June 24, 2003

• ran out fo space time to start new entry same day

  

  tokyo times square

  

  no explanation necessary

  

  andy and i at toshugo shrine in nikko

  

  more of toshugo shrine

  

  michelle and ikey in front of the five story pagoda at toshugo…one level for earth water fire wind and metal

  

  the famous three wise monkeys on the sacred stable at toshugo in nikko

  

  horsey in the sacred stable

  

  

  front of actual toshugo shrine…one of the 12 colums in carved upside down purposely to avoid angering jealous spirits

  

  behind micheel and mikey is a wedding hall…still used…the little white lighting bolts mean it is a sacred place and i actually had to get special permision in japanese to take this picture

  o

  the tomb wherein is enshrined the ashes of tokugawa iieyasu thrird if japans three unifiers and founder of the tokugawa shogunate

  

  the sleeping cat painted by hidari the left handed on the way to iieyasus tomb

  

  behind me is buried hideyoshi toyotomi on the left, second of japanes threee unifiers and tokugawa iiemitsu grandson of iieyasu who commisioned the temple we are standing in…not pictured to the right is minamoto yoritomo founder of the kamkura shougnate

  

  nikko is said to be one of the most beautiful towns in all japan…places like this are why

  

  another new friend we nmade. His name is taka, and he thought our japanese was good too…he is fishisng in the river for crickets…or bait to be more specific

  

  you know who we are…at narabijizo…where the number of stone jizo’s appear to constantly change…jizo is the protector of weak and sick children in shinto and buddhism in japan

  

  

  jizo is the bosatstu or protector of the sick and weak..he helps to escort miscarried or aborted babies into the next world…the red bibs placed on the jizo statues are done so by grieving mothers in hopes that theior child will have a better chance in the next life…sad, but interesting

  

  still in nikko some nature pics

  

  

  

  another new friend…how could i come to japan and not have sushi…this is the place to do it in the tsukiji fish market…the fish is cheaper than the states because they buy it roight outside their door ancd the narket starts at klike 5 ibn the morning here he brioke the fishes neack and then served it to someone

  

  here he is again…this is the second iof three consecutive posts on the same day folkz…make sure you check em all

  • 12:28 pm
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