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Religion

Jun 29 2020 14 Comments

A tourist-free traditional Tokyo wedding

Rainy season, it has to be said, isn’t the nicest time of year. The humidity ramps up enormously, and, as the name suggests, it tends to rain rather a lot. Yet despite such unpleasantness, June is a popular month to get married in, and probably just as popular as a venue is Tokyo’s Meiji Shrine. A money making machine that at the weekend sees up to around 15 weddings in a single day.

Given the surroundings and the ceremonial outfits, the public procession element of each service is quite the spectacle. An aspect that used to garner a huge amount of attention due to the shrine being a popular tourist spot, but it was just me and a young family watching on Saturday. One of the many very visible changes of the world we now live in. A new world in which this young couple are starting a new life in. But it’s a journey they are embarking on together, and one that started out in some style to say the least.

a tourist-free meiji shrine wedding

Categorized: Culture, Photography, Religion

Feb 14 2020 12 Comments

A colourful kimono on a cold and windy day

The blustery weather was absolutely biting, but the colours of this kimono and the late afternoon sun at least offered the suggestion of some warmth.

a colourful and beautiful kimono

Categorized: Culture, Photography, Religion

Jan 29 2020 8 Comments

Buddhist street musician surprise

Tokyo is a city of contrasts, as well as constant surprises, so even if you know what’s round the next corner, you never really know what you are going to see. It could, for example, be a Buddhist playing a bamboo flute. Or possibly even more unexpected, a foreign person taking photographs.

Buddhist street musician in Tokyo

Categorized: Culture, Photography, Religion

May 24 2019 6 Comments

Tokyo festival faces and fatigue

Traditional Japanese festivals are always worth seeing as there’s a unique energy that makes each and every one of them enjoyable. But for those involved, the effort to create that dynamic can clearly be exhausting.

tokyo festival faces and expressions

Categorized: Culture, Photography, Religion

Feb 13 2019 12 Comments

Uniformed nationalists at Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine

On February 11th, which is National Foundation Day, several groups from the far right pay their respects at Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine with a parade of sorts and an official Shinto service. By far the most significant gathering, at least in terms of numbers anyway, is the troop pictured below. A ragtag bunch of characters that I’ve been photographing for quite a few years now — some of the results of which can be seen here.

And this Monday, as ever, was no different, with the same flags, and to be fair, the same respectful solemnity. There were several of the same old faces too. The overall number of participants, on the other hand, was very noticeably down. Now whether that is significant or not I really don’t know, but for a date and event that is clearly so important, it seems an odd one to miss.

An outbreak of flu perhaps, or maybe even an outbreak of common sense? A mystery that might be a little clearer next year. But until then, here are just a few photos from an especially cold and grey day.

Uniformed nationalists at Yasukuni Shrine

Uniformed nationalists at Yasukuni Shrine

Uniformed nationalists at Yasukuni Shrine

Categorized: Photography, Religion

Nov 21 2018 12 Comments

Portrait of a Shinto shrine maiden

Miko, or Shinto shrine maidens, can often be seen selling amulets, taking part in ceremonies, or swiftly moving from one building to another. Young, identically dressed women who once had important roles within the religion, but nowadays are generally just University students helping out on a part-time basis.

Still, regardless of their status, or level of training, getting the chance for a quick portrait isn’t a common occurrence. At least not for me it isn’t, anyway. So here — in monochrome as it seemed best suited to the almost timeless nature of her position — is a rare photo of a Miko quietly going about her business.

portrait of a Japanese shrine maiden or miko

Categorized: Culture, Photography, Religion

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