Xitang (daytime) and Nanxun, Zhejiang, China.

Photographs from Xitang in Zhejiang province, China.

Xitang was a trading/market town serviced by canals.  

Most of the town has been restored but still manages to have a bustling atmosphere. 

 

The streets are narrow and crowded as befits such a place.

You can rent costumes to take a commemorative picture; as well as become a tourist exhibit yourself.

It is nice to stop for a break and something to eat away from the crowds.

 I also visited another old river trading town called Nanxun, famous for producing silk.  While it was more economically important than Xitang, the wider streets and higher walls contributed to an atmosphere of an open air museum.

Chinese Ramen, different from that served in Japan, but still quite tasty.

A Taoist temple.

Cormorants: once used for fishing, I think these were mostly for show.

Shooting VK II: Umbrella

Visual Kei band Umbrella

Photographs from March 16, 2014 live concert:

 Usually filming a live concert is frowned upon, though it was specifically requested by the band to record and share for this song.

More photographs and a report on the concert at Rokkyuu Magazine.

ROR Comedian Headshots

I am lucky enough to have access to some funny and handsome comedians.  

Here are the faces of ROR Comedy, a group of stand-up comedians in Osaka, Japan.

Tony Romani

Rodney Smith

Scott Crowe

Tom Law

Waka

Osaka March Sumo Tournament - 大阪大相撲三月場所

I had the great fortune to attend one day of the 15 day long Sumo tournament held in Osaka on March 20th.

Opening ceremony for the high ranked matches:

Throwing salt to purify the ring:

Though the earlier matches in the day are between less famous and lower ranked wrestlers, they do not lack any of the excitement and drama of the later matches.   A further bonus is that before the seats fill, you can go down next to the ring to see the matches up close.

As there is no weight class separation in sumo, some matches are between wrestlers of considerable size difference.  Bigger wrestlers have an advantage of being harder to move and pick up, though it is offset by the greater speed and agility of smaller wrestlers.  

While the below wrestler was forced out of the ring:

A subsequent match of different wrestlers with a similar size disparity:

 

 Resulted in the smaller wrestler out maneuvering his larger opponent and winning the match. 

A Geisha or Maiko hired by an older couple to entertain during the matches.