a Shinto ritual in snow

a Shinto ritual in snow, originally uploaded by photoholic image.

The photo above shows a Shinto ritual held on 3rd February that is the day of SETSUBUN. The SETSUBUN is the day of the winter and spring break and/or divide, and next of that day will be the first of spring which called RISSHUN based on our (East Asian) traditional calender.
The celebration for coming spring was held in lot of snow at Yunishigawa-Onsen where is the famous hot-spring resort in NIKKO, Japan.

wavy pattern drawn by snow on roof

wavy pattern drawn by snow on roof, originally uploaded by photoholic image.

春節祝福

春節祝福　, originally uploaded by photoholic image.

It is said in the old Chinese tradition that the Buddha asked all animals to be gathered and to celebrate New Year in Buddha’s palace. However, only 12 animals like a rat, a cow, a tiger, a rabbit, a dragon, a snake, a horse, a goat, a monkey, a fowl or rooster, a dog and a pig arrived the palace.
As a reward to the arrived animals, the Buddha named a year each of them and decreed that children born in these years would inherit elements of the corresponding animals personality.
The year of 2012 is the Dragon's year based on the Earthly Branches.
People born in 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000 and 2012, those are the Dragon's people who are full of self-confidence, and they are highly intelligent and quick-witted. 　

in the early winter morning

in the early winter morning, originally uploaded by photoholic image.

Hot air balloons were under preparation to take off in the early winter morning. The image was taken by 100-300mm (200-600mm for four-thirds camera) telescope lens. Try to click here for more large size of image.

Wintersweet in bloom

Wintersweet in bloom, originally uploaded by photoholic image.

There are 600 trees of wintersweet in the Roubai-no Sato (means village of wintersweet) in Kami-Nagano located in Kanuma-shi, Tochigi Pref., Japan. The blossoms of wintersweet are now best time to view and so nice scent of flowers drifting around.

Autumn colour in the Nandor Wagner Art Gellery

Autumn colour in the Nandor Wagner Art Gellery, originally uploaded by photoholic image.

I could spend a great day at the Wagner Nandor Art Gallery located in Mashiko town, Tochigi-pref., Japan. Because, I could have a chance to talk with Nandor's wife and I could appreciate many pieces of Nandor's work. Nandore Wagner was born in 1922 in Hungary. He had become world's famous sculptor by his stainless steel sculpture made in Sweden while as a refugee from Hungary. After he got married a Japanese woman, he moved from Sweden to Japan with his wife. Finally, he found the permanent home in Japan. As for more detail about him, I recommend you to refer Nándor Wagner.

Autumn on a bench

Autumn on a bench, originally uploaded by photoholic image.

At the time of the sun moved west, I found the sign of autumn on the bench in the sunlight down through the trees.

Thanksgiving cactus to you, thank you for viewing.

Thanksgiving cactus to you, thank you for viewing., originally uploaded by photoholic image.

The potted cactus has just started to bloom in the soft sunlight coming through window curtains. It is commonly known as the Holiday cactus. Normally, it will be started to bloom between middle of November to end of December. Therefore, it is also called either Thanksgiving cactus or Christmas cactus.

Symboles of The Six Realms in the Buddhism Doctrine

Symboles of The Six Realms in the Buddhism Doctorin, originally uploaded by photoholic image.

In Japan, the six stone statues in the Buddhism temple can be seen in most cases.
These six statues symbolize the Six Realms in the Buddhism doctrine.
These are the God Realm, The Jealous God Realm, the Human Realm, the Animal Realm, the Hungry Ghost Realm and the Hell Realm. Further, the doctrine says that all lives continue to be born and reborn in the Six Realms that is called the Cycle of Rebirth or reincarnation.

burner on, flying up and up into blue sky・・・・・

burner on, flying up and up into blue sky・・・・・, originally uploaded by photoholic image.

A pilot fires up the burner of his hot air balloon to climb up after dropped his marker to the marker-point (a target) on ground. It is one of scenes of the hot air balloon game that who can drop his marker from gondola to nearest point of the target on ground.