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Dec 12 2014 10 Comments

Lost in time and place: A Buddhist pilgrim in Tokyo

Tokyo is a city of almost constant contrasts, whether they be the old and new, rich and poor, or gentle and perhaps not so gentle. Juxtapositions that never fail to fascinate. And the sight of a Buddhist pilgrim walking through Ginza, the capital’s homage to high-end consumerism, was definitely no different.

Japanse Buddhist pilgrim in Tokyo

Categorized: Photography, Religion

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Martin says

    12/12/2014 at 2:36 pm

    Have to wonder if he’s trying to make a statement in a quiet way. Beautiful shot.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      12/12/2014 at 3:08 pm

      Cheers!

      That’s a very good point. As unassuming as she — I’m pretty sure it’s a woman — was, she turned a lot of heads due to her wonderfully out of place appearance. Whether she made people think is another thing altogether, but she did make them look.

      Reply
  2. Hans ter Horst says

    12/12/2014 at 6:07 pm

    The walking stick of the henro represents Kōbō Daishi. When you stop for the day, the first thing you do is to wash the bottom of the stick (symbolizing washing the Daishi’s feet) then you can take care of yourself. I walked the pilgrimage of Chichibu (very recommended and so close to Tokyo) and intend to walk the Kannon pilgrimage of Tokyo next year. Best thing I ever did in Japan and I visited many times: http://monochrome.me.uk/news/tag/pilgrimage/

    Reply
    • Lee says

      12/13/2014 at 11:20 am

      Interesting. Cheers, didn’t know that.

      Remember reading your account of it a while ago. Very clear from your write-up how much you enjoyed it.

      Reply
  3. Bernadette Marchetti says

    12/13/2014 at 12:22 am

    I always think of Japan as a country of juxtapositions. It’s one of the reasons why Japan fascinates me so much. I love the pictures you have that really highlight the seemingly contradictory nature of Japan. This one is a beautiful example.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      12/13/2014 at 11:22 am

      Thanks!

      Yes, it really is. Such contrasts are everywhere. And likewise, it’s one of the aspects of living here that I really get a lot out of.

      Reply
  4. Once An Expat says

    12/13/2014 at 10:13 pm

    Perhaps its the other way around??

    Reply
    • Lee says

      12/14/2014 at 10:17 am

      Yes, maybe it is. Looking at it that way puts things into a very different perspective.

      Reply
  5. Makky says

    12/15/2014 at 12:50 pm

    Hi, I’m a Japanese, living in Saitama PREF.
    Your viewpoint about Japanese is laser-eyed and very interesting.
    We have lock-step mentality, hate failure and standing out furiously in Japan.

    BTW Ginza is my favorite plece to shoot.
    Your pictures are very good.
    Want to see your pictures in Ginza.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      12/15/2014 at 3:56 pm

      Thank you very much!

      To be honest, Ginza isn’t really my kind of place, but the light is lovely on a nice day, and on a Sunday especially it does have a nice atmosphere.

      Reply

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