Taiwan & Japan

View of Tokyo from Shibuya looking out toward the south east part of the city.

Protesters gathered at Shibuya Station in opposition to a bill that would give permanent foreign residents local election voting rights in Japan.

The U.S. was mentioned in a flyer that was passed out at the demonstration. "In the United States, the green card holder doesn't have the suffrage. Even if he pays a high enterprise tax and resides for years. The suffrage is a right of the people in the country regardless of payment of taxes or the residence years."

Better safe than sorry! At our hostel in Taito.

A statue in Taito.

A five-storied pagoda in Asakusa Park.

Still life at Asakusa. A sister to "Still life at Shilin" in the archive under November 16.

Toy store on Hanayasiki-dori.

Rickshaws near Asakusa Park.

Outdoor eating with shelter from the rain.

Posing at Sensouji Temple.

A man and his dog in Taito.

Closed shop.

I can get my food by myself.

In Harajuku.

Fun in Harajuku.

As far as the eye can see on Takeshita Street.

Takeshita overwhelms.

Street art.

Clothing shoot in Harajuku.

Harajuku.

Vending machine-style shelving for t-shirts in tubes at UniGlo.

Shopping.

A Last Supper of sorts in Dogenzaka.

Shibuya.

But are they having more fun? In Shibuya.

The boys can rap in Shibuya.

Taking time for a pose in Shibuya.

On her way to work passing out flyers in Akihabara.

Akihabara, an old-video-game-seeker's delight.

Time for drawing in the cafe.

An old man trying to make chit-chat with the school girls while another man looks on, perhaps with some suspicion? Ueno Park.

Omikuji fortunes at Toshogu Temple. The good fortunes are taken home. The bad ones are tied to a rack at the shrine, where the divine spirit can exorcise them.

Ema votive plaques (to write your wish on) at Toshogu Temple in Ueno.

Shimenawa and shime in Nikko. Plaited rope and white paper are placed at the entrances of holy places to ward off evil spirits.

Near the Toshogu and Futarasan Shrines in Nikko.

Syorow bell tower being rung to announce the time. Near Sanbutsu-doh Hall in Nikko.

To the left is the birthplace of the Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil, See No Evil monkeys. The girls decided, however, to recreate only the "See No Evil" part. At the Nikko World Heritage site.

Kannushi having a chat at Rinnoji Temple in Nikko.

Torii gate and fall colors.

Men play a board game in the Raohe Street Night Market.

Snacks at Raohe Street Night Market.

A caged kitten awaits adoption in a pet store in the Raohe Street Night Market.

Trevor had to try his hand at another shooting game, this time at the Raohe Street Night Market (last time at the Shilin Night Market). He won a little more than a pencil this time around--he won an alligator keychain!

"No Discount. Thank You." in just about every language. In a store in the Raohe Street Night Market.

Game pieces in a store in the Raohe Street Night Market.

Trevor checking out the goods in a store in the Raohe Street Night Market.

"The More Beautiful as Night Come", a sculpture by Chao Ching Lin in the Raohe Street Night Market. Trevor took this well-angeled shot.

Guava for sale at Raohe Street Night Market.

Ciyou Temple at the end of Raohe Street.

A monk at Ciyou Temple let me take his picture. After showing him the picture in the camera's preview screen, he bowed.

Ciyou Temple is over 4 stories, all full of ornate carvings.

A pile of ghost money waiting to be burned at Ciyou Temple. The "money" is burned in little stoves around the temple to win the favor of various Gods.

Ciyou Temple lanterns and the rain.

Entering a prayer room in Ciyou Temple.

One of many of Ciyou Temple's decorated roofs.

This explosion of bags and boxes of clothing is actually the Wufenpu Wholesale Market near Raohe.

Crowding through Taipei Main Station.

Home to over 600,000 works of art, The National Palace Museum was originally founded in 1925 in the Forbidden City and later moved to the hinterlands of China (in prep for the Sino-Japanese War) before making its way to Taiwan during the civil war between the Nationalists and the Communists.