January 2, 2012-Visit to Imperial Palace
Long Queues
An Imperial Palace Police Watching Visitors
Thousands of Visitors at Imperial Palace
Their Imperial Majesties the Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko
Their Imperial Majesties the Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko
Their Imperial Highnesses the Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako
Their Imperial Majesties the Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko
Their Imperial Highnesses the Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako
Their Imperial Highnesses Prince and Princes Akishinomiya
Well-wishers are chanting "Tennou Heika Banzai 天皇陛下万歳=Long Live the Emperor" to His Majesty the Empeor Akihito
Leaving the Imperial Palace
Leaving the Imperial Palace toward Tokyo station
January 2, 2012-Visit to Yasukuni Shrine
Happy New Year-Yasukuni Shrine
Yasukuni Shrine Inundated with Thousands of Visitors
September 1, 2011- Odawara Castle
Odawara was a stronghold of the Doi clan during the Kamakura period, and a fortified residence was built by their collateral branch, the Kobayakawa clan stood on the approximate site of the present castle. After the Uesugi Zenshu Revolt of 1416, Odawara came under the control of the Omori clan of Suruga, who were in turn defeated by Ise Moritoki of Izu, founder of the Late Hōjō clan in 1495. Five generations of the Late Hōjō clan improved and expanded on the fortifications of Odawara Castle as the center of their domains, which encompassed most of the Kantō region.
During the Muromachi period, Odawara Castle had very strong defenses, as it was situated on a hill, surrounded by moats with water on the low side, and dry ditches on the hill side, with banks, walls and cliffs located all around the castle, enabling the defenders to repel attacks by the great warriors Uesugi Kenshin in 1561 and Takeda Shingen in 1569. However, during the Battle of Odawara in 1590, Toyotomi Hideyoshi forced the surrender of the Late Hōjō clan through a combination of a three-month siege and bluff. After ordering most of the fortifications destroyed, he awarded the holdings of the Late Hōjō to Tokugawa Ieyasu.After Ieyasu completed Edo Castle, he turned site of Odawara Castle over to one of his senior retainer, Ōkubo Tadayo, who reconstructed the castle in its present form on a considerably reduced scale, with the entire castle fitting inside what was the third bailey of the original Late Hōjō castle. Aside from an interruption from 1619–1685, during which time the Inaba clan extensively renovated the castle, the Ōkubo clan ruled over Odawara Domain from Odawara Castle until the Meiji Restoration.
Tokugawa Iemitsu, the 3rd Tokugawa Shōgun, visited Odawara Castle in 1634. The donjon built by the Inaba was destroyed in an earthquake in 1703, but was rebuilt by 1706. The new Meiji government ordered the destruction of all former feudal fortifications, and in compliance with this directive, all structures of Odawara Castle were pulled down from 1870–1872, with the stone base of the former donjon becoming the foundation for a Shinto shrine, the Ōkubo Jinja, dedicated to the spirits of the generations of Ōkubo daimyō. In 1909, the Odawara Imperial Villa was constructed within the site of the former inner and second bailies. The Imperial Villa was destroyed by the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake. Repair work was made to the stone walls from 1930–1931, but with very poor workmanship. In 1935, two of the remaining yagura (which had been destroyed in the 1923 earthquake) were restored, but on a half-scale. In 1938, the castle site was proclaimed a national historic monument, with the area under historic preservation restrictions expanded in 1959, and again in 1976 based on further archaeological investigations.
In 1950, repairs were made to the stone base of the former donjon, which had been in ruins since the Great Kanto Earthquake, and the area was made into the Odawara Castle Park, which includes an art museum, local history museum, city library, amusement park and zoo. The three-tiered, five-storied donjon, the top floor of which is an observatory was rebuilt in 1960 out of reinforced concrete to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the proclamation of Odawara as a city. However, the reconstructed donjon is not historically accurate, as the observation deck was added at the insistence of the Odawara City tourism authorities. Plans have been discussed since the late 1960s on a more accurate restoration of the central castle grounds to its late Edo period format. These plans resulted in the reconstruction of the Tokiwagi Gate (常磐木門) in 1971, the Akagane Gate (銅門) in 1997, and the Umade Gate (馬出門) in 2009.
The reconstructed Odawara Castle was listed as one of the 100 Fine Castles of Japan (as chosen by the Japan Castle Foundation) in 2006. (Wikipedia)
February 12, 2011-Snowing in Yokohama
Snow-Covered Cherry Trees
They look like "Cherry blossoms in full bloom" in spring
Photo taken by Ted Yokohama
Snow-Capped Komainu
(Imaginary Creature that looks like Lion or Dog guarding the entrance of Japanese Shinto Shrine)
Photo taken by Ted Yokohama
February 5, 2011-A Frequent Visitor to My Garden
Photo taken by Ted Yokohama
January 19, 2011-Sashimi
Photo taken by Ted Yokohama
January 14, 2011-
I happened to meet Mr. Toshikazu Sugaya who was found to be completely innocent after spending 17 years in jail for kidnapping and murdering a four-year-old girl and his lawyer on June 6, 2009 soon after I arrived at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura. I walked and walked through the wooded hills all the way to Kamakura from where I live. It took about 2 hours and a half.
