Carved Stone

Around Tokyo there are various carved statues for apparently no reason. I bet there are stories behind them and who made them and why, but who really cares anyway :)

Shibuya Loft

Musical Statue

Religious Statue

War Monger Statue

Rice Field

The way back home was long and tiring. I couldn't wait to get back to a nice cozy futon. Speeding past some rice fields I noticed many had graveyards neatly placed amongst them.

Graveyard in a rice field.

The Finale

To top off the night, Sould Flower Union came out to rock the mini crowd. The weather was murky and cold but it was so worth it.

Soul Flower Union

Outdoor Lights

Outdoor Lounge Lanterns

A podium symbolising freedom

With the finale, Soul Flower Union, people naturally flocked to get a place close to the stage. My eyes and ears were fried. I watched from a distance. What a party pooper.

Modern day Buto dance

Free flowing postures

Soul Flower Union

A Daisen Mondo production

Ichi Bang Boshi Crew

These guys really rocked the crowd. The kimono girls rocked the guys night. All the cameras came out, including mine. My partner was there so I wasn't too enthusiastic about getting a nice shot, sorry guys.

Ichiban Boshi Crew taking pictures of us

One Sexy Kimono Girl

Some more dodgy kimono girls

The fun hippi crowd

The UFO visit

Then later that night there was something that reminded me of an old sci fi thriller from my childhood, Invaders from Mars. What else would be a valid explanation of the weird fauna we found the next day?

The UFO has landed

Alien fruit

Alien flora

And the concerts are on

Rain was expected. The bands were lucky enough to dodge it. Some people went nuts, others just swayed. I was laxing out absorbing the atmosphere in my euphoric state.

That was death metal if I remember correctly

Super sexy kimono girls

Painting buzz

Raincoat Samurai

Mount Daisen

And so we kept marching up windy roads and up the mountain to finally reach our destination. It may have been summer but the high mountain air still chilled our willies. The air was thin and the food was good.

Up Mount Daisen

Clouds over Mount Daisen

Pringles and Kimchi

A small gathering

Walk, walk, walk

And we continued to walk over mountains and along highways and through rice paddies until finally we made it to the train station. The stations here are no larger than our two room apartment in Tokyo. They don't even sell tickets there.

Up the hill 4am

Rice paddy

Natural Rice

Our destination... time for more travel

Random Beach Stay

We were trying to beat the time to arrive in Tottori to catch the bus to the top of the mountain but because there were suicide train jumpers causing delays, we didn't make it. Instead, we met a girl on the train who said there was a party on the beach and anyone could come and stay if they wanted to. That was us. I didn't get any shots of the party but the day after we got up early and snuck out of there while all the drunkens slept. We had a long journey ahead of to walk to the train station.

Tenting it on the beach

This must be the west coast

Tunnel entrance moss

We walked the highways, over fields and under tunnels in the country to make it to the nearest train station.

Tunnel

Walking through these things with trucks is deafening. The sound from the massive engines echos and bounces off the walls and into your ears like feedback from a mic. I don't want to do that again.

Japan Greenery

These are some shots taken from the train. People say this country is a concrete jungle. I beg to differ.

Much alike Kiwiland aye

The bullet train

The pellet train

Kayakable river

Kamakura

We stopped off to spend the night with Hiromi's beautiful friend, Rie. She's also doing massage and loves to surf. Kamakura is much the surf haven. I'd love to live here, so close to the beach. This time, we're off to Mt. Daisen in Tottori to see Yohei and other bands.

Hiromi and Rie

Kamakura Sunset

Glowing poi beach girls

Temple lamp shot came out good

Summer Fest '08

It was raining!! So there wasn't such a big turnout. Big ups for the bands though. They really put an effort into rarking up the crowds. We travelled so far from Tokyo by train and by car into the whops. I think this one was off the google earth radar.

Last minute sheltered stage

Green grass hippis

Kari and co

My drunk handstand

Over Toyosu

After my English lesson today my student and friend took me all the way to the top of the building she lives at. It's the tallest in the area so there's a good view of the skyline. Actually you can go right outside where there's a four foot hand rail between you and a 65 floor drop.

Toyosu skyline

There's surposed to be ocean here

Entirely man made

The top floor and the perfect door for suicide