Japan Photos!
 
 
 

Tokyo Dome
	The Tokyo Dome, also known as the 'Big Egg'.
	Inside the Tokyo Dome. This hit tied the game in the 9th inning.
	An amusement park in Tokyo Dome City, with the game on a big screen TV.

 

IBM Tokyo Research Lab
	IBM people and Summer Institute people meet in front of the statue of the dog, Hachiko. A chance meeting? Actually this is a popular meeting place. Legend has it that Hachiko continued to wait at Shibuya station every evening for 10 years after his master had died at work. His loyalty is honored with this statue, and the hundreds who come here to meet somebody each day.
	Dinner and karaoke with my coworkers from IBM. In fact, this is a farewell party for Kevin (pictured in the center back).
	IBM Tokyo Research Laboratory in Yamato.

 

Tsukiji and the Fish Market
	Some eel on sale in the Tsukiji Fish Market. Eel is a favorite dish among the Japanese.
	Some of the fish here are as big as the people!
	Sawing a fish into more managable sized pieces.
	Almost every kind of seafood imaginable can be found here.
	Sushi doesn't come any fresher than this!
	The Tsukiji Honanji Bhuddist Temple near the fish market. Why is this one made from concrete? Possibly because it was destroyed multiple times in fires, earthquakes, and World War II.

 

Shinjuku
	Eating at a restaurant in Shinjuku.
	Our neighbors at the other end of a crowded table.
	A random Japanese person joins us for a photo in Shinjuku.

 

Nikko Toshogu Shrine
	The magnificent Toshogu Shrine.
	The famous carving of three monkeys.
	The tomb of Ieyasu Tokugawa, the first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate.
	The sleeping cat. A sign of a peaceful future.
	Karaoke in yukata at the Nikko Rikyu Ryokan

 

Daiouji Temple
	A bell tower at the Bhuddist Daiouji Temple.
	Helen enjoying a vegetarian lunch.
	A statue in front of the Daiouji Temple.

 

Harajuku
	A catgirl in Harajuku. Notice the tail.
	Two of the denizens of Harajuku.

 

Meiji Jingu Shrine
	The Meiji Jijgu Shrine.
	The path through Yoyogi park leading up to the Meiji Jingu Shrine.
	A patron hangs her wish, written on a good luck charm.
	Some fish in the lake a the the Meiji Jingu Shrine. This lake was once used by the empress for fishing.

 

Kasama Inari Jinja
	The Kasama Inari Shinto Shrine. These torii gates lead up to the entrance.
	A sudden downpour bathes the shrine a surreal mist.
	In the shrine you can buy various lucky charms to ward off disaster, or to bring good fortune
	Some of the good fortune lucky charms should be hung here (on the left).
	The priests can performs ceremonies for you. Notice the two priests in the backgroud (dressed in gold).

 

Tokyo
	Kabuki-za, the famous Kabuki theatre
	Roppongi, the High Touch Town (that name must have something to do with the meaning the word of Roppongi - six trees).
	Some high school girls from Nagoya visiting the Tokyo Tower.
	A view of the top of a temple from the Tokyo Tower.
	The Tokyo Skyline.
	A shrine halfway up the Tokyo Tower.
	The Tokyo Tower looms overhead.
	The Tokyo Tower casts a shadow over the Zoojooji Temple.

 

Tsukuba
	Seki Sensei and her friends together for a dinner with our Japanese class.
	Helen tests out a watermelon at Daiei. These are about half the size of what you might find in the US.
	Some high-tech toilets on sale at Daiei. Don't push the wrong button!
	The 'bottle cap opener' observation tower in Matsumi Park.
	A rice field on the way to the train station.
	A nice lake at Tsukuba University.
	We get a lecture from Prof. Shoichi Fujita of Hokkaido University.

 

Karaoke
	Our group photo at Karaoke night.
	Tanya and Christine perform some kind of anarchy song?
	Tanya and Steve dancing.

 

Kimono demonstration
	Amanda and I displaying our kimonos.
	Here I am in a kimono. This type was traditionally worn by the samurai class.
	Helen showing off the back of her kimono. The obi is tied in the configuration used by single ladies
	Helen being dressed up by a kimono expert.

 

Tea Ceremony
	Four ladies from the tea ceremony and me. The kanji hanging over my head indicate that the room is used for a tea ceremony.
	Krishna partaking of the tea.
	This is why it's called green tea.
	Serving the tea.
	All of us at the tea cermony.
	Sweets are served after the tea.
	Krishna and Arron get as demonstration in how to turn the cup.

 

Kasama - July 2000
	A view of the countryside from the train on the way to Kasama

 

Tsukuba - July 2000
	Standing in front of the lake at Tsukuba University

 

Tokyo - June 2000
	Near Roppongi, the downtown foreign entertainment district in Tokyo
	Two of the many vending machines that line the streets of Tokyo. Japan has more vending machines per capita than any other country in the world.
	A skinny car by American standards. In Japan this is a minivan.
	The cafeteria courtyard from my room in the Asia Center
	The Honda building. I guess this is where all those Japanese cars were designed.
	A view of the Tokyo Tower from Roppongi
	The base of the Tokyo Tower.