MaxInJapan

Earthquakes in 2011

2012-02-05T22:29:00.000+09:00

Earthquakes in Japan (M >3.0):

Earthquakes in the world (M >4.5):

Manners

2012-01-26T12:54:00.001+09:00

I guess he did not read the "do not occupy more than one seat" poster :-(

Last light of the year

2011-12-31T16:35:00.001+09:00

...as seen from the train.
See you all in 2012!

Winter Sakura

2011-12-18T03:11:00.001+09:00

I did not know there was a type of Sakura blooming in December!

aaaaargh!!!!

2011-12-04T18:46:00.001+09:00

I still cannot believe it!

Colorful Tokyo 2... or BW is better?

2011-11-12T14:09:00.001+09:00

Another colorful corner of Tokyo... although after looking at it I am tempted to say that BW looks better.

Muuuuuuuuuuh

2011-11-12T12:50:00.000+09:00

Another shot usually quite difficult to take in central Tokyo.

Colorful Tokyo

2011-11-12T12:41:00.001+09:00

Tokyo is usually quite gray and colorless, but sometimes you can find very colorful places.

The dragon under the moon

2011-10-29T17:00:00.003+09:00

It looks like the big dragon is stretching his wings and tail under the moon.

Phoenix in the sky

2011-10-29T16:57:00.000+09:00

Fishing (2)

2011-10-28T09:03:00.000+09:00

Same place, different post-processing :-)

Fishing

2011-10-27T10:29:00.001+09:00

iPhone

2011-10-25T19:01:00.001+09:00

Even an old 3GS can manage a decent photo, given the right amount of help.

Fashion addict

2011-09-30T11:46:00.002+09:00

Fashion addict in Tokyo:

Ugly (possibly the ugliest ever) hairy boots (for cold winters): check
Naked hairy legs (after all it is not winter yer): check
Cute bow tie: check
Ugly glasses (frame only): check

...and from India as well

2011-09-24T12:37:00.000+09:00

The mortarboard was not her, but the overall look was nice.

Proud to be from Nepal

2011-09-24T12:35:00.000+09:00

Strange hat :-)

Photographer?

2011-09-24T12:32:00.004+09:00

I think she should have been the model, though ;-)

Mobile phone

2011-09-20T11:10:00.000+09:00

The funny thing is that he is using his mobile phone

From the car

2011-09-20T11:07:00.000+09:00

Unusual (for me) traffic nearby Alexandria

Tuk tuk

2011-09-19T23:04:00.003+09:00

I did not know that tuk tuk is very popular in Egypt, too.

Silkworm

2011-08-26T10:19:00.004+09:00

Or, at least, its effects on a leaf.

The onld way

2011-07-10T11:12:00.000+09:00

An artisan creating a pair of scissors

Sky tree no more

2011-05-22T17:49:00.004+09:00

Something is missing...

Happy Mother's Day!

2011-05-08T17:54:00.001+09:00

Dedicated to all the mothers in the world, of all ages.

Tokyo Tower

2011-04-24T17:40:00.001+09:00

Tokyo Tower and its newly bent tip

Buona Pasqua!

2011-04-24T17:39:00.001+09:00

Rainbow

2011-04-23T17:09:00.002+09:00

The last petals

2011-04-14T14:23:00.000+09:00

Despite the fact that most petals are gone, someone is still enjoying the hanami.

Power lines

2011-04-14T13:38:00.003+09:00

Monday morning

2011-04-04T10:18:00.004+09:00

chase

2011-04-03T17:08:00.000+09:00

O tempora, o mores [Cicero]

A female mallard chasing thet male. Wasn't it the other way around?

Kyoto and Kiyomizu-dera

2011-04-02T19:22:00.003+09:00

Kyoto 京都 (top center and left) as seen from nearby Kiyomizu-dera 清水寺 (top right) during early cherry blossom (bottom)

Kinkakuji 金閣寺

2011-04-02T12:17:00.002+09:00

Same temple [link], different season

Snow storm

2011-03-27T10:19:00.001+09:00

The only survivor

2011-03-26T12:20:00.000+09:00

The mutations due to the unusual radiations in Tokyo altered the DNA of this Kabutomushi, which became over 3 meters long overnight.

Radioactive sunset in Tokyo

2011-03-25T17:49:00.003+09:00

The sky in Tokyo is clearly showing traces of the high radioactivity.

Radioactivity

2011-03-19T15:52:00.002+09:00

The effects of radioactivity in the Japanese sky are clearly visible in this picture.

Parking

2011-03-05T13:10:00.004+09:00

Please do not leave your bike here ^_^

The colors of the sunset

2011-02-18T18:21:00.002+09:00

Snow!

2011-02-14T22:42:00.003+09:00

Quite a big, sudden change of the weather.

Good Morning, Tokyo!

