Ferry Boat (or Water Bus) masquerading as a Space Cruiser

At Hinode Pier near Diamon and Hamamatsuchou Station, you can take a ride to on a very cool looking ferry Boat (or water bus) masquerading as a Space Cruiser. The Hotaluna was designed by manga and anime artist Leiji Matsumoto. He's famous for the the anime serial Star Blazers (know as Space Battleship Yamato in Japan).

Nikon D700 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f8, ISO 200, 1/800 sec.

It's tough to be green

At Showa Kinen Park my kids spotted this cute amphibian enjoying a lazy afternoon on a rock. However, after a few minutes of unwanted attention this Japanese tree frog hopped into the bushes to get away.

Nikon D700 with Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f5.6, ISO 200, 1/600 sec.

Beckoning Cat

I was in Asakusa Saturday and we noticed this maneki-neko (or beckoning cat) sculpture on the way from the Sumida River Water Bus dock.

Nikon D700 with Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S IF SWM @ 22 mm, f5.6, ISO 200, 1/1250 sec.

Fly Away

The "Design Ah!" exhibition is on at Tokyo Midtown's 21_21 Design Sight until 2 June 2013. I'm not sure if this paper mache sculpture of a flying boy was part of the exhibit, but it was in front of Midtown several weeks ago. My children have reported that it has since departed or flown away. Just wish that I took several more photos of it.

Nikon D700 with Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f2.8, ISO 200, 1/2500 sec.

Shinjuku Park Tower from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

Back in January, I posted several photos of Star Wars themed t-shirts in a souvenir shop on the observation deck of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building and a shot of the LOVE sculpture located nearby at ground level. Well I went back to the photos taken that day and thought that I should share at least one photo taken from the observation deck.

Nikon D700 with Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S IF SWM @ 16 mm, f8, ISO 200, 1/400 sec.

The tall building with the three spires on the left is the Shinjuku Park Tower. The New York Grill, a great restaurant and bar, is on the 52nd floor. Needless to say it has a fabulous view. This building is also the home of the Park Hyatt Tokyo and was featured (along with the restaurant) in "Lost in Translation". The tall building just to the right is the Tokyo Opera City Tower.

Miura

I've been going over some of the photos that I have taken through my years in Japan and wanted to start posting some of the interesting ones that I may have overlooked. Perhaps I will start posting old and new photos alternately.

In April 2010, the family was heading out for an afternoon at the iconic Tokyo Tower. Along the way, I spotted this rare Lamborghini Miura S parked out in the open along the street. I may have seen this same car several other times in Tokyo and dismissed it as common, but I took a photo of it that day. When I returned home and did some research, it seems we stumbled upon one very rare (from 1966 - 1972 only 764 Miura's were produced and of these 140 were 'S' versions) and expensive vintage car (recently expected to auction for over $700k USD).

Nikon D700 with Nikon 20mm f/2.8D AF @ f8, ISO 200,1/200 sec.

Balance

Good balance is important in life, and this gentleman spotted in Shibuya back in January has good balance.　

Nikon D700 with Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S IF SWM @ 16 mm, f5.6, ISO 200, 1/40 sec.

Catching up on New Year's Hatsumode

I've been reviewing photos that taken earlier this year and should have posted, and came across a mid-January but first shrine visit of the year (or hatsumode).  Anyway, although it was the second weekend of January, the Meji Shrine was still in New Year's form.

At the main entrance from Harajuku Station, there were large bins set up to collect all of the omamori (silk sachets good luck charms) and hamaya (wooden arrows).

Nikon D700 with Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S IF SWM @ 17 mm, f8, ISO 200, 1/640 sec.

I'm not completely sure of the reason (perhaps it's Shinto versus Buddhist tradition), but daruma, dolls and teddy bears are not welcome and cannot be disposed of here.

Nikon D700 with Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S IF SWM @ 35 mm, f8, ISO 200, 1/320 sec.

As we passed through the second large torii gate, the atmosphere starts to get more festive. Around New Year's there are plenty of traditional decorations including lanterns, sake casks, and banners with the names of the sponsors.

Nikon D700 with Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S IF SWM @ 16 mm, f5, ISO 200, 1/125 sec.

Just outside the main shrine area you can see main temple gate with a large ema (or wooden plaque) proclaiming the year of the snake.

Nikon D700 with Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S IF SWM @ 30 mm, f8, ISO 200, 1/400 sec.

Nikon D700 with Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF @ 80 mm, f8.0, ISO 200, 1/200 sec.

Nikon D700 with Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF @ 200 mm, f8.0, ISO 200, 1/500 sec.

This is were you get the your hamaya (wooden arrows) for the New Year.

Nikon D700 with Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF @ 120 mm, f8.0, ISO 200, 1/20 sec.

Here are the sake casks that I was talking about earlier.

Nikon D700 with Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF @ 145 mm, f8.0, ISO 800, 1/100 sec.

The back-lit large torii gate and speckled lighting through trees at Meiji Jingu was beautiful.

Nikon D700 with Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF @ 100 mm, f5.6, ISO 640, 1/200 sec.

0Km Point

Back in February, the family went skiing and took the Shinkansen to Nagano and back. When we returned I noticed this brass marker indicating that the platform was the 0 Km point.

Nikon D700 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f1.4, ISO 400, 1/640 sec.

Sorry, the framing is a little off. My son was making attempted to disrupt me while I was taking photos on the platform. I was lucky to even get it into focus (especially since the lens was wide open and the 85 mm f1.4 is notorious for extremely shallow depth of field)!

Return to Shiga Kogen

Back in February, the family returned to Shiga Koen and New Yokote. The little girl that chased me around in 2012 was still there. She took time off chasing me and practically posed for this photo.

This photo was shot handheld with a Nikon 85mm f1.4 AI-s wide open. The lens is about 30-years old and continues to amaze me. It was bought used in 1988 at a the annual used photography equipment show at the North Miami Armory.

Nikon D700 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-s @ f1.4, ISO 500, 1/8 sec.

Spring afternoon at Ueno

The family took an impromptu visit to the Ueno Zoo on Sunday. Except for the high wind gusts, it was a picture perfect Sunday afternoon. Blue skies and mild spring temperatures in the high teens °C (or high 60's °F).

It's been an unusual year. The sakura were in full bloom around the 23rd of March. I have been living in the Tokyo and Kanagawa area for over ten years on and off since 1998, and I remember Hanami season starting so early.

There are a few cherry blossoms left at Ueno. The double blossoms on several trees (Prunus serrulata or 'Ito-kukuri') were in full bloom.

Nikon D700 with Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF @ 170 mm, f4.5, ISO 200, 1/800 sec.

Nikon D700 with Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF @ 135 mm, f4.5, ISO 200, 1/800 sec.

Nikon D700 with Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f4.5, ISO 200, 1/640 sec.

The blossoms on the cherry tree at the entrance to Ueno Park however was done and looked very green.

Nikon D700 with Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f8.0, ISO 200, 1/60 sec.