BLOGABOUTJAPAN

Aunt Eiko and "Prince"

2012-02-10T11:09:00.001-08:00

Aunt Eiko and "Prince", a photo by Mustang Koji on Flickr.

A VERY BEAUTIFUL AUNT and her beloved dog "Prince." Aunt Eiko is the aunt of my Flickr friend, Mustang Koji
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Aunt Eiko and "Prince" by Mustang Koji

1966 Isuzu Bellett

2012-02-10T10:52:00.001-08:00

1966 Isuzu Bellett, a photo by Mustang Koji on Flickr.

BEAUTIFUL LADY AND BEAUTIFUL FUJI
1966 Isuzu Bellett
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My Aunt Eiko with Mt. Fuji in the background. My guess is this is a 1966 Isuzu Bellett 1500 Deluxe. Its my assumption but my soon-to-be Uncle Paul took this photo.
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Wow...........how very special. This is awe inspiring. Oh, how this fills me with emotions of many kinds. Mt Fuji has a presence one cannot describe. I could write so much more. Robert
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Thanks to Mustang Koji for permission to exhibit this beautiful photograph

2012-02-10T09:50:00.000-08:00

THANKS TO ALL WHO TAKE THE TIME TO VIEW BLOGABOUTJAPAN

IF I COULD TAKE A TRIP BACK TO YESTERDAY, I WOULD...

Account recovery email sent

2012-02-10T09:43:00.000-08:00

Account recovery email sent

I love Japan. I am hoping to return as soon as possible. Right now, I am trying to access my blog so I can change some of my formatting.

SKETCHES OF JAPAN 1945: Not My Art

2012-02-10T05:02:00.001-08:00

SKETCHES OF JAPAN 1945: Not My Art, a set on Flickr.

If you would like for me to travel to Japan to create a personal collection of art and photography, please contact me through my Flickr E Mail. Robert

SKETCHS OF JAPAN 1945: NOT MY WORK

2012-02-10T04:57:00.001-08:00

SKETCHS OF JAPAN 1945: NOT MY WORK, a photo by roberthuffstutter on Flickr.

This set is a collection of some of my own photographs that I personally like real well; it also includes some photos from the public domain or famous images you will recall from your art or photo studies. I have marked all the photos not mine as "not-my-photo." Thanks for taking time to check out this personal set of images that delight me. If you are delighted, leave a comment. If you like them well enough to favor them, great...

Here's the link to some of the contents of this long-ago Army Photographic Project.

www.flickr.com/photos/huffstutterrobertl/sets /72157614365

PUYIL

2012-02-03T05:54:00.001-08:00

PUYIL, a photo by kibayashi on Flickr.

WHAT IS SHE THINKING ABOUT? IS THERE AN EXAM SHE IS THINKING ABOUT? IS SHE TALKING ON HER CELL PHONE?

This is another work by Kibayashi I admire.

His work is becoming more than graphic excellence, but work with a pyschological content.

As I look at this photograph, I admire the composition, the contrast and the geometrics; I specifically admire the young woman contemplating a subject. What she is contemplating is where the mental content enters and adds more interest.

What is she thinking of? I do not know. I can only imagine. Thus there is 4th dimension that makes this photo very special.
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Thanks to KIBAYASHI for permitting this photo to be exhibited in my online blog, BLOGABOUTJAPAN. Robert L.Huffstutter, Editor

坂の街

2012-01-28T08:31:00.001-08:00

坂の街, a photo by kasa51 on Flickr.

You take great photos. I love the everyday scenes you share with those of us 8,000 miles away.
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Thanks to KASA51 for such a happy photo of a street scene so far away, yes so near to my memory. The barber poles are unique.

門前町

2012-01-28T08:16:00.001-08:00

門前町, a photo by kasa51 on Flickr.

This is one of my favorite sets. You have taken some great photographs of a great city. Someday, I shall return to Yokohama for an extended visit to sketch and photograph much that I missed. Your photos are an inspiration. Robert
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Thanks to KASA51 for another great photo

The Asakusa area of Tokyo, in a print by Kobayashi Kiyochika.

2012-01-25T19:14:00.001-08:00

The Asakusa area of Tokyo, in a print by Kobayashi Kiyochika., a photo by roberthuffstutter on Flickr.

THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT AREAS AND NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE TOKYO AREA. How many of these are familiar to the traveler of Tokyo?
Neighborhoods of Tokyo

Akasaka · Akihabara · Aoyama · Asagaya · Asakusa · Asakusabashi · Azabu · Daikanyama · Den-en-chōfu · Ebisu · Futako Tamagawa · Ginza · Gotanda · Hamamatsuchō · Harajuku · Hibiya · Hongō · Ichigaya · Iidabashi · Ikebukuro · Iwamotochō · Jiyūgaoka · Jinbōchō · Jūjō · Kabukichō · Kagurazaka · Kajichō · Kamata · Kanda · Kasumigaseki · Kichijōji · Koishikawa · Kugayama · Kyōbashi · Kōenji · Kōjimachi · Marunouchi · Mita · Meguro-Mita · Nagatachō · Nihonbashi · Nishi-Shinjuku · Nishikichō · Ochanomizu · Odaiba · Ogawamachi · Ōizumigakuenchō · Ōmori · Omotesandō · Ōtemachi · Roppongi · Ryōgoku · San'ya · Sendagaya · Shiba · Shibaura · Shibuya · Shimokitazawa · Shinbashi · Shinjuku · Shinjuku ni-chōme · Shiodome · Shirokane · Shirokanedai · Sudachō · Sugamo · Surugadai · Takadanobaba · Takanawa · Tamachi · Tateishi · Tsukiji · Tsukishima · Uchi-Kanda · Uchisaiwaichō · Ueno · Wakasu · Yaesu · Yayoi · Yōga · Yotsuya · Yoyogi · Yūrakuchō
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The Asakusa area of Tokyo, in... by roberthuffstutter

Kobayashi Kiyochika Original:

2012-01-20T09:19:00.001-08:00

Kobayashi Kiyochika Original:, a photo by roberthuffstutter on Flickr.

Kobayashi Kiyochika Original:
Night Fall on Sumida River, Kiyochika
(Personal Collection, on load to a Laguna Beach Gallery)

Original available for transfer of ownership. Signed by artist with notation of title.

MATSUURA *

2012-01-16T19:27:00.001-08:00

MATSUURA *, a gallery by Julka2009 (Very busy....way behind) on Flickr.