I noticed him right away because he was on TV almost everyday in the year I took these photos. He was greeted by everyone visiting Shrine. He looked so happy to be meeting just anybody on the streets and to be feeling free after 17 years of life in jail for the crimes he did not commit at all.
I shook hands with him. I really felt sorry for him and at the same time some tears run down my cheeks. I sincerely wish him happiness for the rest of his life.
Read related story http://bit.ly/hxnYIz
Photos taken by Ted Yokohama on June 6, 2009
January 8, 2011-
This photo shows the flagship Mikasa of the Imperial Japanese fleet under the command of Admiral Heihachiro Togo during the Sea of Japan battle against Admiral Rozhestvensky's Russian Baltic Fleet at Tsushima Straits on May 27, 1905.
Photo taken by Ted Yokohama
This photo shows statue of Admiral Heihachiro Togo
Photo taken by Ted Yokohama
This photo shows stern of Battleship Mikasa and Rising Sun Flag (Naval Ensign)
Photo taken by Ted Yokohama
This photo shows Port (left side) of Battleship Mikasa
Photo taken by Ted Yokohama
This photo shows the Japanese Imperial Crest (Kiku no Go-Mon) worn by all ships in commission
Photo taken by Ted Yokohama
This photo shows 2-12 inch, 40 cal. guns seen from the flying bridge where Admiral Heihachiro Togo was standing at during the Sea of Japan battle against Admiral Rozhestvensky's Russian Baltic Fleet at Tsushima Straits on May 27, 1905.
Photo taken by Ted Yokohama
This photo shows 2-12 inch, 40 cal. guns
Photo taken by Ted Yokohama
This photo shows the flying bridge where Admiral Heihachiro Togo was standing at during the Sea of Japan battle against Admiral Rozhestvensky's Russian Baltic Fleet at Tsushima Straits on May 27, 1905.
Photo taken by Ted Yokohama
This photo shows part of the flying bridge at which Admiral Heihachiro Togo was standing during the Sea of Japan battle against Admiral Rozhestvensky's Russian Baltic Fleet at Tsushima Straits on May 27, 1905.
Photo taken by Ted Yokohama
Admiral Heihachiro Togo hoisted Z flag aboard flagship Mikasa immediately before engaging Admiral Rozhestvensky's Russian Baltic Fleet at Tsushima Straits on May 27, 1905.
Photo taken by Ted Yokohama
Naval Mine, an explosive device placed in water to destroy ships, used by the Imperial Japanese Navy during Japan-Russia War
Photo taken by Ted Yokohama
Stern of Battleship Mikasa and monument of Warship March designated as ceremonial music in 1900
Photo taken by Ted Yokohama
Shells used in those days
Photo taken by Ted Yokohama
January 3, 2011-Beautiful Japanese Paper Lanterns at Yasukuni Shrine
Photo taken by Ted Yokohama
January 2, 2011-Thousands of well-wishers are entering the Imperial Palace today to see The Emperor of Japan
Photo taken by Ted Yokohama
Photo taken by Ted Yokohama
Waiting for The Emperor of Japan to appear and to offer New Year's greetings to well-wishers at Palace
January 1, 2011-Happy New Year
Photo taken by Ted Yokohama
Oshougatsu (New Year's) Decoration
Photo taken by Ted Yokohama
Otoso Set for drinking Sake mixed with medicinal herbs for happiness and long life
Photos taken by Ted Yokohama
Now, ready to eat and drink for Happiness and Long Life!
December 31, 2010-Mt. Fuji when the last sunset of 2010 is seen in Yokohama.
Photo taken by Ted Yokohama at 16:37 JST.
December 31, 2010-The Last Sunset of 2010 in Yokohama
This photo taken by Ted Yokohama from a hill near where I live in Yokohama at 16:37 JST.
December 31, 2010-The Last Sunset of 2010 in Los Angels?
Click to enlarge image
This photo (taken by Ted Yokohama) shows a beautiful sunset in Los Angels.
December 28, 2010-Jorō Spider
Click to enlarge image
This photo (taken by Ted Yokohama) shows Nephila clavata, also known as the Jorō Spider (ジョロウグモ（女郎蜘蛛、上臈蜘蛛） Jorō-gumo).
Jorō-gumo is a legendary creature in Japanese folklore. Jorōgumo is a spider which can change its appearance into that of a beautiful woman. She attracts men, and once a man has been trapped as a result of her seduction, he will be tied up and eaten by her. This spider can be found throughout Japan except Hokkaido, in Korea, Taiwan and China. Due to the large size as well as the bright unique colors of the species of the female Nephila, the spider is well-favoured in Japan. From WIKIIPEDIA
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please feel free to make your comments on the issues