Japan

Japan Images: Chinese Odle Estaurant
October 27th, 2011

Towards the end of our recent trip to Tokyo, I realised I hadn’t done much night shooting around the streets of Naka-Meguro, where we stayed for 10 days. As I was wandering the streets towards the Expressway to get a few timelapses when I saw this old Chinese restaurant. It had a great feel to it – hope you like it too ^^

Japan Images: Takeshita Maid
September 1st, 2011

There’s always plenty going on along the famous Takeshita-dori in Harajuku, Tokyo. An endless sea of people flood the narrow streets with everyone from lost 70-year-old American tourists to Nigerian salesmen through to the most eclectically dressed Japanese twenty-somethings. Everyone is there for the same reason – it is a truly unique experience. Make sure you drop by on your next trip to Tokyo ^^

Japan Images: Pachinko Parlour
August 19th, 2011

Pachinko (パチンコ) parlours are everywhere in Tokyo and I do mean everywhere. Even in the small back streets with just a konbini (コンビニ) and a chemist you hear the dull roar of a hundred Pachinko machines doing their thing. Then the automatic sliding doors on the front open up and for a few seconds it sounds like Metallica concert until they close again.

Japan Images: Harajuku Lollipop Girl
July 27th, 2011

I love the contrast in this shot with the bright blue in the background and her pink and ginger hair and costume. The little figurine hanging from her nail helps too – what a great look.

Today is Culture Day in Japan
November 3rd, 2009

Today is Culture Day (文化の日 Bunka no hi) in Japan.

Culture Day was first held in 1948, to commemorate the announcement of the post-war Japanese constitution on November 3, 1946.

Japan ravaged by Typhoon Melor
October 9th, 2009

Typhoon Melor (台風18号) has left a trail of destruction across Japan, killing two people and injuring about 30 people. Melor moved through Tokyo yesterday, leaving more than two million commuters stranded for several hours as train services were suspended following torrential rains and up to 200 kph winds.

Tokyo loses Olympics bid to Rio
October 5th, 2009

I missed the news over the weekend but it seems Tokyo has lost out to Brazil’s Rio De Janeiro in it’s bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympics.

It’s a shame as Tokyo, who last hosted the Olympics in 1964, would have done a great job (okay I’m biased) but after hearing that Rio is first South American city to ever hold an Olympics it is probably a fair call. The other cities in the finals race were Chicago and Madrid.

Honda introduces Segway-like U3-X
September 27th, 2009

In the leadup to the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show, Honda has introduced the U3-X, it’s own sit-down take on Dean Kamen’s famous two-wheeled Segway.

The one-wheeled U3-X, dubbed by Honda as the “world’s smallest existing transport device”, can move in any direction by the rider simply shifting their weight in the direction they wish to go.