Good Town Doughnuts

Not sure if I'll ever find a better doughnut in Tokyo. Good Town Doughnuts in Harajuku near Cat Street make some of the best I've ever had, and there coffee is pretty good too. On the left is their delicious Van Houten Chocolate and on the right is their amazing Maple Bacon!

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f1.4, ISO 500, 1/8 sec.

Golden Hour at La Forêt

The famous La Forêt department store anchors one corner of the intersection of Meiji Dori and Omotesando in Harajuku. This department store is located at the center of Tokyo's cutting edge of fashion district. I was lucky enough to pass by and capture its marque and favorable light on a late afternoon in January.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f2.8, ISO 100, 1/100 sec.

Kimono & Kilt! or Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Going way back (Ack!! 15-years) into my photo archives today... This is a quick snap after the March 2002, St. Patrick's Day Parade in Harajuku, Tokyo. They had great smiles and wore kimono and kilt well!

Shot with my ancient long deceased Canon Powershot S100.

Harajuku Omotesando Genki Matsuri Super Yosakoi 2016

Last August while walking through Yoyogi Koen and Harajuku, I inadvertently wandered into the Harajuku Omotesando Genki Matsuri Super Yosakoi. Although I was unable to linger for the dancing I was able to snap a few photos of costumed performers.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 24mm f/2.0 Nikkor AI @ f8, ISO 200,1/200 sec.

Evening Stroll down Takeshita Dori

Last week my wife and I took a quick stroll from our house to Takeshita Dori in Harajuku. Even on a Sunday evening the street is full of life... At least until about 8 pm when most of the shops start closing.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f4.0, ISO 400, 1/50 sec.

Takeshita Dori Cotton Candy or Sweet Messy Fun!

Today in Harajuku on Takeshita Dori, I passed a group of women with rainbow colored cotton candy (or fairy floss) from the Totti Candy Factory. Although I'm not a fan of this sugary confection, I definitely can see the attraction. Looks like sweet messy fun!

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f4.0, ISO 100, 1/1000 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f4.0, ISO 100, 1/4000 sec.

I need a new summer hat

In mid-July, the abundance of summer straw hats seems to have peaked in Harajuku. They are on most everyone's heads and their large numbers correspond to with large number of cicada (or "semi") throughout Japan. Too top it off, I'm so sad that I've lost my wide brimmed hat while traveling in Shikoku recently. Perhaps I should get a straw hat?

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f4.0, ISO 100, 1/125 sec.

Common Mormon

With a little luck, quick reflexes and quick focus I was ample to capture this common mormon butterfly as "she" was fluttering though one of Tokyo's backstreets near Togo Shrine and Harajukugaien Junior High School in Harajuku. Out of 30-shots this was the best one. I was shooting with my classic 85-mm AI-S f1.4 @ f2.0. The depth of field was probably less than an inch considering how close I was to the subject. So perhaps I wasn't as quick focusing as I was lucky.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f2.0, ISO 100, 1/100 sec.

281_Anti nuke spotted in Harajuku

During the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Harajuku this year, I spotted another new piece of protest street art from 281_Anti nuke along Omotesando in Harajuku. In light of the recent news of the drone landing on the Prime Minister's office, this protest art is even more important. Hopefully, it does more to raise awareness, spark dialog and constructive discussion of a important issues.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF @ 200 mm, f4.0, ISO 100, 1/320 sec.

Invader in Harajuku

Just down the street from my favorite gyoza place in Harajuku, Gyoza Lou's, near Starbucks is another piece from the Invader.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f4.0, ISO 400, 1/160 sec.

Yoyogi Park - Rockabillies or Greasers ...

It's 2015 and I'm still not sure if there is any difference in Rockabillies and Greasers. Near the entrance to Yoyogi Park just a short walk from Harajuku Station and Meiji Jingu, several groups of men and women gather on weekends (perhaps only on Sundays?) to dress up, dance and celebrate rock'n'roll. These groups have been gathering here since the mid-1980's, probably longer. I first saw them back in 1998 or perhaps 1999. Do a search on YouTube and you will find some analog video or film transfers of these guys and gals rocking and have a great time.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f2.8, ISO 100, 1/250 sec.

Many of them dance so hard, that they have worn through their shoes!

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f2.8, ISO 100, 1/200 sec.

Here's a tight crop of the shot above showing the steel shank under the arch and tape holding the sole to the leather upper.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f2.8, ISO 100, 1/200 sec.

Good Shot

I spotted this young lady with her prize from Meiji Jingu walking towards Harajuku and Omotesando. New Year arrows or Hamaya (破魔矢) are sold at most shrines in Japan. The Hamaya are displayed in peoples homes to ward off evil spirits. This is the first time that I have seen the target as a good luck charm. If I figure out what it is called and more information, I will post it here.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f2.8, ISO 100, 1/1600 sec.

Sometimes I wonder what is appropriate?

Am I a prude or perhaps a little too conservative? But when I was walking though one of the back streets in Harajuku along Omotesando, I came across this window with children's and toddler's t-shirts. On first inspection they seemed attractive featuring bright colors, interesting graphics and good design. However, I am not sure if it is appropriate to have a hemp or cannabis leaf on a children's shirt.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 24mm f/2.0 Nikkor AI @ f4.0, ISO 800, 1/13 sec.

Hot Toys or "Get Away From Her, You Bitch!"

There's a cool shop in Aoyama called Toy Sapiens that has all sorts of highly detailed models from sci-fi, action and super-hero movies. One of the cool models on prominent display is of Ellen Ripley from Aliens! You may have spotted her before from my resent post on the Hara Railway Museum. This photo was taken about a year ago in May 2013. If you are not familiar with Ripley or the power loader she operates in Aliens you can check out the clip posted on YouTube.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S IF SWM @ 23 mm, f5.6, ISO 100, 1/160 sec.

Thinking of Sakura

The family was at Omotesando last weekend for the Saint Patrick's Day Parade. I took lots of photos (over 500), but this post isn't about this year's photos. Once again, I was looking at photos taken last year and found this cherry blossom photo that taken near our apartment on the way to the parade last year. Seems that the blossoms from this year will be prime much closer to the usual time in Tokyo (the end of the first week in April).

Anyway, here's a beautiful early cherry sprig from last year. I am sure that this year's blossoms will be beautiful!

Nikon D700 with Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF @ 200 mm, f5.6, ISO 200, 1/1000 sec.

I just do eyes

The character Hannibal Chew in Blade Runner has a great line... "I just do eyes, ju-, ju-, just eyes... just genetic design, just eyes."

It seemed that this couple likes eyes too! I spotted them and their eyes in Harajuku on my first day out with my shiny new D600at the end of May.

Nikon D600with Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S IF SWM @ 16 mm, f5.6, ISO 100, 1/200 sec.

The glowing eyes on this Hello Kitty are very creepy!

Nikon D600with Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S IF SWM @ 16 mm, f5.6, ISO 100, 1/125 sec.

Nikon D600with Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S IF SWM @ 16 mm, f5.6, ISO 100, 1/30 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.