This gallery reflects the essence of the Japan of my mind, the Japan of my youth and the Japan I want to see again.
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MATSUURA *, by Julka2009 (Very busy....way behind)

VIDEOS OF JAPANESE STREETS...

2012-01-13T17:36:00.001-08:00

VIDEOS OF JAPANESE STREETS..., a gallery on Flickr.

These are among the best videos I have seen on Flickr. The below is a collection I have curated. Enjoy the streets and fun of Japan...

VIDEOS OF JAPANESE STREETS..., by roberthuffstutter

さよなら

2012-01-12T20:15:00.001-08:00

さよなら, a photo by roberthuffstutter on Flickr.

WHAT RED LANTERNS MEAN TO ME

(Inspired by a photograph by Kibayashi)

There is nothing like the image of red lantern
to stir my memories. The red lantern in Japan
must mean many things
to many people,
but to me, a
red lantern
is a promise of a sort of peace and kindness, a beacon
in the night that beckons those who might
be wandering,lost in the night.

There is nothing like the sight
of a red lantern glowing to
stir up my old memories of
warm and friendly faces.
The red lantern
in Japan
must mean many things to many
people,
but to me, a red lantern
is a promise of a sort, a kindness glowing
in the night, a kind of beacon in the night
that calls to those who might be
wondering, lost in the night.
The sight of a red lantern
glowing in the darkest part
of a city anywhere in Japan
was like a Zen moment
in a sea of strangers I never knew,
strangers who never knew me,
yet people who showed love by smiles and
a cup of tea or sake, a moment in time
unspoken, unreported, but remembered
for untold years, pleasant memories not
forgotten, but always a kind of kindness
meant for me to to follow, a place of shelter and
silent kindness.

By Robert L. Huffstutter

ススキ

2012-01-11T20:44:00.001-08:00

ススキ, a photo by naokomc on Flickr.

A BEAUTIFUL PHOTOGRAPH OF THE JAPANESE COAST BY NAOKO McCRACKEN
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An excellent work of photographic art taken in Kagoshima area. RLH

THOSE MOTOMACHI NIGHTS OF LONG AGO...

2012-01-11T18:56:00.001-08:00

THOSE MOTOMACHI NIGHTS OF LONG AGO..., a photo by roberthuffstutter on Flickr.

I painted this from my hotel room in Motomachi in 1962. It was a weekend and I had set up my temporary studio. I had not yet met any significant friends, thus I was alone and very interested in capturing the local scene.

There were many sake bars and beer bars nearby. I would paint for awhile, then go out for a drink and some local color. Though I could speak no Japanese, I still got on quite well with those in the bars. Some of the bars were geared mainly to a lusty type of entertainment while others were more into the food scene. Some of the small bars seated only a few customers, others could accomodate twenty to thirty customers.

My favorite food when hungry for something light was curry rice. Lots of people talked with me. I enjoyed the conversations and the difference between our culture.

I was totally fascinated by the beauty of the women. They found my pipe somewhat fascinating. Some would take a puff or two, then say something I could not understand. It was all in fun. Yes, it was fun.

My weekends in Motomachi in my early tour began on Friday nights and usually lasted until Sunday around noon, at which time I gathered up my materials, thanked the proprietors for a good room, then hailed a taxi for the train station. The trainride back to Atsugi (Sagami-Otsuka) was always fun.

When I think of Japan, the word "fun" continues to surface. So, is life not about fun? Yes, when one is young and full of energy, fun is the ingredient that turns life into positive energy.

So, the paintings were done, usually two or three. Most of the time, I would give one away to a bar or small restaurant owner. The next time I went back, I would frequently find my work framed and on the wall. It made me feel good, kind of famous. The ladies in the bar would smile, point at my painting and tell me how the owner liked it well enough to hang it on the wall.

Sometimes, there were those who wanted me to do a sketch of their profile. I am not a good profile artist, in fact I do not do faces well at all, but they pleased the subjects. And life went on and on. The music was great, some local music, some American, some Elvis music played on the 45s, some on the LPs. Taxis came and went. No honking, but the drivers would come in and ask for Mariko or another name. Down the stairs came the caller of the taxi and disappeared into the Yokohama night.

As the evening drew late, the lights seemed to dim and the music grew softer. The pleasant scent of perfume would prevail. Conversations would become softer. I simply sipped my drinks and hoped the day would come when I would find a lovely young lady I might enjoy in a romantic relationship. At 19, romance was on my mind. Oh, there was plenty of romance available in Chinatown, but it was not what I was seeking.

By Robert L. Huffstutter

Old Japanese Movie Posters

2012-01-11T06:07:00.001-08:00

Old Japanese Movie Posters, a photo by Mayu ;P on Flickr.

GRAPHIC MASTERPIECES IN TOKYO, thanks to Mayu Shimizu.

Noge Akari

2012-01-09T01:35:00.001-08:00

Noge Akari, a photo by owenfinn16 on Flickr.

Framed perfectly and a very inviting piece of work for those considering a journey to the Orient. Another inspiring photographic work by James, OWNENFINN16.
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One of my favorite works as per lanterns of the Orient. Editor

Alley in old Yokohama

2012-01-08T20:09:00.001-08:00

Alley in old Yokohama, a photo by lioil on Flickr.

WHO REMEMBERS THE GLORY DAYS OF
Isezakicho Street?

Added to several galleries with the following text:

AN ALLEY IN OLD YOKOHAMA...Isezakicho Street
Photograph by Bun Oshita
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I recall this street when it was decorated with beautiful paper lanterns and real cherry blossoms during Sakura Season. It was a time of great celebration; sake and Sapporo beer, Asahi beer, Suntory whisky and sushi were free to all who chose to wander down this street of wonders,old Isezakicho Street. Hopefully, I will be able to walk down this most famous street again before I leave this earth.

Robert L. Huffstutter

YOKOSUKA TIME LAPSE

2012-01-07T19:58:00.001-08:00

YOKOSUKA TIME LAPSE a video by i_love_japan_29 on Flickr.

YOKOSUKA TIME LAPSE
first timelapse, more of an experiment than anything. It took an entire day to shoot and put together, please tell me what you think. Text by I LOVE JAPAN, the videographer who made this feature.

Fujifilm T64

2012-01-05T05:53:00.001-08:00

Fujifilm T64, a photo by dolcejp0310 on Flickr.

