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Kisaragi Photo Collection

By October 14, 2023February 1st, 2024No Comments

Lacking high resolution pictures.

After my last successful journey to Toyohashi, Japan, we soon enough realized that we had a massive problem. The pictures taken at Sensei’s house in the past just all happened to be lacking high resolution quality. They were fine for reference to study or for design, but sadly just not that great for a possible future publication. Quickly thinking it over with one option left, fly back as soon as possible or risk closing borders…
According to the motto “to have is better than to need” the usual arrangements were made and booked, to get things on the road.

Arriving in the land of the rising sun

I flew over with a case filled to the top with sweets and chocolate for my friends abroad. Hoping not to get caught at the border entering Japan. LOL.
Please check for the allowed amount and weight of import products to Japan.
Anyway, tight but we made it!

foto showing sun up in the bottom of the picture, obviously taken through the window of an Boeing aircraft. you can admire the colors of the sky above the clouds ans see part of the aircrafts wing reflecting the morning orange.
Described Feelings and trip information on foto showing the head and body of an noh theather actor. faace make-up with red lines going up around the eyes. the male is wearing a large white wig depicting one of two lions from the play "Renshishi". Usually the other figure has a red wig. Red and White being the flag of Japan.

Ueno Park and Tokyo National Museum

The first day of the mission started off with a clear blue sky. So I thought Ueno Park might just be right for me. A walk from Ueno station all the way towards the Tokyo National Museum and its beautiful pond. Coming closer it was visible that a special exhibition was taking place. It showed statues of buddhist deities from Kyoto. I have no idea how they transported them to Tokyo.
In all, an enormous plus for the knowledge hunters, like myself, that made their way there.
Later I enjoyed book shopping in Shinjuku (I know exactlly where I want to go!) just as much, as I love being on the go and dig outdoor activities.

clear blue sky on top of the Tokio National Museum building. The pond reflecting the building with reed in the water. A banner in yellow drapes down with information about the next exhibition.
Foto depicting God of fire "Fudo Myoō" standing on rocks holding his sword upright in the right hand. in his other hand he holds a rope. cutting through ignorance and fasting you greed. This picture was taken in the National Gallery Tokio and has the tipical white wall background.
little green shopping bag with beautiful decorations standing in front of Tokyo National Museum pond. Surrounded by trees and trimmed bushes. Reeds standing in the water, you can see the refletion of the sky in water.
Ueno man hole cover with cherry blossom tree and petals surrounded by tar and other real fallen leaves.
Books in Shinjuku
Ueno Zoo Postbox with panda bear face painted on in White and Black by town council. Bushes in the back. It´s not unusual to see this around famous spots through out Japan.

Ueno nights.

I knew for the beginning I didn’t have to much time to see my friend and amazing Photographer – Ronin de Goede – as I just arrived and he was leaving. So we called a last second hit or miss dinner arrangement. Always good clean fun catching up. If you don’t know his work be sure to view the link at the bottom of this entry.

Traditional Japanese open Restaurant kitchen showing man taking Noodles out the cooking basin to fill the eating bowl. The man is wearing white cloths typical for a Japanese cook.
Green coin and card operated telephone
White collar worker standing on escalator going up to the train tracks toward Nagoya and Osaka. The sign showing the city names and track number 19 for direction. The foto is taken in an upright position so a majority of the roof can be seen from the inside.

The next morning I made my way to see yet another friend. No one less than Horifune from Nagoya City. Always taking best care of me, I can truly say, he is the cities greatest Horimono attraction. Heavy artillery work thats looks so tough. So real!

Shooting pics in Toyohashi.

For me arriving in Toyohashi is like being at home! I was more than lucky to be back and didn’t waist time to get things set. So difficult, setting up station. A3 size scanner, Laptop? How does it work? Solutions? Trouble shooting? Find an efficient way!
I was prepared, but had no idea that my Japanese mother (Sensei’s widow) was going to reach me the life history of all pictures she had. Big boxes. “Here are the boxes Gordon, if you need anything, just let me know.” Boxes filled with albums upon albums full of treasures. Believe me, when I say: Shodai Horikoi worked Horimono as hard as ten men. I am not exaggerating. It is off limits to how much he made. The amount of drawings, sketches, Tebori works and travel he did is extreme.

It took five days in total to snap everything and 4300 pictures later, my back was finished. I was filled with joy and pride that old clients of Sensei came to see me and took me out for dinner.
Mission accomplished!

Three fotos of dragon faces and typical Japanese tattoo background in foto album next to each other.
a hand holding a fotograph of a mans back adorned with Senju Kannon, goddess of Mercy and a dragon wrapped around her body. Other fotos laying in the background

Shizuoka, Kunozan Toshogu Shrine

Before leaving Toyohashi city, my japanese mother, Satsuki, had the idea of driving to a place she had always wanted to go and never had time for. So we packed our seven belongings and drove to Shinzuoka city. Kunozan Toshogu shrine is a national treasure and dedicated to Shogun Samurai warlord Leyasu Tokugawa. “The bamboo lights of world peace” is held yearly at full moon. You can feel the presence old spirits all around you. A surreal space where time plays no significant role…
Driving up the road in the dark was scary and taking a cablecar across the mountian was magical. This place worked on me for a long time. Still does…
You have to see it!

