My buddy Dave from ShootTokyo called the other day to tell me that a festivalw as underway in the part of Tokyo where he lives - Jiyugaoka - and I should head down and have a look as it could be a good chance to take some photos. I had just bought a new Fuji X100s and Fuji X-Pro1 camera set and was keen to try them out and see what all the fuss was about. Tokyo at the end of summer is often packed with festivals that hark back to the agricultural roots of the country - basically a chance for the farmers to get out, get drunk and have some fun carrying shrines around as a thanks for a good harvest. Never let a good festival go to waste I say - so here is a set from the frist (test) day at Jiyugaoka and later I will post a few more sets from the one justa few minutes walk from where i live in Meguro. All good fun.
People wear traditional clothes with their affiliation on the back. Usually each group has one shrine to carry around. There are "junior shrines" for children as well. I'd love one of these jackets. Fuji X100s. Processed using VSCO film presets for Aperture using the Portra 160 setting. I am quite happy with these, although they don't very strictly adhere to the way the film looks. Maybe the ones for Lightroom are better, but I really do not like the idea of moving to Lightroom after years on Aperture.
This rather well dressed gent is carrying one of the props for the shrine when they get tired of carrying it around. You can see the shrine in the distance. Fuji X-Pro1 with Fujinon XF 35mm F1.4 lens.
The "gaijin shrine" gets carried around outside the station. This one had banners for the Tokyo Olympics 2020 bid - which seemed to work as Tokyow as awarded the games - fabulous! Fuji X100s.
It was a hot day and some folks rigged up a water spray. The children had a blast. Fuji X100s.
Donations to the various shrines were advertised - enough to need a ladder. Fuji X100s.
A well used wooden sliding door - the most common entrance to a small Japanese restaurant. Usually great food is found within. Fuji X100s.
Exit. This guy just happened to pop out of the door when I was taking a picture. I'd rather be lucky than good in this case. Fuji X100s.
David "Leica Man" Powell in action. He has an enviable collection of Leica goodies and a boutque of t-shirts for his ShootTokyo website. He appreciates the humor of almost everything around him and photographs almost everything around him. Fuji X100s.
Japan is hell for chickens. Everywhere you go there is "yakitori" or literally "grilled bird". This guy has a big smoking habit. Fuji X100s.
Mickey and Minnie are for sale near Thomas. Masks for sale at the stands in the local shrine. Fuji X-Pro1 with Fujinon XF 35mm F1.4 lens.
A very positive - if under powered - motorbike. Fuji X-Pro1 with Fujinon XF 35mm F1.4 lens.
The yellow bike. Tokyo is a city buried in "mama chari" or these kind of basket (often with children inside) toting bikes. Some are even electrically assisted and show an amazing turn of speed. Worryingly these are allowed on the footpath. Fuji X-Pro1 with Fujinon XF 35mm F1.4 lens.
The railway crossing at Jiyugaoka Station. Fuji X-Pro1 with Fujinon XF 35mm F1.4 lens.
The two-level Jiyugaoka Station. Fuji X-Pro1 with Fujinon XF 35mm F1.4 lens.
Waiting for the train after a hot day. Fuji X100s.
Ready for dinner Sir? A common sight - menus on the street. I can only read the prices on these things, which is not very helpful. Fuji X-Pro1 with Fujinon XF 35mm F1.4 lens.