Through the lens of a Western tourist:
This is an image from Boy's Festival Day. Beautiful colored paper kites were hung on a line above the street in celebration of the day's festivities. Colors were everywhere, brightly adorning the narrow streets with the cheer of youth.
This is an image of blooming cherry blossoms in the Park of Ueno, Tokyo. The trees, covered with pink flowers, line the pathway, creating an other-worldly arch above it. The pathway is bustling with pedestrians of all ages who leisurely walk among the blossoms.
This image shows a traditional Japanese 'No' dance performance. One performer, dressed extravagantly with a painted white face, stands center stage with his arms out and attention outwards. Other performers sit behind or beside him. The stage is simple with no props. On the wall behind the actor is a beautifully illustrated tree.
Here we have an image of a Japanese "Daibutsu" Temple at Nara. Its architecture and color are stunning and so different from that of the West. The angles of the rooftop seem to mimic the natural lifting of the tree branches. The trees and sunset reflect in the water below.
This image shows three women seated in carriages drawn by men. The men are dressed in similar black uniform. The women are colorfully dressed with elegantly done-up hair. Each carries a parasol. The three carriages are in a row under trees on the edge of a road beside a lake. This method of transportation looks comfortable, fun and great for sight-seeing! But must be tiring for the men on foot.
All of these images are great! The colors are really impressive. It seems like Japanese culture puts an emphasis on detailed objects and everything about how they live is done to perfection, in a simplistic way of life.
ReplyDeleteI particularly liked the image you chose of the Noh theater performance because of the hand painting for the image. Theater is one of those mediums that really loses a lot of its grandeur in black and white, so the painting really provides a lot of important details that add to the significance of the photo. If only they had cameras that could take pictures in the dark so we could see some of those Tanizaki shadows.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite image is the first one. But oh boy, does it seem like you had so much fun in your travels!!! It must have been really great seeing all of these places mister. Globe trotter.
ReplyDelete