Golden Gingko Tree in Yoyogi Koen

Last week at the entrance to Yoyogi Koen, I spotted the first gingko turning yellow. Autumn colors on a gingko in Mid-October are not the norm here especially with the warm and pleasant autumn weather in Tokyo the last week or two. This specimen looked relatively young, so perhaps it was looking to get an early start on its elders?

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f4.0, ISO 100, 1/50 sec.

Midtown Maple Leaf Illumination

The Christmas Illuminations are up at Tokyo Midtown. Not sure if I fully understand the theme this year, but according to the Midtown event website the theme is "Midtown Cruise," allowing you to journey away from Earth and out into Space!

Although the contrast and sharpness are good considering the challenging conditions, the colors tend to blend a little and the maple leaf takes a back seat to the bokeh from the Christmas lights. The performance by the 24 mm f2.0 AI Nikkor is amazing considering this glass is about 35-years old.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 24mm f/2.0 Nikkor AI @ f2.8, ISO 1600,1/80 sec.

Prince Arisugawa Taruhito at Arisugawa Miya Kinen Kōen

Not much to say about this photo, but this is the statue of Prince Arisugawa Taruhito in the plaza at Arisugawa Miya Kinen Kōen. I took a photo of him early in spring surrounded by bare trees, soon this scene will look very similar.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f.0, ISO 400, 1/250 sec.

Thanksgiving Walk and Autumn Maple Leaves

Although I live in Japan, my office follows the US holiday calendar. "American" Thanksgiving Day on the fourth Thursday of November is off, vice "Japanese" Labor Thanksgiving Day which was on Monday. My wife and kids get neither holiday and have to go to work and school, so I get a free autumn day to enjoy.

Although it has been wet the last few days, Thanksgiving morning was beautiful. After dropping of the family at school visited Arisugawa Park to enjoy the fall colors. There are many ginkgo and maple trees showing their beautiful autumn golden yellows and iridescent reds.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f4.0, ISO 800, 1/250 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f4.0, ISO 100, 1/80 sec.

Red and Green Points on One Japanese Maple Leaf

While enjoying a fall afternoon with my daughter in Arisugawa Park, I happened across a Japanese Maples withe leaves that were just starting to turn from green to shades of orange and red. However, there were several leaves on this tree that appeared to be changing colors one point at a time. Very curious and very unusual. I had never seen a leaf do this before.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f5.6, ISO 100, 1/40 sec.

It was strange, since I had never seen one like this before; however, there were several more on this tree. Here's another one...

Nikon D600 with Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f4.0, ISO 100, 1/80 sec.

First Post

This is to be a blog full of my photos of "Living in Japan", especially Tokyo.  However, I will not fill it with family photos or snaps.  This is to be personal yet impersonal project.  It will be filled with the everyday sights of Japan.  Things that I find, beautiful, strange, sublime, funny and unusual.

The title alludes to my conflicted feelings that I have for Tokyo.  Sometimes one truly feels lost in this big, frenetic city.  Other times there is a sense of discovery... finding things unexpected, forgotten or lost. 

Hopefully, I will be able to explore these feelings and share them with you.  If you find my photos interesting, please post comments.

Anyway, enough of my ramblings.

Strange sculpture near the French
Ambassador's residence in Minami Azabu.

Restaurant near Sangen-Jaya Station (三軒茶屋駅)

Sculpture on pedestal at the entrance to Meiji Jingu Gaien (Meiji Shrine Outer Garden).
Is it a unicorn? Kirin?

Ginkgo Avenue (aka Icho Namiki ) near the Meiji Jingu Gaien.
The ginkgo leaves are almost at peak fall color.

Japanese Maple Tree in "Step" Park in Moto Azabu