It's a long way

Indeed it is and I don't mean the pilgrimage on Shikoku - I hope my next approach will be better - I am actually talking about the Kickstarter campaign for my illustrated book.

We've already achieved ~20% but there is still a lot left.

Uwajima

Beside the project page of 日本の城 - Japanese Castles I will show you a few pages of the book giving you a better idea of the book and its 292 pages with 400+ pictures of 19 castles.

There won't be any text, except for the preface giving you the opportunity to completely focus on the pictures. Every chapter is having one page with a family crest, this resemples the daimyo (samurai lord) clan that either build or is connected the most to the history or the relevance of that specific castle, e.g. Fushimi/Momoyama castle in Kyoto got the emblem of the Toyotomi clan, who's leader Hideyoshi built the castle, in Uwajima it's a mixture between the Ashina and Date clan and a 3rd example is about Kiyosu castle which was the residence of Oda Nobunaga.

I would appreciate every support - Thank you!

Aizu-Wakamatsu in Fukushima

Kiyosu Castle in Nagoya

Osaka

Fushimi

Okayama

Hiroshima

日本の城 - Launching next week

After setting up everything we will finally launch 日本の城 - Japanese Castles next week.

I've been working on this artbook about Japanese castles for a few months now and after receiving copies for proof reading last week we can finally go live next week. In this book I share over 400 pictures of 19 Japanese castles on 292 pages.

The Kickstarter campaign will be launched next week: https://lnkd.in/dxFyw86 Please join and support my project to help me publishing this book and make my dream of self publishing come true. Thank you for your support

日本の城 - New photo project on the horizon about Japanese Castles

After successfully finishing my first campaign on Kickstarter about Postcards from Japan's North to South, presenting postcards from Hokkaido to Okinawa, I am currently working on my next project.

日本の城 - Japanese Castles

This project is a picturebook about 19 Japanese castles on 280+ pages. It's been a dream to publish a book about my photos of Japan for years and now I am finally working on it and it's coming soon. hopefully in April.

Here's a small teaser of a few pictures that will end up in the book 🏯

Enjoy and join my campaign💪🙏

Picture of the Day #20 Shinto Marriage at Meiji Shingu

I've visited the Meiji Shingu in Tokyo many times, it's named after Emperor Meiji like the Meiji era / Meiji Restauration as well. This was the historical period where Japan opened to the West, a good movie about that is "Last Samurai" with Tom Cruise or the Manga "Kenshin" and the Anime "Rurouni Kenshin" by Nobuhiro Watsuki.

The easiest way to get to the Yoyogi Park is by getting off at the JR or METRO station of Harajuku

Every Sunday you can see many of those shinto marriages. In this picture the husband and wife to be are under the umbrella, just behind the 2 Miku. Behind the couple the parents and the grandparents are walking.

In this ceremony the bride is "packed" like a gift that is handed over to the broom's family. Taking a big family photograph is also part of that.

Other daily pictures can be found in the Picture of the Day section and on INSTAGRAM, where you can also find a few more pictures about my many trips to Japan, as well as some video game stuff.

Direct Link: Instagram

Picture of the Day #15 - Osaka Castle from above

I've been to the Osaka Castle many times already. When I went there the first time I had been living in Izumi as woofer at a acompany that recycles old video games and modifies consoles, I went to Osaka to meet my friends. The castle is a nice spot in every season.

I ever wanted to see that castle, because it's a very beautiful one and it was very important in uniting Japan. The Castle was built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Today inside of the castle itself there is a museum with astonishing historical artefacts.

Find the other Pictures of the Day and INSTAGRAM for More

Now enjoy the view from the roof of the castle

Picture of the Day #13 - 47 Ronin

Today's Picture of the Day has been taken at the graveyard of the Sengaku-Ji. That's the temple where the 47 Ronin are burried.

The story of the 47 Ronin is about 47 Samurai and their Daimyo (Lord) who has been beheaded, because he has been drawing his sword at another Lord's fortress, which was a crime. Their Daimyo's death made them all stray Ronin.

To win their Lord's honor back they had to kill the their "enemy". After accomplishing this, they all were found guilty and beheaded, too, but they had reclaimed the honor of their master.

It's a story about honor and loyalty, as a gift for being that loyal, the 47 ronin were burried next to their master at Sengaku-Ji.

There are more Pictures of the Day and also my INSTAGRAM

Now enjoy the Picture:

Hiroshima Castle - Picture of the Day #9

I've seen a few Japanese Castles, but most of them are completely made of stone.
This castle's facade is made out of wood as you can see.

Hiroshima is a very nice place, you can explore a lot, Miyajima Island with the famous Itsukushima Shrine with its red Torii, the A-Bomb Dome, the Piece Momunent and many other places, also for pop culture, e.g. the Pokémon Center.

Close to the castle there's one of my favorite shines, especially because of the stamp and writing they gave me for my shuincho.

Click here for my INSTAGRAM and further Pictures of the Day

Anyway, enjoy Hiroshima Castle:

Sanja Matsuri - Picture of the Day #8

In May on the 3rd FR-SU at the Asakusa Jinja in Tokyo you can enjoy the Sanja Matsuri. The Asakusa Jinja is directly next to the Buddhist Senso-Ji Temple. Today's Picture of the Day has been taken at the Evening of the first day.

Here are further Pictures of the Day and INSTAGRAM

Enjoy:

Rain, Mist and some spiritual appearances @Kōya-san

Kōya-san - It's the center of the Shingon Buddhism which was founded by Kūkai.
A spiritual place with hundrets of temples and a giant graveyard with famous historical graves (e.g. Date Masamune, etc.) which is leading to Kūkai himself.

People pray to him, especially pilgrims who went or want to go on the pilgrimage on Shikoku pray to him for a safe journey or to "report" their experience.

When I came here, there was a special flaire, maybe it was just the rain and mist, but it felt much spiritual than just some sort of weather, you will understand, when you see those specific pictures.

Here they are - Mt. Kōya

 

 

 

 

 

When I come here next time, I will pray for a safe pilgrimage myself.
PEACE OUT!!!