横浜港未來
Photo by Frank Huang....
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Take a look at all of unique masterpiece photographs.

Fujifilm T64

2012-01-05T05:50:00.001-08:00

Fujifilm T64, a photo by dolcejp0310 on Flickr.

横浜

+

2012-01-05T05:27:00.001-08:00

+, a photo by dolcejp0310 on Flickr.

ONE OF THE BEST MT FUJI PHOTOGRAPHS I HAVE SEEN. The last time I viewed this beautiful scene was in November of 1963. It has become even more beautiful.

Thanks to DOLCEJP0310 taking this masterpiece photo

BLOGABOUTJAPAN: a blog by R.L.Huffstutter

2012-01-03T13:40:00.001-08:00

BLOGABOUTJAPAN: a blog by R.L.Huffstutter, a photo by roberthuffstutter on Flickr.

BLOGABOUTJAPAN: a blog by R.L.Huffstutter
Yokohama Harbor in 1961. Photo taken with what was a brand new Petri camera. Processed from a slide. In the far right background are the factories of the Mitsubishi plant in the area. Most of the harbor boats were similar to those above and were multi-purpose vessels. From what I understand, the large maritime building in the background still remains.

1941-Life-Cover

2012-01-02T08:39:00.001-08:00

1941-Life-Cover, a photo by jdodson_303 on Flickr.

Pan American will always hold a warm spot in my heart and mind, especially in my spirit. It was on a Pan American 707 that I flew to Tokyo, Japan in August of 1961.

We stopped in Hawaii long enough for refueling and long enough to purchase a post card. I recall a quick glance at Diamondhead and then off again. The pilot dipped down shortly after takeoff from Honolulu to give us a look at a small island, Midway Island, where a WWII battle made the difference in World War II.

It was on this flight where the new attendants, costumed in silk kimonos, served us Kirin beer. They handed us small rolls of hot linen for wiping our faces. "Make you feel fresh," the attendant told us. I recall how beautiful the young Japanese woman was. It was then, I believe, that I fell in love with Japan, even before I arrived. Yes, thinking back about the flight 50 years later, I must say with all honesty that it was one of the highlights of my life.

We landed at the old Tokyo International. From the time we took off in the a.m. from San Francisco, I did not see the evening until I was, at last, checked into my new duty station at NAS Atsugi, Japan.

It was a most exciting adventure for a young lad still in his teens. It was certainly one of the experiences of my LIFE.
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1941-Life-Cover by jdodson_303

IZKY

2012-01-02T05:40:00.001-08:00

IZKY, a photo by kibayashi on Flickr.

IZKY

2012-01-02T05:35:00.001-08:00

IZKY, a photo by kibayashi on Flickr.

Untitled

2011-12-31T11:05:00.001-08:00

Untitled, a photo by owenfinn16 on Flickr.

One of the best photographs of Mt. Fuji I have ever seen. The last time I saw Mt. Fuji was in December of 1963, just prior to saying sayonara. Of course, at that time, there were very few skyscrapers, if any. It was a period of reconstruction, thus few building like these were built. RLH Editor
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THANKS TO OWENFINN16 for permission to add this great photo to my blog.

Sankien Gardens, Yokohama 1961 by R.L.Huffstutter

2011-12-30T08:28:00.001-08:00

Sankien Gardens, Yokohama 1961 by R.L.Huffstutter, a photo by roberthuffstutter on Flickr.

It was the first park I visited in Japan. It was also the destination for a first date. The park is very special to my memories
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License.
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This applies to all material that I have created, photos, art, etc

I NEVER FOUND IT THIS DANGEROUS, REALLY...

2011-12-27T06:56:00.001-08:00

I NEVER FOUND IT THIS DANGEROUS, REALLY..., a photo by roberthuffstutter on Flickr.

LOST IN THE DARKEST PART OF TOKYO

Earl Norman had quite an imagination. There was never a time during my tour when I encountered any scenes of this nature, thankfully.

I recall getting lost in the back streets of Tokyo during the first few months of my tour. It was in the spring of 1962.

I was near a canal; it was very dark and there was not a taxi anywhere. I kept walking, not fearful at first until my mind began tormenting me.

I was walking softly, listening to sounds I could not identify, no voices, nothing. I kept walking. I was in an industrial area, a reconstruction area. Suddenly, as I was crossing a small bridge over a canal, I heard the sound of an outboard motor. I leaned over the railing and watched the small boat get underway without lights.

I listened as the motor faded. How did I lose myself from the streets where the nightlife never ended. I must have been in a daze. My mind kept tormenting me as I recalled how I had gotten lost one night in Los Angeles in 1960.

But I was in Tokyo. In a few moments, I saw what appeared to be a red lantern glowing outside a row of buildings. I walked in and was greeted heartily by friendly faces, men twice my age. After several complimentary drinks of sake, a cab pulled up outside and the men smiled, laughed heartily and told the driver to take me to the Ginza.

At the moment, I never thought about what the men had been doing only a few years short of two decades in their past.

By Robert L. Huffstutter

fire

2011-12-27T06:49:00.001-08:00

fire, a photo by timtak on Flickr.

DEFINING THE BEAUTY OF PHOTOGRAPHY IN JAPAN...a photo by Timothy Takemoto. Follow the link and view a most unique Flickr photostream.

The Chrysanthemum and the Sword

2011-12-24T05:48:00.001-08:00

The Chrysanthemum and the Sword, a photo by timtak on Flickr.

It is my beief that no Westerner is able to define the Japanese culture accurately. While what many Westerners write might sound authentic, even to some Japanese, it is only the Japanese who are able to understand "Japanese character."

During World War Two, the definition of the Japanese was easy to define, especially in propagana, however, once the Treaty of Peace was signed in San Francisco in 1952, Japan's transformation became a national miracle in that the entire nation of Japan succeeded in terms of its economy like no other nation on earth had ever succeeded. When one looks at the ruins of Japan in 1945 and the nation as it is today, there is no Westerner capable of explaining how the Japanese transformed those ruins into one of the world's most brilliant economic powers on earth. By Robert L. Huffstutter
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The Chrysanthemum and the Sword by timtak

Neon Floods

2011-12-22T12:47:00.001-08:00

Neon Floods, a photo by Eka Raditya on Flickr.

