The Simple Pleasures...

One of the many things I love about living in Japan is making new discoveries. This is just a simple Tokyo neighbourhood with a nondescript ferro-concrete house with barred windows and some overgrown azalea bushes...yet it also has one of my favourite things...a stone lantern ! Granted it's not the most gorgeous example of a stone lantern...but it's a stone lantern nonetheless - and they always make me smile!




And then I walk further down the street and I spy a giant red paper lantern. Yes, it may be looking a little worse for wear...but look at the love bestowed upon it. It's covered with a plastic sheet to help protect it from the elements. These red paper lanterns are used to advertise drinking establishments - especially hole-in-the-wall izakayas like this one...At night time they are usually lit up and look even more spectacular! This lantern has been hung quite high as it's over a footpath, usually they hang quite low to the ground. I found these lanterns on our walk to Mukojima Hyakkaen...but the beauty of Tokyo is that you can see these kinds of objects...everywhere!

Nonconformity...

Back in 2001 I travelled to Himeji to visit the famous Himeji-jou (Castle). It's billed as the most beautiful surviving (i.e. non-concrete) castle in Japan and is also called Shirasagi - the White Egret. After spending a few hours wandering around the spectacular castle grounds I decided to visit the temple complex on Shosha-zan (Mt Shosha). I took a 25 minute trip on the number 6 bus from Himeji station to the Shosha bus stop and then caught the cable car to the top of the 371m mountain hill. It's a famous pilgrimage spot and has been around for about 1000 years. I was one of only a few people wandering around the grounds; it was incredibly peaceful.

(Lanterns - April 2001)

Since then, Shosha-zan Engyou-ji Temple has become famous as one of the locations used in the shooting of "The Last Samurai". Several of the temple buildings and Buddha images have been designated important cultural properties. The shot of the lanterns above is one of my favourite photos of my time here in Japan as the solitary gold lantern among the green ones reminds me of the Japanese proverb deru kugi wa utareru - the nail which sticks out will get hammered. This seemingly simple proverb neatly encapsulates the overwhelming pressure for all members of Japanese society to reside together in harmony and to conform to the expected patterns of group behaviour. It's also a reminder that no matter how culturally attuned I am, like this lantern, I will always stick out in Japan.