For Westerners Japan seems familiar yet very foreign at the same time. It makes for a fascinating mix. Sure, you have English-speaking signs and modern architecture similar to places in Europe and America, but then you have beautiful Shinto temples and people playing Mario Kart on the streets in real life.
Sumo is a Japanese form of ring fighting where one massive wrestler tries to force the other one out of the ring. The fight is part of the Japanese cultural heritage, and the Sumo ringers are regarded as stars and national heroes in the country. The Sumo Ring Hall of Ryogkoku is commonly understood as the birthplace of the sport and is still the most critical competition site. Once a year, on the day of the Tenno on April 29th, the hall is open to the public free of charge. On this day, it is possible to watch the most famous Sumo ringers of the country in training. The following pictures were taken in 2016.
It’s the time of the year when you look back and appreciate it. The highlight of 2016 for me was a backpacking trip to the Far East with friends. I do my share of traveling, especially in Europe, as I work in tourism, but Japan was something else.
It is a fascinating country with a unique and foreign yet familiar culture. We all know Japanese animes, video games, and films. They portray a bustling and modern country yet rich in culture and history. What struck me the most was the friendly and welcoming nature of the Japanese. At the same time, the social rules here are very different, and one would need more time to understand the inner workings of this society. So, I am aware of the snapshot perspective I got. It’s a foreigner’s view, for sure. Nonetheless, I was eager to capture the spirit of what I was seeing: the magnificent temple architecture, marvelous nature, and, last but not least, the people of Japan themselves.
This one is just the first part of a more extended series that will stretch into 2017, possibly over winter. It takes some time to curate these and make them online-ready. So come back occasionally and dive in with me into the Far East.
Every year or two I have the chance to visit magnificent London. Some pictures are following from my visit in March 2016.
Snapshots from a beautiful clear day in Warsaw, Poland.
A couple of months ago, I had the chance to travel to a part of Central Europe I hadn’t been to before. The initial plan was to travel around Northern Bohemia in the Czech Republic. At last, we ventured into the neighboring region of Southern Saxonia, too, as the borderlands are historically and geologically intertwined. The area is shaped by the Elbe River, one of the longest in Europe. Along the river, you’ll find many towns; some are charming and touristy, while others are more industrial in nature (pictures 2, 3, 6). The highlight is the magnificent landscape shaped by sandstone (picture 5). Climb one of the many mountaintops around sunset and enjoy the fantastic view (last photo).
Michael Hoffman Photography 