Wow...how I wish I was here. What a great photo. This is perfection. This photo might make me call JAP and make reservations. If ever I have seen a photo that would make a great TRAVEL POSTER, this is the one I would select for Japan.
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EKA RADITYA ROOSHARTANTO PHOTO
Copyrighted

YOUNG LAD IN SCHOOL UNIFORM ON BIKE 1961

2011-12-22T10:37:00.001-08:00

YOUNG LAD IN SCHOOL UNIFORM ON BIKE 1961, a photo by roberthuffstutter on Flickr.

YOUNG LAD IN SCHOOL UNIFORM ON BIKE 1961
This is one of my best shots with my Petri. Young student zooms by at the perfect moment and makes this photo a special image. Yokohama 1961, by R.L.Huffstutter

566px-Sailor-fuku_for_winter

2011-12-20T17:33:00.001-08:00

566px-Sailor-fuku_for_winter, a photo by roberthuffstutter on Flickr.

MAKING FRIENDS WITH JAPANESE STUDENTS IN 1961 AND 1962 By Robert L. Huffstutter

Upon seeing the students in uniforms, many of the Americans who had just arrived in Japan were confused and some worried that the nation was getting ready to militarize again.

However, upon seeing the beautiful young ladies of high school age, they soon realized the uniforms were for academic purposes. I recall my first trip to Yokohama. I took a sketch book and a few pencils and made my way toward the harbor. I always loved harbors, thus seeing Yokohama was a high priority. Helpful young students guided me to what became a favorite place, Yamashita Park. As I sketched, dozens of young lads in dark blue uniforms, many with hats, gathered around. Their smiles and polite attitudes assured me they were somewhat fascinated by seeing a single American sketching the harbor. Very soon, they were asking me questions in English, much to my surprise, and we enjoyed a pleasant conversation, though not fluent, very understandable. It was a pleasant introduction to a nation I remembered as one of fierce warriors when I was still in grade school. Naturally, movies like "Sands of Iwo Jima" came to mind, but those images were transformed very early into something completely different, a peaceful and friendly mass of polite people. When I noticed the young women in their late teens in school uniforms, I could not help but marvel at their natural beauty.

At the time, I did not notice the absence of men twenty to thirty years my senior, men who were old enough to have been my father's age. Thus, the majority of the Japanese I met throughout my tour were mostly my age, younger or older, but now I realize they were those men who were fortunate to have escaped conscription as the peace was made in 1945.

Most of those men, a generation older than myself, were not scholars but busily employed in the reconstruction of their nation. They were the men who were in construction, the men buillding the concrete forms from bamboo, the men drilling into old concrete, and those who were running new electrical lines below and above ground.

Amongst this diverse nation were groups of male and female students going about, laughing and in seemingly good moods, in school uniforms. I grew to enjoy their presence around me wherever I wandered during the daylight hours. Many of the students in school uniforms were in their late teens. It was not unusual to see these students in some of the coffee and wine shops that were so common around the different areas of Yokohama.
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566px-Sailor-fuku_for_winter by roberthuffstutter

USS GENERAL W.A. MANN AP-112,sailing from Yokosuka to San Francisco

2011-12-16T12:21:00.001-08:00

USS GENERAL W.A. MANN AP-112,sailing from Yokosuka to San Francisco, a photo by roberthuffstutter on Flickr.

SAYONARA, A TIME THAT I CANNOT FORGET...

It was a cloudy morning on the day in December of 1963 when I said goodbye and boarded this huge transport, USS GENERAL MANN, for the journey home. It was a day I will not forget.

The vessel arrived in San Francisco ten days later on my 22nd birthday. As all of us might have a tendency to do, this is one of the time frames I use when remembering certain seasons of my lifetime.

Perhaps there are those who do not store memories in compartments and open them by simply recalling the month and year we might want to remember either for a few moments or for hours of entertainment and reflection.

I did not go straight to the train station or airport, I flagged a cab and found a cheap hotel downtown and spent the next three days unwinding with Canadian Club. When I became bored with my own company, I found nearby bars to frequent. Conversation was cheap and entertaining. It was then that I began writing my poetry again, in spiral notebooks and on bar napkins.

Sure, it was good to be back in the USA, but the emotion of returning did not compare with the emotions I experienced from leaving Japan.

Leaving a joyful lifestyle where there was love and a lifestyle I enjoyed to return to a land of strangers where the lifestyle was indifferent to my values created an immediate state of despondency, one that has remained, more or less, throughout the ages.

Time is of no consequence; time does not heal sorrows. When one day is gone, it is gone in an instant and does not matter if it has been gone for only 24 hours or decades; it is no respecter of persons and their emotions. Time is not a sentimental element; time has no energy or mercy--it is immune to the suffering of one individual or generations.

Time and emotions are as distant from the other as is life from death.

The above is from a passage in a novel I am writing, AN AMERICAN WANDERING.

By Robert L. Huffstutter

I did not take the photo of the USS GENERAL MANN. Photo and information available on Wikipedia.

Dragons are your friend

2011-12-13T02:27:00.001-08:00

Dragons are your friend, a photo by wackystuff on Flickr.

Dragons are your friend by wackystuff

Vintage Japanese Advertising

2011-12-13T02:17:00.001-08:00

Vintage Japanese Advertising, a group on Flickr.

Leaflet for the Olympus Chrome Six III (1)

2011-12-13T02:16:00.001-08:00

Leaflet for the Olympus Chrome Six III (1), a photo by rebollo_fr on Flickr.

Leaflet for the Olympus... by rebollo_fr

Kamakura sunrise 2

2011-12-06T09:58:00.001-08:00

Kamakura sunrise 2, a photo by i_love_japan_29 on Flickr.

TOTAL MASTERPIECE PHOTOGRAPHY...photos of Mt Fuji just do not get better than this one. I could look at this for a long time without tiring. Again, your talent for capturing perfect light is apparent. Beautiful work.
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Kamakura sunrise 2 by i_love_japan_29

harumi_arrive

2011-12-06T08:25:00.001-08:00

harumi_arrive, a photo by hobbyfrontier on Flickr.

I am not a doll collector, but I am a firm believer in FREE ENTERPRISE and this product looks like it should do well. Cute, unique and packaged with creative genius.

Free enterprise signifies a free society, a society where artists might flourish and use their creative imagination. The cute little numer HARUMI ARRIVE was the inspiration for this gallery, one of many I have dedicated to freedom.

It appears that HOBBY FRONTIER has a line of products collectors might like to see. Simply follow the link.

