A Kagura Dance of Shrine Maidens at Kameido Tenjin The wisteria were late. I had come to Kameido Tenjin Shrine, famed for its cascading purple flowers, hoping to capture the peak of its annual festival in 2024. Instead, I found mostly green leaves and closed buds. With my primary photo opportunity gone, I wandered the…
Falconry at Hama Rikyu Gardens (January 2020) Every January, the ancient sport of falconry returns to Tokyo’s Hama Rikyu Gardens. It’s a nod to history, as Japan’s shoguns once used these grounds to hunt ducks with their prized birds. While those times are gone, falconers who keep the tradition alive showcase their skills over a…
Tokyo Auto Salon 2017: Cars, Culture, and a Dental Crisis Tokyo Auto Salon 2017 happened long ago. It was enormous fun, eventually. But my first problem was fixing a tooth problem. I was in tremendous pain and needed a dentist that morning. Luckily, he was free and saw me immediately. That cost me thirty minutes,…
Tsukuba RC Arena: The Ultimate RC Car Circuit The moment you step inside Tsukuba RC Arena, the air itself feels electric. It’s a symphony of sound—the high-pitched whine of brushless motors, the quiet hiss of tires on polished concrete, and the focused murmurs of drivers in the pits. This isn’t just a race track; it’s…
A Photographer’s Guide to Emperor Akihito’s 83rd Birthday Visiting the Tokyo Imperial Palace on December 23 How often do you get the chance to photograph a reigning monarch from just fifty meters away? On December 23, 2016, I had that very opportunity. With my camera in hand, I joined a massive crowd heading to the…
Keio Plaza Hotel Hinamatsuri 2017 Hinamatsuri 2017 was good. Do you know the event? Doll’s Day is another name for it. Japan celebrates it on March 3. Families pray for their daughter’s health, prosperity, and happiness. For the event, families display a set of Hina dolls. It’s a great cultural tradition. Photographers love it too….
JASDF Iruma Air Base Open Day 2019: Aviation Photography Have you ever wanted to get up close to Japan’s most powerful military aircraft? Imagine standing just meters away as their engines roar to life, feeling the vibrations in your chest. Then, just minutes later, watch them perform jaw-dropping passes directly overhead. That was the incredible…
Tokyo Motorcycle Show 2025: A Photographer’s Guide & Gallery In March 2025, the air at Tokyo Big Sight was electric with the buzz of thousands of motorcycle lovers, and I was right there in the thick of it. It was my first time going to the Tokyo Motorcycle Show and it did not disappoint. It’s…
A Photographer’s Look Back at Tokyo Game Show 2016 The Tokyo Game Show in 2016 was a spectacle of epic proportions, a celebration of games, cutting-edge tech, and dazzling cosplay. With excitement for new releases and virtual reality taking center stage, I plunged into the final day’s crowd with my camera, ready to capture the…
Sanja Matsuri 2017 Photo Journal from Asakusa This post focuses on my photographic experience at Sanja Matsuri 2017. If you are planning a future trip to the event, check out my [Sanja Festival: A Photographer’s Guide] for full information. Asakusa is rarely quiet, but every May during the Sanja Festival (Sanja Matsuri), this historic district…
Yokohama Custom Hot Rod Show 2019 Prep Day The first thing that hit me in the cavernous Pacifico Yokohama hall for the Mooneyes Hot Rod Custom Show Prep Day wasn’t the smell of fresh paint or gasoline. It was the sight of a meticulously polished purple Mercury hot rod covered with flames painted all over…
Tokyo Motor Show 2017: A Car Photographer Saw the Future It was a long time ago, but stepping into Tokyo Motor Show 2017 at Tokyo Big Sight felt like walking onto a movie set for a sci-fi blockbuster. The theme for the 45th edition of the show was “Beyond the Motor,” with a strong focus…
Oji Fox Parade: Tokyo’s Magical New Year’s Eve Most New Year’s Eves find me cozying up at home, but an ancient legend brought me into the chilly Tokyo night. On the last evening of 2019, hundreds of us gathered near Oji Station, not for fireworks, but to follow a procession of foxes to Shozoku Inari…
Yabusame: Photos from Meiji Shrine Grand Autumn Festival The first rider thundered past, a blur of hitatare silk, a bow, and arrows. This was Yabusame, a Shinto ritual of horseback archery that dates back to the sixth century. The goal is simple: hit three paper targets while charging down a 218-meter course. But watching the…
Surviving the Sumida River Fireworks Festival Do you want to see Tokyo’s biggest fireworks festival and one million spectators? That sounds like a recipe for disaster for a people-shy photographer like me. In July 2016, armed with a camera, I braved the throngs and went to the Sumida River to photograph it. A night of…
Shibuya Halloween 2016: Photographing Japan’s Biggest Party My first Shibuya Halloween in 2016. When I stepped out of the station, I was shocked. I had never seen the sheer scale of such a crowd. It was a true “people overload,” with a costumed sea of humanity flooding the world’s most famous pedestrian crossing. Many were…