sashimi bytes

Camera shop, Tenjin, Fukuoka

Disused cafe, Hakata, Fukuoka

This cafe has been abandonded for a couple of months,
but won't stay that way long in busy Fukuoka. It will
be another thriving bar, cafe, ramen shop or something
to do with food and entertaining in next to no time.

Alice in wonderland, Fukuoka

Is this Alice, dragging the mad hatter to a tea party?
I see this a lot in Harajuku, a fair bit in Osaka, but not
too often in Fukuoka. A very Japanese outfit, I think.

Stop smoking! Hakata, Fukuoka

Unfortunately, more and more high school girls seem
to be taking up the smoking habit. I have had it explained
to me by Japanese men that smoking doesn't really cause
lung cancer in Asians. That it is a western disease.
I think a review of the stats would indicate otherwise.
Young women smoking is the only growing group of
smokers here.

Macca's, Tenjin, Fukuoka

Like Macdonalds all over Japan, this one is a magnet for hungry
schoolchildren on their way home from Sunday study, or cram school.

And no matter what the young women in blue in the background
is dressed like, she is only handing out mobile phone company
promotional material.

Love hotel and Koban, neighbours.

Not a Casino, but a Fukuoka love hotel, adjacent to
the local Koban, or police station. Not sure who was there
first, but they seem to co-exist peacefully. Everybody
minds themselves well in Japan.

Soccer fan, Fukuoka

This was taken just a couple of hours before the Japan v. Croatia
game. Maybe the forced smile means she knew of the likely
outcome.

Old bicycle rickshaws, Moji Station.

These bicycle rickshaws are on display in the old Mojiko station. The station is a beautiful
old building, too, said to be modelled after the Termini Station in Rome.

Dying iris, Yamato Iris Farm.

This Iris Farm has 40,000 Japanese iris bulbs planted, and they are currently
in full bloom. I like photographing them, especially when they are fading,
as they make more complex and interesting shapes.

Strauss Waltz, Saga Iris Farm.

The Japanese irises are in full bloom around parts of Japan at the moment. This iris farm in
Saga is failrly new, but has some very spectacular displays. This cascade of blooms
reminds me of a Strauss waltz.