Photo: Buddhapada in Kamakura (Japan 2009)

Buddhapada in Kamakura

Where: Kamakura, Japan
When: Afternoon, July 16th 2009

I found this decorated stone in Kamakura's Hase-Kannon Temple. It is a stylized depiction of the footprints of Buddha. In early Buddhist art, it was considered taboo to directly depict a being as sacred as the Buddha, so they alluded to his presence by showing his footprints, called Buddhapada in Sanskrit.

These Buddhapada are covered with a variety of symbols. Look at the most prominent one, which looks like a sun or wheel. If it looks familiar to you, you may be thinking of the Flag of India, which has a similar design in the center. The wheel shown on both these footprints and the Indian flag is a dharmacakra, or a "wheel of law", and symbolizes the Buddha's path to enlightenment.

Japan's many sacred places are filled with items and objects that are often laden with symbolism. Knowing even a little bit about the many cultural traditions that make up Japan can add a lot to a trip through the country.

Photo: A Sushi Feast (Japan 2009)

A Sushi Feast

Where: Tokyo, Japan
When: Evening, July 16th 2009

After a day trip, I returned to Tokyo to find an unbelievably delicious feast waiting at Mayumi's house. The sushi was much better than any I'd ever eaten before. There was sweet eel and egg sushi, chewy squid, flavorful salmon roe, and chewy, translucent squid alongside more familiar varieties. Every bite was amazing.

Photo: Wooden Reindeer (Scandinavia 2008)

Wooden Reindeer

Where: Skansen, Stockholm, Sweden
When: Afternoon, June 27th 2008

I loved this little wooden reindeer in Skansen, an outdoor museum in the middle of Stockholm. I noticed the way the face is suggested with broad, simple cuts from the wood, as well as the cute pose and the real antlers.

Photos: Finnish Seagulls (Scandinavia 2008)

Finnish Seagulls I

Where: The Archipelago Sea, Finland
When: Evening, July 8th 2008

This photo is something of a joke. Since I grew up so far from the sea, I have a certain liking for seagulls. I took dozens of pictures of them in Finland, to Liisa's amusement and disbelief. Yes, I know they're flying rats and all of that, but I love the grey and the white and the way they cry. For me, the sound is shorthand for, "You're far from home."



Finnish Seagulls II

Where: The Archipelago Sea, Finland
When: Evening, July 8th 2008

This is one vicious little seagull. I don't even know how his wings are moving like that.

Photo: Sunlight Through Tori (Japan 2009)

Sunlight Through Tori
Where: Fushimi Inari-Taisha, Kyoto, Japan
When: Afternoon, July 24th, 2009

We visited Fushimi Inari Shrine's long tunnels of famous tori as the afternoon sun hung low in the sky and shone across the covered paths. I love this picture because the black and sunlit vermilion remind me of the wings of monarch butterflies.

Photo: Rainy Day in Kamakura (Japan 2009)

Rainy Day in Kamakura
Where: Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, Kamakura, Japan
When: Morning, July 16th, 2009

It was raining - it was perfect.

Photo: The Smallest Corner (Japan 2009)

,The Smallest Corner
Where: Kamakura, Japan
When: Evening, July 16th, 2009

A small city, a small street, a small corner beside a shop. What do you find there? In the United States I would expect maybe beer bottles and cigarette butts, maybe a trash can, maybe, at best, a potted plant or a bit of a store window.

With about four square feet of ground space, there is a lovely cabinet displaying some art, some ubiquitous and frighteningly realistic Japanese plastic food models for the restaurant behind, and the smallest bit of landscaping I think I've ever seen. The ground cuts away swiftly into a tiny pond, and a tiny tree rises above.

I almost don't know which impresses me more: the scale, or the flawless blending of practical, artistic, and introduced natural beauty.

Photo: MakuDonarudo's (Japan 2009)

Makudonarudo's

Where: Kamakura, Japan
When: Morning, July 16th 2009

This was the first Japanese McDonald's (Pronounced Makudonarudo's) that I saw on the trip, and one of my first glimpses of culture blending. I liked the juxtaposition between the woman standing there in the more traditional print clothing, looking slightly bewildered, and the advertisements surrounding her. Take a closer look at these advertisements and you'll realize they're a bit confusing for an English speaker. The poster directly behind the woman identifies three different visible products as Chicken, Juicy Chicken, and Juicy Chicken. I'd like to note that all three names are quite different in Japanese. I also enjoy the wrapper around the 'Chicken' that just says 'Chicken'. Good stuff.

Photo: The Night Before (Japan 2009)

The Night Before

Where: Kansas City, Missouri
When: Midnight, July 14th 2009

I took this picture right before I fell asleep on the night before our trip to Japan. What you see in this pile is our grand experiment in packing light - everything, down to the shoes - that Laura and I will bring to Japan with us.

You might guess that we came home with a bit more!

A Single Photo From Japan

Laura, Myself, and our lovely hosts, Mitsuki and Mayumi. Thanks guys, we're having a wonderful time in your beautiful country! :)