MOTOMACHI STREET SCENE 1962, By Robert L.Huffstutter

2011-12-01T15:34:00.001-08:00

MOTOMACHI STREET SCENE 1962, By Robert L.Huffstutter, a photo by roberthuffstutter on Flickr.

Exactly what was on my mind when I painted this picture was the joy and thrill of being in a country I had long dreamed of seeing, a country as different from America as day was from night. From the moment I arrived in Japan in August of 1961, it was love at first sight. I liked the sounds, the variety of smells and scents, the totally different buildings, the people.

Being an artist, I wanted to capture the scenes. I started sketching on street corners and found that the people would gather about. I liked the attention, especially the attention of the young ladies--such beautiful young women with their long and beautiful hair worn casually with soft curls at shoulder length.

Painted from hotel window in Yokohama in 1961. Tempra, pen and ink, with sake. Plein-aire with smoke.

Painted this scene, and many others, from hotel window in Yokohama shortly after arriving in Japan in 1961. Somewhere among my old memorabilia there are a few more of these plein-aire paintings. Many, however, were given to the bar and shop owners in the areas where I stayed, mostly in Motomachi and sometimes, Chinatown and the Bund area.

Streetcar in Tokyo near Shinbashi Station, circa 1955

2011-11-25T13:34:00.001-08:00

Streetcar in Tokyo near Shinbashi Station, circa 1955, a photo by Rob Ketcherside on Flickr.

Mid 1950s Tokyo. A horde of pedestrians crosses in front of a 6000-series Tokyo metropolitan streetcar.

The sign in the foreground says that this is A Avenue and 10th Street. The US military imposed a system of street names on the major thoroughfares in Tokyo after the end of World War Two. Lettered avenues radiated from the Imperial Palace clockwise. "A Avenue" ran south from the southeast corner of the Imperial palace, on Hibiya Boulevard (Hibiya Doori). The numbered streets were basically major roads essentially ringing the palace. 10th is Outer Moat Boulevard (Sotobori Doori). So this is the Nishi-shinbashi Crossing, just south of Hibiya Park. At the time the neighborhood - and the streetcar stop - was called Tamuramachi (田村町). We must be looking east, because the sun is hitting the face of the building on the right.

It pre-dates 1957, when Tokyo's streetcars were repainted yellow. The lines which ran on Hibiya Doori through this intersection were 1, 5, 35 and 37.

There's an outside chance that this streetcar is 6103 (see the trailing digit 3), which is now in Shinmei Toden Shako Park in Bunkyo Ward.

Here's a zoom on a part of the map published by the US military in 1948 with the street names.

And here's the neighborhood on an interactive 1956 map of Tokyo.

Found in an antique store's photo bins.

Text by Rob Ketcherside

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This is a fond reminder of the era. I was here in the early 60s.

TRAINS OF YOKOHAMA IN EARLY 60S

2011-11-21T15:16:00.001-08:00

TRAINS OF YOKOHAMA IN EARLY 60S, a photo by roberthuffstutter on Flickr.

Scanned from a slide shot with my Petri 7. I have a lot of slides I need to scan before too much more time passes. I don't know how many years a slide will last, but this one was shot in 1961, so it's 50 years old and doesn't look too bad after a little editing with PICNIK.

There was still much reconstruction going on doing my tour of duty.

Now, after the terrible tragedy of the recent earthquake and tsunami, there will be more years of construction and sorrow

View of Fuji-san from Kamakura, Japan

2011-11-18T09:45:00.001-08:00

View of Fuji-san from Kamakura, Japan, a photo by HertzaHaeon on Flickr.

THIS IS A MASTERPIECE. Since leaving Japan in 1963 after nearly three years, I have longed to return someday to see Mt. Fuji. If I cannot make it, this photograph is almost like seeing Fuji-San in person.

You have captured this scene in a manner that makes it appear as it might have been seen a century ago.

Your lighting, framing and attention to details has made this scene one of the best I have seen during the past 50 years. Thanks for sharing this memory.
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My gratitude to Mikael Tilly for such a great photograph.

THE PEANUTS CLUB---PART OF MATCHBOX COLLECTION

2011-11-18T06:28:00.001-08:00

THE PEANUTS CLUB---PART OF MATCHBOX COLLECTION, a photo by roberthuffstutter on Flickr.

Part of my matchbox collection of Japanese bars I frequented. The PEANUTS CLUB has some very special memories for me. It was there where I would meet a young Japanese girl I would remember for the rest of my life.

THE PEANUTS CLUB IN YOKOHAMA: 1961, 1962, 1963...four floors with an elevator of live music..(日本語ロック論争,

2011-11-18T06:25:00.001-08:00

THE PEANUTS CLUB IN YOKOHAMA: 1961, 1962, 1963...four floors with an elevator of live music..(日本語ロック論争,, a photo by roberthuffstutter on Flickr.

THE PEANUTS CLUB IN YOKOHAMA: 1961, 1962, 1963...four floors with an elevator of live music..(日本語ロック論争,

Unless one really knew about the Peanuts Club, or heard the music playing all night and all day, one might walk by the somewhat austere fascade where the arrow pointed up. But really, one had only to be in the service or in their teens to know about the Peanut or Peanuts Club. It attracted the likes of my type, a young guy in the service, Japanese teenagers in their late teens and dependents in their late teens who lived at the Yokohama Housing for U.S.Service and Government employees. It was the coolest musical pub and coffee bar or pub in Yokohama.

WHO REMEMBERS THE WIEN COFFEE SHOP?

2011-11-18T06:23:00.001-08:00

WHO REMEMBERS THE WIEN COFFEE SHOP?, a photo by roberthuffstutter on Flickr.

I told her I did not know where the Wein Coffee Shop was located. She wrote the address or directions on a piece of paper and told me to give it to taxi man. "He knows, I know," she said. "We meet at noon, okay?" I squeezed her hand and smiled. She returned my smile.

pond at sankeien

2011-11-18T06:20:00.001-08:00

pond at sankeien, a photo by Molly Des Jardin on Flickr.

THIS PHOTOGRAPH BY MOLLY DES JARDIN is a marvelous capture of a special memory. Her photo seems to have captured the park exactly as I recall seeing it for my first time, in the autum of 1962.

Sankien Gardens is the first place my new friend and I went.
We had both discussed how we liked to sketch, thus we decided to meet at a nearby coffee and wine shop and proceed from there.

