Thursday, June 17, 2010

Japan 24


She is probably thinking, "Silly American tourists, always with their cameras."  There are times in Japan when I feel like I'm on the other end of the stereotype. I was wondering "how do they keep their streets and alleys so clean?" All of them...


Another one of my favorites. This is a very old four story walk-up.
I love how the zig zag of the stairway and all the sharp angles of the rest of the photo, fight for your eye.  



23 comments:

  1. I got here first this time! The staircase actually fooled my eye into thinking that I was looking at a pagoda for a moment - I wonder if that was the intent or just an accident of the architect.

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  2. So are you in Japan? I love the photography. Btw, American streets are clean too. You should come to Russia and see all the trash people throw on the ground.

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  3. Neil - I'm thinking the metal staircase was added years after the fact. I think this building is VERY old. I say that because it looks like most of the plumbing is on the outside...

    Minoccio - Sadly, I do not live in Japan. My wife is Japanese and most of her family lives there. Even the alleys are clean in Japan. I would like to go to Russia someday.

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  4. More amazing shots. I've never been to Japan...so this is a real education.

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  5. Your photos were a topic of conversation in the car, recently. Hubs and I were discussing all the litter and wishing it could be as clean as your pics of Japan. Won't happen, but it's a nice thought.

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  6. I love the "stairway to heaven" shot!

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  7. Maybe they keep their alleys and stairways so clean because they have more respect for their environment than we do here in America. I think on some level americans suffer from entitlement and they think someone else should pick up after them...leave it for the other guy mentality. I don't think this is true of everyone here but I do think it is true of a lot of people. Love the cultural lessons being learned from your pictures. Thanks

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  8. "Silly American tourists, always with their cameras." I loved this line :)

    I too have been impressed with how clean the streets are there, even the alleys that is amazing.

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  9. Really nice black & white tone in these, pat. I love all of the lines in the second!

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  10. Love your B&W pictures. In that old building, I'll bet there is NO elevator. Bet the folks who live on the top floors don't have a weight problem... ha ha

    Great pictures.
    Betsy

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  11. oooooooo. Love that second one especially!

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  12. See if I lived there I could leave the house everyday while getting my cardio. Totally eliminates the need for a gym.

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  13. I am going to schedule your "visual" field trips into my weekly calendar. Beautiful images.. thank you so much!!!

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  14. Blue Wave - Thanks!

    Marlene - I am so happy to be of service!

    Ms A - It's pretty clean where I live, but not anywhere close to Japan. I'm happy to hear of your conversation, thanks!

    Joan - Me too...

    DrSoosie - Respect for the environment is part of it for sure. For some reason the way things look is a reflection on them as people and as individuals. You can see it everytime you eat at a true Japanese restaurant. The prep and presentation is second only to freshness. YUM! just made myself hungry.

    Jimmy - thanks! I gotta dig up a pic that took of a Japanese guy taking a picture of me, while I was taking a picture of him...

    Betsy - Thanks! The humidity during summer is brutal there, so I'm sure you are right..

    Bossy Betty - Thank you!

    Jesse - Most of them are pretty thin, so I guess it works!

    Lynne H. - No, thank you!!!!

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  15. Wonderful fun shots .
    You get the best street shots !!

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  16. AMAZING! i totally love the zig zag staircase as well! I totally agree with you that sometimes i feel like a tourist in my own city lol but isn't that the beauty of it?

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  17. Great shots! Love that staircase, but wouldn't want to have to climb it everyday!

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  18. Interesting architecture. It really does cause you to battle to focus.

    Darryl and Ruth : )

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  19. awesome as always, pat!

    i lived on the 4th floor of a fifth floor walk-up. it was exhausting. just thought i'd throw that in. it was a pre-war building in nyc but the bldg in your pic is much cooler looking.

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  20. Godzilla gets paid a nice salary to keep the streets clean. In turn, he promises not to eat anybody.

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  21. Faye - Thanks! That's what I like to do best. Wander around with a camera.

    Kimberly - I agree. I just need to get out and do it more...

    Marguerite - Thanks, I wouldn't either...I'm gonna come over and get that catfish and shrimp recipe.

    Darryl and Ruth - Lot's of it there

    Ally - thanks! My knees ache just thinking about it...

    Stela - Really? What city is that you SPAM SKANK...

    PTM - With their population, he could probably eat a couple million and they wouldn't notice the loss...

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