Tag: ‘Landscape’

Time-lapse video of slightly darkened Tokyo

19 Apr 2011


+ Video

By fading back and forth between scenes of pre- and post-quake Tokyo, this time-lapse video by YouTube user darwinfish105 shows how the metropolitan nightscape has been affected by Japan's ongoing power shortages and conservation efforts.

Decorated gas tanks

10 Mar 2011

Local gas companies occasionally add a touch of character to the giant spherical gas containers that dot the landscape of Japan. Here are a few examples.

Decorated gasholder in Japan --
Nicotan (mascot of Shibata Gas) -- Shibata, Niigata prefecture [via]

Decorated gastank in Japan --
Watermelon -- Tomisato, Chiba prefecture [via]

Decorated gas holder in Japan --
Hikari-chan and Gatto-kun -- Niigata [via]

Decorated gas tank in Japan --
Zen monk-poet Ryōkan -- Tsubame, Niigata prefecture [via]

Decorated gasholder in Japan --
Soccer ball -- Kiryū, Gunma prefecture [via]

Decorated gastank in Japan --
Tokkikki (Niigata prefectural mascots) -- Niigata [via]

Decorated gas holder in Japan --
Ōnyūdō -- Yokkaichi, Mie prefecture

Decorated gas tank in Japan --
Peach -- Akaiwa, Okayama prefecture [via]

Decorated gasholder in Japan --
Ouchi dolls -- Yamaguchi prefecture [via]

Decorated gastank in Japan --
Welcome to Isesaki -- Gunma prefecture [via]

Decorated gas holder in Japan --
"Taisha" wheeled fish toy -- Niigata [via]

Decorated gas tank in Japan --
Morioka Gas character dancing the Sansa Odori -- Morioka, Iwate prefecture [via]

Decorated gasholder in Japan -- Decorated gastank in Japan --
Bunbuku Chagama tanuki -- Gunma prefecture [via] // Origami cranes -- Mie prefecture [via]

Gas holder art in Japan --
Japanese irises -- Niigata [via]

Gas tank art in Japan --
Watermelon -- Takizawa, Iwate prefecture [via]

Decorated gasholder in Japan --
Godai-chan (tourism mascot for the city of Kashihara) -- Nara prefecture [via]

Decorated gastank in Japan --
Kōfu, Yamanashi prefecture [via]

Decorated gas holder in Japan --
Kintarō -- Saitama [via]

Decorated gas tank in Japan --
Flowers and butterflies -- Niigata prefecture [via]

Decorated gasholder in Japan --
Artist's conception of Nintendo Kirby tanks [via]

Photos: ‘Snow monsters’ of Japan

04 Feb 2011

Ghostly trees covered in snow and rime ice -- known as "snow monsters" or juhyou (frost-covered trees) in Japanese -- are a celebrated feature of the winter landscape in mountainous areas of northern Japan. Here are a few photos.

Snow monster --
Hakkōda Mountains, Aomori prefecture [via]

Snow monsters --
Hakkōda Mountains, Aomori prefecture [via]

Ice monster --
Mt. Moriyoshi, Akita prefecture [via]

Snow monster --
Hakkōda Mountains, Aomori prefecture [via]

Ice monster --
Mt. Zao, Yamagata prefecture [via]

Trees covered in rime ice --
Mt. Moriyoshi, Akita prefecture [via]

See more photos of Japanese "snow monsters" »

Video: Tokyo drainage tunnel cruise

25 Oct 2010

The Tamori Club late-night variety show recently took a boat cruise through a system of drainage tunnels beneath central Tokyo.


+ Video

Here are a few highlights of the trip.

1:00 - The boat approaches the tunnel entrance, located on the Kanda River next to Mansei-bashi Bridge near Akihabara. The drainage tunnel -- known as the Ochanomizu Diversion Channel -- runs 1.3 kilometers and rejoins the river upstream near JR Suidobashi station. The tunnel is not designed for boat traffic.

2:10 - Tamori tests the echo inside the tunnel.

2:25 - The painted numbers indicate the distance in meters from the entrance.

