Coming Soon: Heaven on Earth in Japan

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Via National Geographic Photo by Diane Cook and Len Jenshel

Here is a very beautiful photo of some Cherry Blossom trees in full bloom at Hirano Shrine in Kyoto. It's breathtaking scenes like this one that can make one really believe that Japan changes into a spectacular "Heaven on Earth" landscape during Springtime. This photo is featured in National Geographic's "Night Gardens" photo gallery.

Related:

Japanese Cherry Blossoms at Himeji Castle

Japanese Cherry Blossoms Near Mt. Fuji

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Kyoto, Japan

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Here is a beautiful photo of the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest in Kyoto, Japan. Actually is located within an area called Sagano which is considered to be a part of Arashiyama. It is said that this grove is exceptionally attractive when there is a slight breeze and the tall bamboo trunks slowly sway back and forth in the springtime. The bamboo from this forest has been used to make many household products, like baskets, cups, boxes and mats at local workshops for hundreds of years.

See also:

Japanese Cherry Blossoms Near Mt. Fuji

Japanese Cherry Blossoms at Himeji Castle

David Bowie as a Japanese Salaryman

Our venerable Japanese News correspondent just sent in this stunning new scoop of David Bowie as a Japanese Salaryman:

Talking of coffee tables, here are some glimpses of a glossy new book by Japanese photographer Masayoshi Sukita. Speed of Life (a snip at £360) shows Sylvian’s direct forebear and antecedent David Bowie posing in Kyoto during a holiday there in 1979 — the time he was hanging out with Sinologist David Kidd.

Bowie, after hinting that Japan was to be his new home, left for New York, explaining that Japan would make him “too Zen”, which would cause him to stop writing.

But perhaps the oddest and most interesting of Sukita’s images, revealed for the first time in the new book, are the studio shots where he portrays Bowie as a salaryman on his way to work, attempting to beat the clock

David Bowie and Masayoshi Sukita are now working together on this new photo book entitled "Speed of Life". This book can be pre-ordered here.

Japanese Women Loincloth Liberation News Video

Reuters reports on the recent comeback of FUNDOSHI ("loincloths" in English) for the liberation of Japanese women:




Well, it would have been a better news report if Reuters had shown an actual woman wearing a liberating loincloth as I had hoped it would. I guess I'll believe it when (and if) I see it. Perhaps it may be time to move to Kyoto?!?!

Japanese Claymation Video 'Pussycat'

Last August I featured an awesome Japanese claymation short film called 'Chainsaw Maid'

Well I just discovered that Takena Nagao (aka "TEINU") has done it once again with another brilliant black comic work entitled "Pussycat":



Be sure to see more of this incredible artist's work at his official website: Takena Nagao

Kyoto, Japan - 'Chainsaw Maid' Claymation Video

By TEINU

Japanese Judo Video From Kyoto University