2011-01-17T06:19:00.000+09:00

Snow & Sea

2011-01-02T15:52:00.001+09:00

Unexpected bath... :-)

Happy New Year! ^_^

2011-01-01T00:00:00.000+09:00

May all your best wishes come true.

Merry Christmas! (myopic version)

2010-12-25T06:12:00.001+09:00

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-24T21:19:00.000+09:00

And Happy New Year! ^_^

Christmas Illumination

2010-12-23T18:22:00.001+09:00

tOrattoria

2010-12-23T17:36:00.000+09:00

It's plenty of tOrattoria in Japan. Never seen one in Italy, though ^_^

Red full moon

2010-12-21T05:55:00.003+09:00

A few hours before the lunar eclipse, this is how the moon looked like.

No alcohol might be bad...

2010-12-16T11:45:00.001+09:00

...but having the possibility to spend Christmas on the beach is priceless.

Lobster from Tasmania

2010-12-15T19:31:00.000+09:00

For some strange and unfathomable reason I started to like Tasmania.

Warp speed

2010-12-15T15:41:00.000+09:00

It's not like a Gondola in Venice...

2010-12-15T15:38:00.000+09:00

..but, still, I think it is cute

Shooting stars?

2010-12-13T22:34:00.000+09:00

Pool

2010-12-13T21:32:00.001+09:00

Mount Fuji

2010-12-05T11:34:00.001+09:00

The beauty of Mount Fuji at the end of Autumn.

The colors of the Autumn

2010-11-28T13:59:00.001+09:00

No comments needed :-)

Strange Encounter

2010-11-23T19:10:00.006+09:00

One of the thing I link most about Tokyo is that you can easily find the strangest and weirdest thing just by walking in the street. In the picture, a kind of scarecrow at the entrance of a restaurant.
In Italian, more than a spaventapasseri, this would be a spaventapassere ;-)

Taipei 101 on fire!!!

2010-10-19T19:20:00.003+09:00

Or, at least, it looks so.

Run, baby, run!

2010-10-18T12:04:00.000+09:00

Me too!!!

2010-10-16T17:33:00.000+09:00

Wishing for the good weather

2010-10-11T14:11:00.002+09:00

The Teru teru bōzu (てるてる坊主) is a little traditional hand-made doll made of white paper or cloth used by Japanese people when they want good weather for the next day.
Traditionally it was hang outside of the window, so that its magical powers would bring good weather and stop the rain. But it can be used in other situations, too; one example is the hiker in the picture below, who put it on her backpack during her excursion on Tateyama.

てるてるぼうず、てるぼうず

明日天気にしておくれ

いつかの夢の空のように

晴れたら金の鈴あげよ

てるてるぼうず、てるぼうず

明日天気にしておくれ

私の願いを聞いたなら

甘いお酒をたんと飲ましょ

てるてるぼうず、てるぼうず

明日天気にしておくれ

それでも曇って泣いてたら

そなたの首をちょんと切るぞ

Tateyama 立山

2010-10-11T14:01:00.000+09:00

Ready? Go!

Let's get started from the base!

A little bit cloudy to see the sea, but still quite impressive view.

Luckily, the weather was wonderful.

A huge number of people going to the top!

Reflection of the mountains into the Mikurigaike.

The best period to go to go to Tateyama (立山), in Toyama prefecture, is probably Spring, when you can enjoy walking between two huge walls of snow.
But also early autumn is very interesting. Go and have a look by yourself!

It's all about timing

2010-09-04T11:59:00.001+09:00

Despite the fact that the two bronze statues will not be moving at noon, do you notice anything strange about this clock?

Asakusa Samba

2010-08-28T17:50:00.003+09:00

It seems that the Asakusa Samba Carnival is - after Rio de Janeiro - the biggest Samba Carnival in the world.
(English info here)

It's toooooo hot!

2010-07-27T18:31:00.001+09:00

Even inside Ueno Park it's too hot!

Sleeping beauty

2010-06-19T14:48:00.002+09:00

Strange place for a siesta, don't you think?

Meowww

2010-05-26T17:38:00.001+09:00

Challenging death

2010-05-25T17:35:00.000+09:00

For some reasons I find it difficult to consider "normal" walking in the middle of the streets when cars are coming at high speed. But I reckon there are very few choices when there are almost not traffic lights.

Color blindness

2010-05-19T08:39:00.000+09:00

Every time I see such color combinations I invariably think that (some) Japanese girls are color blind.

Nothing but color blindness could explain the brown and cream shoe with pink socks and black leggings combination.

ZED

2010-05-08T17:39:00.004+09:00

ZED is a living poem, a timeless evocation that draws on the Tarot and its arcana, an imaginary world that conjures the vitality of the human condition and holds up a mirror to our true selves. The central, larger-than-life character Zed represents all of humanity in all its guises, from wisdom to folly, from discovery to adventure.

Wire

Zed grows as he discovers the world on his journey of initiation. Through this undertaking the people of the sky and the people of the earth are trying to connect with each other; through Zed, they come together.