2:35 - The tunnel measures about 8 meters from floor to ceiling. The water level easily reaches the ceiling after a heavy rain.

3:00 - The boat approaches a round section of tunnel dug with a shield machine. This portion of the tunnel is 8.8 meters in diameter and 760 meters long.

3:50 - The passengers view the rails of a ceiling-mounted crane system used during construction. The crane was used to erect a water barrier to keep the construction area dry.

4:00 - The boat passes a floodgate tunnel on the left.

5:00 - The boat passes a sign reading "Eidan Ochanomizu Station." This type of sign was placed in the tunnel during construction to indicate the nearby infrastructure. Due to its proximity to the subway station, this part of the tunnel is built with extra reinforcements.

5:30 - The boat passes a similar sign for Ochanomizu-bashi Bridge.

5:55 - The boat passes a similar sign for Century Tower, a 19-floor office building.

6:00 - A smaller tunnel branches off to the right. The tunnel is too small for a boat, and the guide is not sure where it leads.

6:50 - The round section of tunnel opens up into a large chamber. During construction, this was a vertical shaft used to lower the shield machine underground. The rails of a ceiling-mounted crane system are visible overhead. A ladder leads up to a manhole on the street.

7:50 - The exit comes into view. Another tunnel continues past the exit for another 1.6 kilometers.

8:30 - The boat exits the tunnel and continues up the Kanda River.

9:30 - The boat passes a pipe pumping water out of the leaky Suidobashi subway station (Mita line).

11:00 - The boat enters another tunnel (Suidobashi Diversion Channel No.2), which runs for 500 meters.

Japanese cityscapes with monster-sized wildlife

17 Sep 2010

Artist Shuichi Nakano's "Searching for Paradise" paintings depict Godzilla-sized animals towering over the urban sprawl of Japan.

Painting by Shuichi Nakano --
夢の途中 (In the midst of a dream)

Painting by Shuichi Nakano --
初秋の風、夏の余韻 (Early autumn wind, lingering memory of summer)

Painting by Shuichi Nakano --
5時25分の寒気 (Chill at 5:25)

Painting by Shuichi Nakano --
真昼の記憶 (Memory of noon)

Painting by Shuichi Nakano --
荒天の予感 (Premonition of storm)

Painting by Shuichi Nakano --
帰り道を忘れて (Forgetting the way home)

Painting by Shuichi Nakano --
(Title unknown)

Painting by Shuichi Nakano --
春の園 (Spring garden)

Painting by Shuichi Nakano --
楽園を捜して (Searching for paradise)

Video: Inter // States

08 Sep 2010

Inter // States is the latest Tokyo time-lapse piece by photographer Samuel Cockedey. The soundtrack is "Paradigm Flux (Tokyo Cut)" by Woob, from the new "Paradigm Flux" EP (listen).

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo scenery

19 Aug 2010

The illustrations of TokyoGenso (a.k.a. Tokyo Fantasy) depict a post-apocalyptic Tokyo devoid of people and overtaken by nature.

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Shinjuku skyline [+]

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by TokyoGenso --
Tokyo Big Sight [+]

Tokyo in ruins, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Rainbow Bridge [+]

Tokyo in ruins, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Moai statue at Shibuya station [+]

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Kabuki-za Theater, Ginza [+]

Tokyo apocalypse, illustration by Tokyo Fantasy --
Mode HAL iKO Building, Shinjuku [+]

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by TokyoGenso --
Poster for "The Book of Eli" (Japanese title: "The Walker") [+]

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --  Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Gundam // Tokyogenso Robot

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Tokyo Sky Tree [+]

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Sofmap Akihabara [+]

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Haneda Airport [+]

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Cover of Liberal Time, September 2010

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Akihabara [+]

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Saigō Takamori statue, Ueno

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Poster for "The Book of Eli" (a.k.a. "The Walker) - Osaka version [+]

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Osaka street scene - Tsūtenkaku Tower [+]

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Osaka street scene - Billiken [+]

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Osaka street scene [+]

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Hato Bus [+]

