TRAVEL 67 : Chris Willson Photography

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Awa Odori – Tokushima City

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Awa Odori – Tokushima City

Awa Odori, one of the great Japanese dance festivals. It takes place every August in Tokushima City on Shikoku Island.

Awa Odori – Tokushima City

I photographed the festival about 5 years ago, before I started shooting digital. In many way things have changed a great deal. I’m shooting far more frames and I’m using higher ISOs when needed. However, the job of getting the images is just the same. Before the event it’s logistics and paperwork, then travel, and on the day of the festival it’s all about interaction and hopefully artistic vision.

Awa Odori – Tokushima City

The change to digital did mean I could sit on the train back to Okayama and review the day’s images. Otherwise, I’d have had to dump a bag of 220 rolls off at Yodobashi Camera and then patiently wait to see what develops…

Awa Odori – Tokushima City

A few of the elegant girls and ladies taking part.

Awa Odori – Tokushima City

Back to School

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Tomoko – Pre-Med

The start of September means that for many it’s back to school. My friend Tomoko left Okinawa and headed back to the States to continue on her journey to become a dentist. Good luck with your studies Tomoko-chan!

Haruyoshi Shimabukuro, 8th dan Uechi-ryu.

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Haruyoshi Shimabukuro, 8th dan Uechi-ryu.

Haruyoshi Shimabukuro, 8th dan Uechi-ryu. Photographed at the Naha Budokan, Sept 1, 2014

Haruyoshi Shimabukuro, 8th dan Uechi-ryu.

Pumpkin by Yayoi Kusama

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Giant yellow pop art pumpkin by the Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama. Benesse Art Site Naoshima, Japan

Giant yellow pop-art pumpkin by the Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama. Photographed at the Benesse Art Site Naoshima, Japan.

Giant yellow pop art pumpkin by the Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama. Benesse Art Site Naoshima, Japan

Silver Zone

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Silver Zone – Naoshima, Japan

In Japan, the aging population means Silver Zone warning signs are becoming more prevalent. I wonder if they purposely went with a charming Charlie Chaplin style character.

Photographed on Naoshima, Japan.

Morinobu Maeshiro, 9th dan Shorin-ryu Karate

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Morinobu Maeshiro, 9th dan Shorin-ryu Karate

Morinobu Maeshiro, 9th dan Shorin-ryu Karate of Shido Kan Musei Juku Dojo. Photographed at Naha Budokan Sept 1st 2014

Morinobu Maeshiro, 9th dan Shorin-ryu Karate

The Tobacconist

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Murao the Tobacconist

Met up with photographer Trevor Williams in Okayama and spent the day checking out Naoshima Island in the Seto Inland Sea. Driving around the island we spotted an old store squeezed between more modern buildings.

Murao the Tobacconist

Murao is an 83-year-old tobacconist who defiantly sells his cigarettes and non-safety matches just has he has done for more than half a century. The sign next to his window says, Kyo mo genki da! Tobako ga umai, which roughly translates as, Today I’m also healthy. Tobacco is delicious.

Murao the Tobacconist

The future of tobacconists is literally on Murao’s doorstep. A cigarette vending machine with taspo age identification sits beside his store. Murao however doesn’t seem worried. Against all the odds, he’s happy and healthy, still puffing away.

Cigarette vending machine with taspo. Naoshima, Japan.

Poker Queen

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Tomoko, a.k.a. the Ryukyu Queen, is a card shark without compare. Some believe that Lady Gaga wrote the song Pokerface after loosing to Tomoko in an underground Texas hold ’em tournament.

Masahiro Nakamoto – Hanshi 10th dan, Okinawa Dentou Kobudo

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Masahiro Nakamoto – Hanshi 10th dan, Okinawa Dentou Kobudo

Masahiro Nakamoto – Hanshi 10th dan, Okinawa Dentou Kobudo. Photographed inside and outside Naha’s Budokan on July 18th, 2014.

Masahiro Nakamoto – Hanshi 10th dan, Okinawa Dentou Kobudo

Soma Nomaoi – Mock Battles with Real Danger

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Soma Nomaoi Samurai Horseman Festival, Fukushima, Japan

As explained in the previous Soma Nomaoi blog, banners float down from the sky and riders who catch them win prizes. Obviously catching them inflight is the preferred method, which is why the men have canes with which to grab the banners. However, if the banner makes it to the floor, the brave will spring from their steed and, surrounded by galloping horses, make a grab for the banner.

Soma Nomaoi Samurai Horseman Festival, Fukushima, Japan

Dozens of horses, ridden by men gazing skywards, all hurtling towards the same place. Ambulances are on standby.

Soma Nomaoi Samurai Horseman Festival, Fukushima, Japan

On two occasions horses were knocked to the ground, each time the rider’s leg was pinned beneath the horse’s flank. Eventually the horses got back to their feet, but in both cases the rider was taken off to hospital to get checked out.