Showing posts tagged japan

Webcam in Tomioka, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan

I came across this webcam yesterday while goofing off on Wikipedia.  It’s located in the city of Tomioka, in the Fukushima prefecture.  The webcam itself is looking south on what appears to be Route 6, and any traffic you see heading towards the camera is very likely heading towards the Fukushima power plant.  If you look closely, you can see the bus and truck drivers wearing radiation suits.  

What really strikes me about this is how still everything is.  Traffic is sparse but somewhat steady, but most of the time all that’s in frame are the houses, the gas station, and the blinking yellow traffic light.  And at night, all that’s visible is the traffic light and the street lamp.

Occasionally a bird will glide into frame, and then back out.  And the light blinks on. 

Motorcycle Triptych I shot in Morioka. Kodak 400 ISO film, 35mm, Pentax SV. View high resolution

Motorcycle Triptych I shot in Morioka.

Kodak 400 ISO film, 35mm, Pentax SV.

Pictures of Tsunami-struck areas in Japan, after the tsunami and three months after the tsunami.   I can’t believe it’s been three months already. View high resolution

Pictures of Tsunami-struck areas in Japan, after the tsunami and three months after the tsunami.  

I can’t believe it’s been three months already.

Festival Stalls, Hachinohe.  Feb. 2011 View high resolution

Festival Stalls, Hachinohe.  Feb. 2011

So this played at nearly every commercial break after the earthquake in Japan.  It’s all just “aisatsu,” or greetings.  My favorite is the Good Morning Eel, the “Ohaiyo-unagi,” or that black thing with flowers.

The Japanese Tradition:  Oragami

The Japanese Tradition:  Chopsticks

A very empty Shinkansen area in Morioka Station.  The good news is, the main line (local) trains are running down to Hanamaki, where a flight a day is leaving for Haneda Airport.   View high resolution

A very empty Shinkansen area in Morioka Station.  The good news is, the main line (local) trains are running down to Hanamaki, where a flight a day is leaving for Haneda Airport.  

A building near Morioka Station.  Though power was back on (Monday the 14th), this clock was stopped at the time when the earthquake happened. View high resolution

A building near Morioka Station.  Though power was back on (Monday the 14th), this clock was stopped at the time when the earthquake happened.

Yes, there’s no pachinko. March 14th. View high resolution

Yes, there’s no pachinko.

March 14th.