Saturday, January 31, 2009

Image Recognition



This family was enjoying the game. Their images and movement are scanned and projected on the TV. Very high-tech!

Location: NHK Shibuya

Friday, January 30, 2009

Kimono



The kimono (着物, kimono?)[1] is the national costume of Japan. Originally the word "kimono" literally meant "thing to wear" (ki "wearing" and mono "thing")[2] but now has come to denote a particular type of traditional full-length Japanese garment. The standard plural of the word kimono in English is kimonos[1], but the unmarked Japanese plural kimono is also sometimes found.

Kimonos are T-shaped, straight-lined robes that fall to the ankle, with collars and wide, full-length sleeves. Kimonos are wrapped around the body, always with the left side over the right (except when dressing the dead for burial)[3] and secured by a wide belt called an obi, which is usually tied at the back. Kimonos are generally worn with traditional footwear (especially zōri or geta) and split-toe socks (tabi).[4]

Today, kimonos are most often worn by women, and on special occasions. Traditionally, unmarried women wore a style of kimono called furisode,[4] which have floor-length sleeves, on special occasions. A few older women and even fewer men still wear the kimono on a daily basis. Men wear the kimono most often at weddings, tea ceremonies, and other very special or very formal occasions. Professional sumo wrestlers are often seen in the kimono because they are required to wear traditional Japanese dress whenever appearing in public.[5] They commonly wear the kind of casual Japanese attire that is referred to as yukata, which is of plain unlined cotton.

(source: Wikipedia)

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Dancing Picture


Monday, January 26, 2009

Nakamise Street



This is a famouse place for shopping. You can find a lot of traditional Japanese souvenirs and snacks along this street.

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Itadakimasu



This is how okonomiyaki looks like when it is ready to eat. Itadakimasu!

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Okonomiyaki



Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き, Okonomiyaki?) is a Japanese dish consisting of a pan-fried batter cake and various ingredients. Okonomi means "what you like" or "what you want", and yaki means "grilled" or "cooked" (cf. yakitori and yakisoba); thus, the name of this dish means "cook what you like". In Japan, okonomiyaki is mainly associated with Kansai or Hiroshima areas, but is widely available throughout the country. Toppings and batters tend to vary according to region.

(Source: Wikipedia)

Friday, January 23, 2009

Shuttlecock Roof



This roof looks like shuttlecock.

A shuttlecock is a high-drag projectile used in badminton and other sports. In badminton, it has an open conical shape: the cone is formed from sixteen overlapping goose feathers embedded into a rounded cork base. The cork is covered with thin leather.

The shuttlecock's shape makes it extremely aerodynamically stable. Regardless of initial orientation, it will turn to fly cork first, and remain in the cork-first orientation.

The name shuttlecock is frequently shortened to shuttle; it may also be known as a bird or birdie. The "shuttle" part of the name was probably derived from its back-and-forth motion during the game, resembling the shuttle of a loom; the "cock" part of the name probably derives from the resemblance of the feathers to those on a cockerel.

(source: Wikipedia)

Thursday, January 22, 2009

How does your country flag look like?



The national flag of Japan is a white flag with a large red circle (representing the rising sun) in the center. The flag's official name in Japanese is Nisshōki (日章旗, "sun flag"?) but the flag is more commonly known as Hinomaru (日の丸, "sun disc"?). The Hinomaru was widely used on military banners in the Sengoku (Warring States) period of the 15th and 16th centuries. During the Meiji Restoration the flag was officially adopted for use as the civil ensign by Proclamation No. 57 on February 27, 1870 (January 27, Meiji 3 in the Japanese calendar). However, the flag was not adopted nationally until August 13, 1999, by the Law Concerning the National Flag and Anthem.

Along with the national anthem Kimi ga Yo, the Hinomaru is considered a controversial symbol of the militaristic past of the country. Use of the Hinomaru was also severely restricted during the early years of the American occupation of the country after World War II, although restrictions were later relaxed. Japanese law did not designate any particular flag as the national flag from 1885 until 1999, although the Hinomaru was legally the national flag for the brief period from 1870 until 1885. Despite this, several military banners of Japan are based on the design of the Hinomaru, including the sun-rayed Naval Ensign. The Hinomaru was used as a template to design other Japanese flags for public and private use.

(source: Wikipedia)

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Monday, January 19, 2009

Praying & Making A Wish



When is your last time making a wish? Under a shooting star?

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Tiny Car


Saturday, January 17, 2009

Friday, January 16, 2009

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Angel Light


Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Tokyo City View @ Nite



This is taken from Tokyo Tower

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Monday, January 12, 2009

Tokyo Tower 1



Tokyo Tower (東京タワー, Tōkyō-tawā?) is a communications tower located in Shiba Park, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. At exactly 332.6 meters (1,091 ft), this orange and white lattice tower is the tallest self-supporting steel structure in the world, the tallest artificial structure in Japan and is the 20th tallest tower in the world.[3] Built in 1958, this Eiffel Tower-like structure supports an antenna that broadcasts television and radio signals for important Japanese media outlets such as NHK, TBS and Fuji TV.[4] In recent years, the tower has been instrumental in furthering Japan's push to switch from an analog signal to digital signal.

In addition to being a television and radio communications tower, Tokyo Tower doubles as a major Tokyo tourist site. Over 2.5 million people annually visit the tower's recreational Foot Town and two observations decks.[5] Foot Town is a 4-story building located directly under the tower that houses museums, restaurants and shops. Departing from here, guests can visit the two observation decks. The 2-story Main Observatory is located at 150 meters (492 ft), while the smaller Special Observatory reaches a height of 250 meters (820 ft).[6]

(source: Wikipedia)

Visit http://www.tokyotower.co.jp/english/ for its official website.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Tokyo @ Sunset 2


Saturday, January 10, 2009

Tokyo @ Sunset


Friday, January 9, 2009

Another Light




Thursday, January 8, 2009

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Lights



Guess where this light is located? Inside a bar, izakaya, room? No... it is inside a lift in Tokyo Tower.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Economical Lifestyle in Japan


More and more Japanese people are using bicycle nowadays in order to curb the rising petrol and train expenses. More are turning to rent a bicycle instead. Read here on the complete news:

Monday, January 5, 2009

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Japanese Dog



Very cute!

Saturday, January 3, 2009

A building in Tokyo Daigaku



I like this building. It looks like an European-style building.

Friday, January 2, 2009

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Tokyo Daigaku



This is Yasuda Auditorium on the University of Tokyo's Hongō Campus.

The University of Tokyo (東京大学, Tōkyō daigaku?), abbreviated as Todai (東大, Tōdai?), is a major research university located in Tokyo, Japan. The University has 10 faculties with a total of around 30,000 students, some 2,100 of them foreign. Its five campuses are in Hongō, Komaba, Kashiwa, Shirokane and Nakano. It is widely considered to be the premier university in Japan, and one source rates it highest in Asia.


(source: Wikipedia)