Yum Yum

This is a part two entry of Itsukushima shrine (厳島神社) on Miyajima island (宮島).

Yum!

Deers are thought of as sacred in the native Shinto religion because they are considered messengers of gods. 

Yum Yum!

Deers in Miyajima island have lived on the island for 6,000 years. After the world war II when Japan was under the GHQ's occupation, deers were hunt by the occupation army and their population fell drastically down so that deers were transferred from Kasuga Taisha (春日大社) in Nara. Since then they have been half-domesticated and fed by natives and tourists, the population recovered. 

Yum Yum Yum!

Well, now it seems overpopulated and they are notorious for eating maps!!!

A Pair Of Monkeys Part 2

Photographed in Nikko city, Tochigi Prefecture. A poor little baby is clinging to its mom.

If you want to know more about them, please click the image below.

This is a Sepia Scenes #118 and Alphabe-Thursday entry. P is for Pair and Poor.

           

Yabusame Performance

Yabusame (流鏑馬) performance was dedicated to the Shinto deity, Toyokiiribiko (豊城入彦命), at Futaarayama Shrine (二荒山神社) in Utsunomiya downtown.
The performance took place last November during Kikusui Festival (菊水祭) but the photo I'm posting today...

Why?

I have been thinking about "Sacred horse" and "Ema (絵馬)" today. Lina, one of the lovely participants in "Show Me Japan", posted a beautiful B&W photo of "Ema" on her blog and I left a comment on it. Then I was asked to elaborate on this issue. And so I did with its historical background included.

Today on my blog, I might as well post a photo of an archer shooting an arrow while riding on a sacred horse!


This is a Camera Critters #144 and Sunday In My City entry.

               

A Pair Of Monkeys

Whenever I stop at the parking lot of Akechidaira (Nikko city) in the morning, I see monkeys digging through trash bins and licking disposable dishes. It's so heartbreaking to see what they do but that's the reality. They got to survive harsh winter, especially the mom who takes care of her baby.

While the mom is having "breakfast", the baby monkey hangs on her belly. The baby does not lick dishes because Mom still breastfeeds it.

What can I do for them??    Well, I photographed them.

Turtle vs Carp - Water "P"olo in the "P"ond???

At Tokyo Ueno Park - a water polo match took place between the Ninja Turtles and the Carps.

This is a Watery Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday, and ABC Wednesday - P is for "P"ond and water "P"olo.

             

Time to Take Off

Two ducks splashed water and broke the silence early in the morning.