PL Fireworks 2015

PL Fireworks in Tondabayashi City 2015

Sakura - Interior photography

This wonderful apartment is available to rent for tourists visiting Osaka.

Entrance way

Living room

The adjoining tatami room can also be used as a bedroom with a traditional futon spread on the tatami mats.

It's just as comfortable as any bed, and you can't fall out!

The master bed room.

A fully appointed kitchen.

Dining table seats up to four quite nicely.

Enjoy a cup of coffee with a view of Abeno-Harukas, currently the tallest building in Japan at 300m.

Nipponbashi Street Festa 2015! 日本橋ストリートフェスタ 2015

The spring equinox in Osaka is the date for the annual Nipponbashi Street Festa, a cosplay and anime themed road festival.  Here are some photos I managed to take while fighting my way through the very well behaved but extremely crowded area.

Attitude helps. 

 Man-Korra, Korra,Toph, Bolin

 Jibanyan and Fuyunyan from the very popular Yokai Watch.

 Paper/card craft on an extreme level.

 I hope this character was supposed to be tired looking, this guy must have been posing with that huge sword/axe/gun/saw? weapon all afternoon.

 Unnecessarily dark gritty reboot of a cartoon for 3-5 year olds.  Appropriately, this group had many fans.

 As though the character had stepped out of the TV. Daisuke Jigen

 A fantastic Maleficent cosplay, the expression is perfect.  I'm still not sure she was happy with having her picture taken. :P

 Rocket Raccoon from Guardians of the Galaxy

I don't remember Vivi having arms that big!

Zangief (Street Fighter), Belle and Beast (Beauty and the Beast) 

 3/4ths gender bent Harry Potter.

 Kamen Rider, I don't know which one.

Gothic maid.

 Mission Accomplished

 Weeping Angel from Dr. Who.  She actually made a kid cry.

Disgruntled employee.

Then they opened up the main street to cars, everyone had to crowd into the side streets...

We need more street!

Cityscape Osaka

Winter is a great time to photography a city at night.  As many people are still in the office towers, they are brightly lit from the inside.  A tripod is essential for long exposure shots.

 A rare toll free parking space.

 A cyclist checks her smartphone.

Concrete Dragon 

A pedestrian waits for the walk signal. 

 An ambulance passes through a busy crosswalk.

 Umeda Station, Osaka.

 Taxis await their turn to queue.