Anticipation (Kyoto Tanabata 七夕 Star Festival 2011)
October 2nd, 2011
Anticiptation (Kyoto Tanabata 七夕 Star Festival 2011)
These girls were waiting to go up on stage to perform their dance. They were pretty young, maybe high school age. How awesome would it have been to have gone to high school in a town like this!
I first saw this girl as she was peeking out of the nearby tent in preparation. She caught glimpse of me and we exchanged smiles – just innocent smiles really, acknowledging each other’s presence at such a fun event. Before their performance, she managed to peek over at me a few more times. She was still a child really, gazing with youthful wonder at the world around her. She had been pressing her hand against her heart while looking over to the stream to the right. Something must have caught her eye. Then she saw me snapping more pictures – just as I was in the middle of switching from stills to video mode. I barely got this shot – it’s a frame grab from when I was just switching back on video mode.
During her performance, she looked over at me a few more times, but it was time for me to move on. Just two admiring strangers passing on an eventful night. But paths which most likely will never cross again.
Milky Way LEDs – Tanabata (七夕) star festival (Kyoto 2011)
September 10th, 2011
The Tanabata festival is imported from China. Two lovers, separated by the Milky Way, are allowed to come together for only one night of the year. Sendai is most famous for this festival in Japan, but Kyoto has put its own special stamp on the event. Nijo Castle with all sorts of interesting patterns, and a half hour’s walk away at the Imperial Palace, people walk through a path by the Horikawa River for a chance to see local artwork and a chance to gaze at a display of the Milky Way made of LEDs, complete with shooting stars.
Love Stone at Kiyomizudera (清水寺) (Kyoto 2011)
September 10th, 2011
Love Stone at Kiyomizudera (清水寺)
It’s said that walking with your eyes closed between the two stones, placed 6m/20ft apart, will mean you will find your true love. If you can successfully make your way from one to the other, that is. You can possibly be assisted, but that means you will need assistance in finding your true love in real life.
Lots of schoolkids seemed very interested in this area, and it seemed to only be them attempting the trial of the stones. I tried to get some on camera, but they turned a bit more shy when I pointed the camera at them.
Ōkuninushi (大国主), Shinto god of good matches (Kiyomizudera 清水寺 in Kyoto, 2011)
September 10th, 2011
Ōkuninushi is, among other things, the Shinto god of good matches. Here he’s at the famous Kiyomizudera temple, at the entrance to the Love Stones.
Schoolkids hiking down Mount Daimonji (Kyoto 2011)
September 10th, 2011
Schoolkids hiking down Mount Daimonji in eastern Kyoto.
My new friend Guillaume from the Ginkakuji Guest House had hiked up Mount Daimonji several times. It was literally a five minute walk from the guesthouse, through a small wooded temple at the base of the mountain, and to the start of the steep trail. There were two options: the normal route, and the more direct and much more uphill route. I was really not in shape for it, and had also lugged up my huge backback with my camera. After many breaks to catch my breath, we made it to the area where the Chinese character is written into the mountain. The firepits by the path are famously lit up for about 30 minutes on one day in August each year, to celebrate the Obon.
Guillaume said it was usually peaceful up here, but not today: the area was swarming with loud schoolkids eating snacks, and all wearing matching hats. The poor teachers were busy trying to corral them and keep them in line. After rounding them up and doing a quick headcount of sorts, they made their way back down the path, with their aquamarine hats bobbling up and down as they walked past the firepits.