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Tokyo Monorail [+]

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --  Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Shibuya station (Fukutoshin Line) // Seibu Shibuya

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
"Manneken Pis" statue at Hamamatsuchō station

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Ueno [+]

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Tokyo Tower [+]

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Shinjuku station [+]

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Hanayashiki amusement park, Asakusa [+]

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
McDonald's [+]

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Yoyogi station [+]

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Nakano station [+]

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Akihabara [+]

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Shibuya [+]

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Wako Building, Ginza [+]

[Links: tokyogenso blog, pixiv, deviantART]

Floating point: Tokyo time-lapse

15 Jul 2010

"Floating point," the latest Tokyo time-lapse video by photographer Samuel Cockedey, features views of Rainbow Bridge, Shinagawa station, Ikebukuro, Ochanomizu, and Tsukishima.


+ Video

Photos: Rice paddy art (2010)

13 Jul 2010

This year's selection of rice paddy art has begun to crop up in fields across Japan.

Rice paddy crop art in Japan, 2010 --
Rice paddy art in Inakadate (Aomori prefecture) [photo]

Two historical figures -- the legendary warrior-monk Benkei (left) and the warrior Ushiwakamaru, a.k.a. Minamoto no Yoshitsune (right) -- have emerged in a pair of fields in the Aomori prefecture town of Inakadate. For nearly 20 years, the town has prided itself as home to Japan's finest rice crop art, which is created by carefully arranging different colors of rice plants in the field.

Rice paddy crop art in Japan, 2010 --
Benkei (left) and Ushiwakamaru (right) [photo]

Rice paddy crop art in Japan, 2010 --
Benkei [photo]

Rice paddy crop art in Japan, 2010 --
Ushiwakamaru [photo]

Rice paddy crop art in Japan, 2010 --
Ushiwakamaru in late June [photo]

Rice paddy crop art in Japan, 2010 --
View of Ushiwakamaru at ground level [photo]

Rice paddy crop art in Japan, 2010 --
Ushiwakamaru [photo]

Rice paddy crop art in Japan, 2010 --
Benkei [photo]

Rice paddy crop art in Japan, 2010 --
View of Benkei at ground level


+ Video of Inakadate rice paddy art (filmed in late June)

* * * * *

Here are a few more works of rice paddy art from other parts of Japan.

Rice paddy crop art in Japan, 2010 --
Animals in Asahikawa (Hokkaido) [photo]

Rice paddy crop art in Japan, 2010 --
Animals in Asahikawa (Hokkaido) [photo]

Rice paddy crop art in Japan, 2010 --
Samurai Keiji Maeda in Yonezawa (Yamagata prefecture) [photo]

Rice paddy crop art in Japan, 2010 --
View from top of Keiji Maeda's head [photo]

Rice paddy crop art in Japan, 2010 --
Princess Okaiko, a local folklore figure, in the town of Shirataka (Yamagata prefecture) [photo]

Rice paddy crop art in Japan, 2010 --
Rice paddy art at Denpark in Anjo (Aichi prefecture) [via]

Rice paddy crop art in Japan, 2010 --
Rice paddy art at Sakakibara onsen (Mie prefecture) [photo]

Rice paddy crop art in Japan, 2010 --
Ducks near Fukushimagata Lagoon Water Park (Niigata prefecture) [via]

Rice paddy crop art in Japan, 2010 --
Ground level view of ducks near Fukushimagata Lagoon Water Park (Niigata prefecture) [photo]

Rice paddy crop art in Japan, 2010 --
Ducks near Fukushimagata Lagoon Water Park (Niigata prefecture) [via]

Rice paddy crop art in Japan, 2010 --
Buddhist sword dancer and Anpanman in the Mizusawa area (Iwate prefecture) [photo]

Rice paddy crop art in Japan, 2010 --
Anpanman in the Mizusawa area (Iwate prefecture) [photo]

More:
- Rice paddy art, 2009
- Time-lapse video of rice paddy art, 2008
- Rice paddy art harvest, 2007
- Rice paddy art, 2007