had an hour to kill while Anthony was at “Jumping” (gymnastics), so I wandered around with my camera near the Kamo river, where the Takano river joins it at Kawabata and Imadegawa Streets.

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200 mm — ¹/1500 sec, f/4, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Pickup Soccer
using a golden ball with – I kid you not – a mirrored surface

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200 mm — ¹/2500 sec, f/4.5, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Looking for Lunch
I think it's a kite

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 170 mm — ¹/2500 sec, f/4.5, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
A Whole Lotta' Yellow

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 80 mm — ¹/640 sec, f/5, ISO 320 — map & image data — nearby photos
Budding Hedge
Of, I think, azaleas, that will soon turn into a solid wall of color like this

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 70 mm — ¹/350 sec, f/5, ISO 320 — map & image data — nearby photos
Checking Out the Hedge

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200 mm — ¹/800 sec, f/5.6, ISO 320 — map & image data — nearby photos
Light Reading

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 90 mm — ¹/500 sec, f/7.1, ISO 320 — map & image data — nearby photos
Navigating the Kamo-River Rapids
The water is normally about an inch lower, leaving stepping stones that are dry and easy to navigate.
Trying to cross today, on the other hand, results in wet shoes.

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200 mm — ¹/500 sec, f/7.1, ISO 320 — map & image data — nearby photos
Feeding the Birds

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200 mm — ¹/500 sec, f/7.1, ISO 320 — map & image data — nearby photos
Kyoto's Kamo River
Looking south from Imadegawa St.

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 190 mm — ¹/350 sec, f/7.1, ISO 320 — map & image data — nearby photos
Young and Old
all need to relax

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 180 mm — ¹/1250 sec, f/7.1, ISO 320 — map & image data — nearby photos
Stepping Stones across the Takano River
Here, too, the water level is an inch higher than “dry”