Flying Trapeze Hand to hand

The world of the arcana, in which ZED finds its inspiration, teems with life and vibrant characters, including the Great Goddess, The Fool, The Sphinxes and the Satyrs - all engaged in a lyrical odyssey to the heart of the human experience.

Juggling Banquine

copied from the official Cirque du Soleil website. Further info available at the official ZED website. See also my previous post on Dralion.

For what it is worth, I loved the introduction at the beginning of the show, and the Flying Trapeze towards the end. The remaining parts were good - of course! - but not that exceptional.

Flying Trapeze

Shoes

2010-04-25T15:23:00.005+09:00

(courtesy of AZ)

Revenge

2010-02-14T13:07:00.004+09:00

In reply to this.

Ouch

2010-02-13T20:00:00.002+09:00

It looks like this guy has been heavily punched...
Let's hope at least it is good!

[Update]
Survived!

Lucky Pino!

2010-01-08T22:33:00.003+09:00

Once every million normal Pinos, there is one which is star-shaped (top right).
Lucky the one who founds it!

Skyline

2010-01-05T16:58:00.001+09:00

New apartment, new skyline :-)

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T08:36:00.000+09:00

Merry Christmas

2009-12-25T11:23:00.000+09:00

Merry Christmas from the illumination in Shinjuku.

Dancing eyes

2009-09-30T20:15:00.000+09:00

Piccadilly Circus

2009-09-24T21:08:00.000+09:00

Piccadilly Circus by night.

Birds of Light

2009-09-23T20:55:00.000+09:00

"Birds of Light" (i.e. color-changing clubs) flying in the hall of the Science Museum.

Where to look

2009-09-22T08:48:00.000+09:00

Poor pedestrians are having a lot of troubles in finding their way around.

Hyde Park

2009-09-22T07:18:00.000+09:00

Suspect

2009-09-21T21:02:00.000+09:00

I always had the suspect that not everybody in London is quite human.

This phone box in South Kensington proves I was right.

Luckily for us

2009-08-30T10:31:00.000+09:00

Luckily for us, Gundam is taking good care of Tokyo.

Starry starry night

2009-08-22T01:01:00.001+09:00

It is incredible how much light pollution there is even in a very small village.
But the starry sky is always magnificent.

Breakfast

2009-08-20T05:45:00.001+09:00

A little rat having his breakfast with some Indian Fig Opuntia. They were soooooooo good

Time for the pros

2009-07-11T15:20:00.000+09:00

let's give a big hand to the pros!

Penguin on the move

2009-07-11T15:19:00.000+09:00

Too cute! ^_^

Beluga

2009-07-11T15:16:00.000+09:00

You can see them in action at the Sea Paradise in Hakkeijima.

Abandon all hope, ye who enter

2009-07-11T14:57:00.000+09:00

"You cannot come back when the door"... when the door what?

At last

2009-06-29T20:50:00.000+09:00

One of the most peculiar and curious "symbols" of the modern Japan: the squared watermelon :-)

And yes, you are reading it right: it costs ¥9800, i.e. more than 100 USD or 70 Euro. I still wonder who could buy such a thing...

Geiko and Maiko

2009-06-25T21:05:00.000+09:00

Sunset

2009-06-07T21:20:00.000+09:00

This is something that is impossible to see in Japan.

Jeanneke Pis

2009-06-07T19:14:00.000+09:00

The world is plenty of puttos peeing in the fountains, you can see them almost everywhere. But this is the first time I see a statue of a girl doing the same thing (sorry for the red bars).

Jeanneke Pis (that's the name of this statue) was created by Denis-Adrien Debouvrie in 1985 and erected in 1987, as a gender counterpoint to the city's trademark Manneken Pis at the Grote Markt.

Red blinds

2009-06-04T11:37:00.000+09:00

Nice touch of color on the facade of this building. I hope they have more than one person to open and close all the blinds every day.

Trails in the sky

2009-06-04T00:25:00.000+09:00

Lot of contrails in the Dutch sky, today.

begging for your life

2009-03-14T16:13:00.000+09:00

Seagulls in SF should be extremely dangerous, if even a Lioness begs for her life, when teared with powerful talons.

The opposite of engRish is hsiRgne?

2009-03-14T15:06:00.000+09:00

If Japanese English is often called Engrish, how do you call English Japanese? Hsirgne?

The Golden Gate Bridge

2009-03-14T14:23:00.000+09:00

A must in San Francisco is a visit to the Golden Gate Bridge, which takes its name from "Chrysopylae", the name given by Captain Fremont to the strait connecting San Francisco Bay to the Pacific Ocean. More facts and details on this beautiful bridge - still considered the symbol of San Francisco and California - can be found here, here, and here.

The true American symbol...

2009-03-14T10:48:00.000+09:00

...lazily strolling in Berkeley, CA.