More glimpses of unfamiliar Japan

This month the Kabocha are getting ripe. Introduced by the Portugese in the 16th Century from Cambodia, its is the commonest member of the s...

This is a fairly standard Oni mask in the Iwami Kagura tradition, though I did lengthen the beard a little and black out the teeth a la hany...

This mainhole cover from the village of Kumi on the north coast of Dogo, the largest of the Oki Islands, features fish and seals. I must adm...

The Shimane Arts Center, known as "Grand Toit" was designed by Naito Hiroshi and opened in 2005. Located in Masuda, at the western...

Yesterday I posted about the civic matsuri's that are going on right now throughout Japan. The other type of matsuri going on now are t...

Summer matsuri season is in full swing right now. There are 2 types of matsuri held in the summer, civic, and Shinto. The civic matsuris'...

Most of the Japanese population is concentrated on the coastal strip that goes from Tokyo, through Nagoya, on to Osaka, Hiroshima, and kitak...

These three young Junior High Schoolgirls are Miko, or shrine maidens, and are taking part in the procession of the mikoshi at a matsuri. Be...

When I go walking and exploring I usually follow a route that takes me from shrine to shrine. Sometimes, in remote areas, the maps are outda...

The Shimane Arts Center in Masuda combines galleries and performance spaces. Opened in 2005, and designed by Naito Hiroshi, the rectilinear ...