I told her I did not know where the Wein Coffee Shop was located. She wrote the address or directions on a piece of paper and told me to give it to taxi man. "He knows, I know," she said. "We meet at noon, okay?" I squeezed her hand and smiled. She returned my smile.

Did I believe she would really be there at noon? I hoped she would be. I was already in love with this young lady who still had on her blue Middy blouse. I escorted her down the stairs to a waiting taxi. We did not kiss good night. I waved as the taxi pulled out into the Yokohama traffic of the wee hours of the morning.

Wow, I thought, I might have finally found the young woman of my dreams. I returned up the stairs of the Peanut Club as a western band and singer were doing a Patsy Cline version of "I Fall to Pieces."

Kyoto Gion

2011-11-06T17:01:00.001-08:00

Kyoto Gion, a photo by jpellgen on Flickr.

THIS IS A PHOTO THAT REMINDS ME OF THE EARLY 60S. THANKS TO jpellgen FOR SHARING THIS PHOTOGRAPH.
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Gion, Kyoto... A very traditional area just beyond the Kamo-gawa which is undoubtedly the most famous place in Japan to see Geiko activity. The area surrounding Gion is home to Yasaka Shrine, as well as Hanami-koji, a street lined with old ochaya (tea houses) and restaurants.
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Take a tour of JPELLGEN'S photos by following the highlighted text.

Japan : Beautiful Samurai

2011-11-06T16:46:00.001-08:00

Japan : Beautiful Samurai, a photo by momoyama on Flickr.

Japan : Beautiful Samurai

芸妓君香さん

The geiko (geisha) Kimika plays the 12th century samurai warrior Tomoe Gozen in the Jidai Matsuri, one of the three big festivals of Kyoto, Japan.

Over 2,000 people, including many geiko (geisha) and maiko (apprentice geisha), wore costumes representing various eras of Kyoto's 1,200-year history as they paraded through the city.

Kyoto was the capital of Japan from 794 until 1868. It is now the seventh largest city in Japan.
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Thanks to Michael Chandler for a beautiful photograph. You are able to go to his Flickr Photostream by following the highlighted text and/or title.

YAMATO TRAIN STATION 1963 JAPAN 日本

2011-11-03T15:45:00.001-07:00

YAMATO TRAIN STATION 1963 JAPAN 日本, a photo by roberthuffstutter on Flickr.

YAMATO TRAIN STATION 1963 JAPAN 日本
.This was done at the Yamato Train Station in Yamato, Japan in 1962. While stationed in a Naval Air Squadron based at NAS Atsugi, Japan from 1961 through the eve of 1964, I sketched many scenes of local towns, bars and city scenes. Many were given to bar owners and friends.

When I purchased a new Petri, my first 35mm camera, I enjoyed shooting photos. Looking back almost 50 years, I must admit that my tour in Japan was one of the most exciting times of my youth.

THE BEGINNING OF A SUPER ECONOMY IN JAPAN

2011-11-03T14:00:00.001-07:00

THE BEGINNING OF A SUPER ECONOMY IN JAPAN, a photo by roberthuffstutter on Flickr.

From the ruins of a devastated nation to one of the world's super economic powers. There are many nations that might well learn much about Japan. It is not Japan's natural resources that has made it a success, it is Japan's character.

Unless a nation has character, it will remain poor and hopeless. There are many factors here that some nations will never understand because they have decided to hate free enterprise and especially American democracy.

I have more admiration for Japan than any other nation on earth, except my own USA. Having lived in Japan for more than two years in the early 60s, I recall the energy that was exhibited by the people rebuilding a nation.

I frequently traveled from Atsugi to Yokohama and Tokyo by train and watched the progress. I saw piles of glass of different colors almost everywhere. I asked my close friend what it was and what it all meant. She told me that it was "saving glass for making new glass." Now, looking back, I realize it was recycling.

When walking around Yoiohama as I so frequently did, I saw workers building one project after another. There was always the sounds one hears around men involved in construction. On more than one occasion, I was offered to share a bit of lunch with workers who did not speak English but extended friendship in the strange fare of fish and rice in various forms. At the time, I thought it a nice thing to do; in retrospect, I realize it was much more than something simply nice or polite. Yes, I harbor many deep and wonderful emotions when I think of Japan.

By Robert L. Huffstutter

I now have a public group called BLOGABOUTJAPAN which appears in the Flick Photostream. It is open to those who would enjoy posting positive photos, art and information about Japan.

HIROSHIGE AND VAN GOGH: BRIDGE IMAGES

2011-10-31T09:51:00.001-07:00

HIROSHIGE AND VAN GOGH: BRIDGE IMAGES, a photo by roberthuffstutter on Flickr.

HIROSHIGE AND VAN GOGH...the first image in my blog about Japan.
BLOGABOUTJAPAN

yokohama

2011-10-25T06:02:00.001-07:00

yokohama, a photo by kosukeszk on Flickr.

yokohama
1羽だけ逆向き。

This is one of the best photographs of the old HIKAWA MARU that I have ever seen. The gulls on the lines are a bonus. You are one excellent photographer. My congratulations to you for your capture of a ship I saw for the first time in 1961. Yokohama was and remains one of my favorite cities.

This is a memory that is fond and one that is bittersweet. It was near this ship, in Yamashita Park, where my love and I walked hand in hand time and again in the 60s.
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yokohama by kosukeszk

Original

2011-10-22T09:18:00.001-07:00

Original, a photo by Mustang Koji on Flickr.

Another favorite from the Flickr Photostream posted by Mustang Koji, one of my favorite photographers and curators of photos from Japan of another era. Many of the photos in Mustang Koji's photostream were taken by his father, an Army Sergeant in the U.S. Army during the Occupation era. This photo is one of Mustang Koji's aunts. She is a beautiful lady.
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This is the original B&W of the magazine cover showing my Aunt Eiko. Over the years, it had gotten cut at odd angles.

Taken in 1948 in Occupied Japan.

SOMEDAY I WILL WRITE MY NOVEL ABOUT JAPAN

2011-10-22T07:58:00.000-07:00

My blog, BLOGABOUTJAPAN, is an ongoing narrative about my memories of Japan, accompanied by photographs and art I select from various sources.

