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Apr 24 2015 12 Comments

Modern and traditional Japan: A contrast

The serene, almost ethereal beauty of traditional Japan, and the contrasting clamour of modern Tokyo.

modern and traditional Japan

Categorized: Culture, Photography

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Hans ter Horst says

    4/24/2015 at 2:55 pm

    Very cool angle of this red-crowned crane costume and the contrast of the surroundings!

    Reply
    • Lee says

      4/24/2015 at 6:12 pm

      Cheers! It was crowded, and people were trying to get shots all over the place, so I gave up on trying to get one of the women in costume in isolation, and instead went for something a bit different. And in many ways the result is a lot more honest.

      Reply
  2. Al says

    4/24/2015 at 3:14 pm

    Wow, incredible outfit. Stunning! But nobody is looking at her?!!

    Reply
    • Lee says

      4/24/2015 at 6:14 pm

      Definitely a striking outfit. Something I’ve never seen before as well, so a real treat. But there were about half a dozen women dressed the same, so I presume the people were photographing them.

      Reply
  3. Jay says

    4/24/2015 at 6:56 pm

    How fantastically framed. The apartment block in the background does it for me – in addition to emphasising the contrast between traditional and modern Japan, it is also a reminder of the contrast between special and beautiful on the one hand and plain, old everyday life on the other. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Lee says

      4/24/2015 at 7:36 pm

      Thank you for the very nice words!

      Yes, I like the apartment building in the background too. Like you say, it’s a reminder of the mundane and ordinary. Something that young lady in the foreground is certainly not.

      Reply
  4. john says

    4/24/2015 at 8:35 pm

    I do hope it wasn’t someone wishing to book ‘A Flock of Seagulls’ :O0
    a flock of mobiles too – but restrained on the personalised bling!
    Is that an awesome obi?

    Reply
    • Lee says

      4/24/2015 at 10:51 pm

      If A Flock of Seagulls had been there, it’s hard to imagine who would have looked more out of place. Nah, it’s not actually. It’d have been A Flock of Seagulls, wouldn’t it?

      It was. And to top things off, they had moving wings too. All combined, it was a genuinely striking sight.

      Reply
  5. Linda says

    4/25/2015 at 1:36 am

    I’ve had this tab open on my browser since yesterday trying to make an intelligent comment but I am reduced to something like “So. Much. Wow.”

    Reply
    • Lee says

      4/25/2015 at 9:57 am

      That probably sums up the scene as well as anything!

      She was even more of a contrast in real life. A genuinely striking sight.

      Reply
  6. Squidpuppy says

    4/25/2015 at 2:01 am

    Ancient traditions = mostly silly hats? Great shot – one of those that begs a long and complicated story – and a punch line that leaves you scratching your head. Mikosama walks into an izakaya with a crane on her head…

    What shrine is this? I’d like to look up the tradition; see what it’s all about.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      4/25/2015 at 10:02 am

      Haha, yes, hats are generally are given.

      It does make for a slightly surreal sight, doesn’t it? Usual festival wear is interesting, but this was something very special.

      The event was at Senso-ji. A few weeks or so ago. Pretty sure they pop up at another event some other time of the year, but this particular once was a all about the women with the fancy bird head hats.

      Reply

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