Tokugawa Gate dog coloured with a gold coating and olive mint hairdo. The dogs shadow can be seen against the orange gate in the background. The foreground a mint fence to stop spectators from touching the guardian.
slow camera options made this shrine gate keeper pull its colors across the screen. looks spooky.
Green cable car tower with trees below and reflection of the inner cable car floor combine and make this a spooky picture.
Kunozan Shrine in Japan at night. surreal atmosphere with not to much light. Bamboo with patterns via drilled holes are lit up from the inside by candles. The bamboo lined up and arranged along the path. The area inviting the viewer to imagine the spirts accompanying the temple grounds. Connecting to ancient relatives and asking for security.
Golden yellow Gandam Robot figure of Tokugawa Leyasu with details like family crest on the chest, arms and leg joints. A foto of the shrine in the background make it almost real.
Full moon over Japan. The majority of the picture is black, being the mountain silhouette. then rapidly opening to a soft grey. the moon shining on surrounding clouds make the picture perfect.

Kamakura adventure for a day.

Back to Tokyo region I met my road dogs Bea, Daniel and Marvin. It’s always so much fun meeting friends, when you’re on the road. It is a pleasure to share good times together. I had been eating well in Toyohashi, but these guys were here for the first time and didn’t want to miss a thing. I tought I would give they a treat! Beers, Skewers, Ramen and the one or other taste off side the menu just to see what they are made of. Full points, we eat everything.
Japan and Vegetables

A day in Kamakura viewing “The great Buddha of Kamakura” the statue of Amida Noryai is the moment you notice how small you are as a soul. Its a lot of walking and there are a number of Shrines around the attraction. Fun stuff and the way back was a little more quiet than usual as contemplation found its way.

Bronze Statue of Amida Nyorai "The Great Buddha of Kamakura" in sitting position before sun down. Clear blue sky like in the 80´s.
Sweets with taste of orange friut in a hexagon shaped box. The box being decorated like the head of the statue "Great Buddha of Kamakura" in mint with yellow background. When lifting the head to take a sweet the eyes open and the mouth does the same. Many boxes staked on top of each other to encourage the buyer.

Back in Tokyo it was time for bars and the next feast.

Nikkō, World heritage Site.

The feeling that a small tour was coming together was shaping up in our heads. Nikkō (Home to the three famous Monkeys), is truely amazing! Try get there early because it is not like it used to be. There are thousands of tourists waiting in line to get entry tickets. It is a bit of a spoiler, but then again: you never know if anyone is going.
Try a rainy day! That could add to the suspense of the environment. Could be cool!
After taking hundreds of pictures, which I don’t want to bore you with, I did want to stress how important it is for tattooers fevering Japan to go back there as much as everyday life allows you to.
Go there, take pics, use them!

Train ticket to Nikkō in yellow and a enterance ticket to the world heritage site showing the three famous carved monkeys "deef, dumb and blind" with pine.
Dragon well of Nikkō, Japan. An arrangement of green tones accompany the oxidizing copper well. Flowing water drops into the well causing ripples and motion rings to go back and forth.
Hand holding a bag of strawberry flavoured crisps. The bag designed with crisps on the top and strawberries to be seen on the bottom. The transition being filled with golden lettering surrounded with yellow. Magenta Katakana lettering. Only in Japan.

Asakusa is Tokyo!

Asakusa, by far my favourite neighbourhood of Tokyo. Home to Shodai Horikoi’s friend Sensei Horikazu. You know that you have arrived at the right place when you come up out of the subway and see the orange gates that home the guardians (Kongorikishi) that protect buddha. For the craft, there’s always a lot to take care of as it is usually my last stop before flying home again. So those days are busy and adding to that meeting friends is also part of why I love it here.
My friend Daniel and myself ran the streets and bars together for a couple of days and then Sensei Horikazu allowed us to visit. Dan took it straight two days in a row! Valuable time to catch up…
Leaving for Germany the next day, Sensei gave me a Fire Force Hyogota along. No idea where he found it, but it’s got age for sure!

Otsukaresmadeshita!

in a mirror you can see a Japanese skin carvers hands wearing blue gloves. A tattoo to be seen on his arm.
Orange and mint Asakusa tempel gate with guardian Kongorikishi and black and golden bell by nightfall The Kongorikishi figure is lit up to ward off bad spirits by far.
Sanja-Sama "Salt for the dogs" Stone Lion sitting on a pedestal at Asakusa shrine. The statue surrounded by grey pebbles amd a willow tree in the background.
Hikeshi Fire force Hyagota made of fabrics.
postcard with images of Buddha and a festival crowd with hotel lift to be seen in the background

Links:

Asakusa Photograghy http://ronindegoede.com
Tokyo National Museum http://tnm.jp
Japanese Tattoo Nagoya http://Horifune.shichihuku.com
Shizuoka Night view http://Shizuoka-yakei.com
Kunozan Toshogu Shrine http://toshogu-takeakai.com
Kamakura Daibutsu http://kotoku-in.jp