Followers of this blog about Japan know how fond I am of Japan and how much I admire the Japanese people. I must confess that part of my love for Japan is because of the love I had for a young woman I met in Japan in 1962. It was a love that began at first sight. Sadly, it was a love that became a memory when my ship sailed toward home in late December 1963. Fate did not allow our love to continue, thus the love affair ended with a Sayonara that was my fault, a sayonara that haunts me to this day.

I could continue with this sad and romantic narrative, but it would make no difference--time has been stolen from our lives and one cannot return back in time to make changes that would effect the future. No, it is over and only memories remain. Nevertheless, the joys we shared for such a short time would fill a thick volume of a novel based on our love for the other and the events and travels we shared. Some of our conversations would create many smiles by both Japanese and American readers. We were both so innocent and young, so full of hope for our future together.

It is my goal to write this novel before I exit this world.

My love for the Japanese people is also based on the experiences I enjoyed during my tour of duty. There are so many stories about events and positive encounters I have yet to record. However, time permitting, I will write about them as I recall them. They will become a part of my novel. Some of these positive events will be illustrated with sketches and paintings. Some of the events were too intimate to illustrate, but rest assured they are still very much alive in my mind.

There was so much of Japan I did not see or experience in my tour, events that I would enjoy if I had the luxury of returning to that unique era of the 1960s Japan.

As I rode the trains from Sagami-Otsuka to Yokohama, I did not doze or sleep, I observed all that was happening in post-war Japan.

Matsuzakaya PX

2011-10-22T07:22:00.001-07:00

Matsuzakaya PX, a photo by Mustang Koji on Flickr.

The main street of Tokyo, it was a
"must see" for me.

I clearly remember my New Year's eve at an expensive and upscale club on the Ginza on New Year's eve of 1961/1962.

This was before I met the young lady of my dreams, so I spent the evening with one of my best Navy friends. Shortly after our big party on that New Year's eve, he was commissioned as a Lieutenant-Junior Grade and sent to Naval Aviator's flight school in Pensacola. Had my eye sight been 20/20, I would have enjoyed the same duty, but I would never have met the young lady that still makes my life sweet by simply remembering her.

Life is full of joys and contradictions, but I must accredit much to Fate.

The Ginza, with its many lights must surely be quite different today than it was on New year's Eve of 1961.
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THANKS TO MY FRIEND KOJI KANEMOTO, for permission to post this photo. It was taken by his father, a Seargeant in the U.S.Army whose duties helped Japan reconstruct the nation throughout the Occupation.
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Matsuzakaya PX by Mustang Koji

"The boat Vincent used while drifting down the Sumida with Mariko..."

2011-10-17T08:49:00.001-07:00

"The boat Vincent used while drifting down the Sumida with Mariko...", a photo by roberthuffstutter on Flickr.

"The boat Vincent used while drifting down the Sumida with Mariko..."
Theo arranged a trip to Japan to help Vincent defeat the despondency he was suffering. Exactly how long he stayed is not known; in fact, it was only recently discovered that Van Gogh visited Japan.
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This watercolor with pen and ink is one in a series I have done that features a fictional "secret trip" to Japan by Vincent Van Gogh. I only wish that Van Gogh had been able to have spent several years in Japan. One can only imagine the works he would have done.

Streetcar in Tokyo near Shinbashi Station, circa 1955

2011-10-13T11:44:00.001-07:00

Streetcar in Tokyo near Shinbashi Station, circa 1955, a photo by Rob Ketcherside on Flickr.

This really reminds me of the Japan I knew in the early 1960s. I want to paint this one.
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Streetcar in Tokyo near... by Rob Ketcherside

PHOTO BY ROB KETCHERSIDE

Hakone

2011-10-11T19:33:00.001-07:00

Hakone, a photo by Emilien Deloche on Flickr.

The title of this work by Emilien Deloche is "Week end in Hakone"
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Hakone is probably one of the most romantic spots for spending a weekend with a loving friend. The last time I spent a weekend in Hakone was in 1963 and the memories are still warm and exciting to my mind; they are moments I recall now and then while in a wishful thinking kind of mood.

Tokyo_Shibuya/東京、渋谷

2011-10-11T19:26:00.001-07:00

Tokyo_Shibuya/東京、渋谷, a photo by Emilien Deloche on Flickr.

Tokyo_Shibuya/東京、渋谷
Early in the morning at the Starbuck
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Emilien Deloche is the administrator of a public group featured on Flickr. It is for sketches of and about Japan, a great visual treat for all who are fascinated by Japan.

BRIEF STATS FOR JAPANESE ECONOMY BEGINNING 1955

2011-10-07T05:35:00.001-07:00

BRIEF STATS FOR JAPANESE ECONOMY BEGINNING 1955, a photo by roberthuffstutter on Flickr.

CHARACTER, NOT RESOURCES, HAS MADE JAPAN AN ECONOMIC SUPER POWER

From the ruins of a devastated nation to one of the world's super economic powers. There are many nations that might well learn much about Japan. It is not Japan's natural resources that has made it a success, it is Japan's character.

Unless a nation has character, it will remain poor and hopeless. There are many factors here that some nations will never understand because they have decided to hate free enterprise and especially American democracy.

Robert L. Huffstutter

Intersection | Tokyo

2011-10-05T05:01:00.001-07:00

Intersection | Tokyo, a photo by navid j on Flickr.

Honda van

2011-10-01T06:40:00.001-07:00

Honda van, a photo by Howard33 on Flickr.

Howard's Flickr Photostream is full of unique and rare, or seldom-seen vehicles. This little Honda van surely served its purpose well. One can imagine how easily pizzas could be delivered in and around the narrow alleys of Tokyo and Yokohama. For more information about this van, here the web site:

http://lanemotormuseum.org/honda-life-step-van-1973
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Thanks to Howard for this refreshing photo of another time in Japan's spectacular automotive history.

1963 Isuzu Bellett

2011-09-30T19:14:00.001-07:00

1963 Isuzu Bellett, a photo by Mustang Koji on Flickr.

1963 Isuzu Bellett
This is my aunt's first new car, a 1963 Isuzu Bellett. She had it only for one year, she tells me, as she wanted something sportier. She traded it in on a 1964 Isuzu Bellett GT of which no picture remains.

It is parked in the driveway (a rarity) of my grandparent's home in Tokyo, Setagaya Prefecture, Fukasawa 5-3. The house was only recently built in the mid-50s due to the war's aftermath.

東京都世田谷区深沢5-3
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thanks to MUSTANG KOJI for use of photo

kurashiki alley

2011-09-28T16:07:00.001-07:00

kurashiki alley, a photo by Ennui March on Flickr.

