Back to the New Year!

Earlier this year, there were a lack of post to this blog. Only two posts were made from the start of January til the end of February. For those few that wonder, it's not that I didn't take any photos... I just didn't make the time to post them. Anyway, I'll stop with the excuses and post some photos from earlier in the year.

The first flashback is to the mid-January and a New Year celebrations at my childrens' school. Although it's an international elementary school in central Tokyo with English as the main language, they have a strong cultural program that includes incorporating many Japanese customs. Just after the New Year, they hold a Omochitsuki (or Mochi-Pounding Ceremony). The children helped plant and cultivated the rice that is used in this ceremony, and participated with parents, teachers and other school supporters throughout the day.

One of the visual highlights of the day is the lion dance. Although Chinese in origin, the Japanese have incorporated as part of their New Years celebration as well.

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

The embedded EXIF data for this photo is wrong, when I mounted my manual focus lens I forgot to switch it from my 24mm f2.0 to the 85mm f1.4. Opps.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f5.6, ISO 100, 1/200 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S a> @ f2.8, ISO 100, 1/1250 sec.

Spring Maple in Moto-Azabu

This morning, the family was my children's elementary school annual family flea market. I have been borrowing my co-worker's Nikon D800 and used it along with my Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF to take photos of my son's taiko performance. None of the taiko photos struck me as exceptional, but this shot of a beautiful Japanese maple tree at the entrance to the school caught my fancy.

Nikon D800 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f1.4, ISO 500, 1/8 sec.

Outside the Sauna

On Halloween I was walking through Moto-Azabu to catch up with my children who started trick-or-treating without me, and I stopped to take this photo of Roppongi Hills outside the Chinese Embassy. The neon lights of the sauna across the street seemed to go compliment Roppongi Hills and the other street lights.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 24mm f/2.0 Nikkor AI @ f4, ISO 1600, 1/20 sec.

Kadomatsu and other decorations...

I'm trying to catch up on some random end of year photos.  Things I should have posted and didn't get around too.  I'll start with the end of the year and see how much I can catch up on...

This set of  photographs is of New Year's decorations in Japan.  These are not by any means comprehensive, but just a few of the ones that I saw out and about town.

The first and last photos in this set I am sort of confused by.  It seems that the first is some sort of shimekazari, but I am just not sure.  It has the paper lightning, and the wreath like rope but, doesn't have the other decorations I have seen on other shimekazari.  Hmmm...

The next two photos are of a pair kadomatsu that I spotted outside a large house in the Motoazaubu area of Tokyo. I thought the pair looked like a grand decoration for a private residence.

The last photo is some sort of odd mini kodamatsu. It had many elements of a "traditional" kadomatsu, bamboo, pine branches and a plum sprig.  However, it was missing the staw.  I don't know enough about Japanese culture to be sure what it means, but it was pretty. I'll have to do more research or perhaps someone more enlightened can share their knowledge.

Maple Leaves and my 20-year old Nikon lenses

I'm still taking photos of maple leaves. I find the light shining through the leaves incredibly beautiful.  This shot was taken with one of the older lenses in my kit.

I remember purchasing the Nikon 80-200mm f2.8 AF (non-D) that took this image in the late 80's from Precision Photo in Boca Raton.  I think I paid about $800 used for it and have gotten over 20-years of service out of it.  The aperture is starting to stick, so it can't stop down past about f5.6 without overexposing.  Oh well, maybe it's about time to consider retiring this one and getting the new two ring Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF?

This one was taken about a month ago when the new leaves were just opening. I used my even older 85mm f1.4 AI-S manual focus to take this image.  I remember buying this lens with a good friend at a used camera equipment show at the North Miami Armory.  I traded a Nikon 2002 SLR and $200 to get this beautiful piece of glass.

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