Marvelous photography.......as though one was transported back to the 15th century, or in my case, 1963, when I was last here in Japan. I always found similar scenes that time had not changed. Great find and great shot.
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PHOTOGRAPH BY JACOB, Flickrphotostream called ENNUI MARCH

PRIZE WINNING PHOTOS OF JAPAN

2011-09-26T10:30:00.001-07:00

PRIZE WINNING PHOTOS OF JAPAN, a group on Flickr.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/prize-winning_photos_of_japan/
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PRIZE WINNING PHOTOS OF JAPAN

SOMEWHERE IN KANAGAWA PREFECTURE, 1963

2011-09-25T07:55:00.001-07:00

SOMEWHERE IN KANAGAWA PREFECTURE, 1963, a photo by roberthuffstutter on Flickr.

SOMEWHERE IN KANAGAWA... by roberthuffstutter

MOTOMACHI AREA OF YOKOHAMA, JAPAN 1962

2011-09-25T07:02:00.001-07:00

MOTOMACHI AREA OF YOKOHAMA, JAPAN 1962, a photo by roberthuffstutter on Flickr.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/huffstutterrobertl/

+ Nightlife ( 夜间活动 )

2011-09-24T09:26:00.001-07:00

+ Nightlife ( 夜间活动 ), a group on Flickr.

This is a great public group on Flickr. Here is the link: http://www.flickr.com/groups/nightlife/

40 YEARS OR OLDER: PHOTOS AND ART OF JAPAN

2011-09-23T06:01:00.001-07:00

40 YEARS OR OLDER: PHOTOS AND ART OF JAPAN, a group on Flickr.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/40_year_old_art_and_photos_of_japan/
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40 YEARS OR OLDER: PHOTOS AND ART OF JAPAN

BAMBOO AND LANTERN 1963

2011-09-23T03:54:00.001-07:00

BAMBOO AND LANTERN 1963, a photo by roberthuffstutter on Flickr.

A SHORT ESSAY ON REMEMBERING THE RED LANTERNS OF JAPAN By Robert L. Huffstutter

These lanterns fascinated me since childhood and might have been one of the reasons I always wanted to go to Japan.

Not one who read these strange characters as a youth, I found them curious.* Curiousity has always been a factor in the many adventures I enjoyed beginning as soon as I learned to ride a bike. But I ramble off the subject of the oriental lantern.

In a nutshell, it is safe to say that this red lantern has been the downfall of many who have wondered the alleyways of Yokohama and Tokyo in the dark of night. However, I never had an alarming experience at such establishments. Those inside were mostly Japanese gentlemen who found my surprising entry into their domain humorous, thus they treated me to sake and told me tales about their time in the Great Pacific War. Most could not speak English, but there always seemed to be one or two who could speak English fluently.

I will forever remember such kindness--and such forgiveness for our merciless bombing of such a beautiful country. Nor did I ever detect the hint of any resentment toward me among these men who fought so hard for their Emperor but had such a love of life that they did not fight unto death.

On more than one occasion, I found myself waking in a nearby inn, having been deposited there in the early hours by concerned veterans of the Japanese Imperial Army or Navy. Yes, it might sound like fantasy, but such was the character of the Japanese in the early 1960s.

* I am still unable to read these characters called kanji, nor have I ever learned to speak Japanese.

Mori's Sister in Shizuoka Home

2011-09-21T17:54:00.001-07:00

Mori's Sister in Shizuoka Home, a photo by Mustang Koji on Flickr.

Mori's Sister in Shizuoka Home by Mustang Koji
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Note: the round table is much like one I had in my apt in Japan. Inlaid mother-of-pearl, laquered. Left behind like so much else. I remember friends told me I would not be able to ship it back. I told them it did not matter.

JAPANESE NEON

2011-09-21T16:36:00.001-07:00

JAPANESE NEON, a group on Flickr.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/japanese_neon/pool/

PRIZE WINNING PHOTOS OF JAPAN

2011-09-21T16:30:00.001-07:00

PRIZE WINNING PHOTOS OF JAPAN, a group on Flickr.

TILE ROOFS OF JAPAN

2011-09-21T16:10:00.001-07:00

TILE ROOFS OF JAPAN, a group on Flickr.

Girl's School Group Photo - Year Unknown

2011-09-18T05:54:00.001-07:00

Girl's School Group Photo - Year Unknown, a photo by Mustang Koji on Flickr.

JAPANESE EDUCATION was unique in the years before 1945. The girls and boys attended seperate schools. Thanks to Mustang Koji for posting this photo in his Flickr photostream. Somewhere in this photograph is Mustang's aunt.

積載量オーバー

2011-09-17T19:53:00.001-07:00

積載量オーバー, a photo by kasa51 on Flickr.

積載量オーバー by kasa51
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It pays to be thrifty, no matter where one lives. I admire those who create their own employment.

The Foreigners' Cemetery, Yamate Bluff, Yokohama, Japan

2011-09-14T08:42:00.001-07:00

The Foreigners' Cemetery, Yamate Bluff, Yokohama, Japan, a photo by ilcavaliereinglese on Flickr.

The Foreigners' Cemetery, Yamate Bluff, Yokohama, Japan
In the years leading up to the Meiji Restoration of 1868, Europeans and Americans were allowed to live in the small port of Yokohama where they established trade links between their home countries and Japan. Many , such as Mr William Aspinall, a Liverpool tea trader who set up the Cornes Company with Frederick Cornes of Macclesfield, Cheshire, are buried at this cemetery on the Yamate Bluff, a hill overlooking the city.
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It is good to know that these early foreign residents of Yokohama who loved Yokohama enough to choose it as their final resting place sleep undisturbed and their burial plots cared for by their Japanese hosts. My respect for the Japanese in maintaining this prime piece of real-estate for those who remain here is symbolic of the Japanese character where "honor" reigns supreme.
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Photograph by ilcavaliereinglese

Tokyo 1659

2011-09-13T17:22:00.001-07:00

Tokyo 1659, a photo by tokyoform on Flickr.

This is the essence of the Japanese bar scene.

It was like this in 1961 through 1963, so I now realize that these unique bars are still a joy. The only difference now is the Yen exchange. In the early 60s, the exchange rate was 360 Yen per one U.S.dollar. The alleys appear to be paved now with digital lighting. The lighting was a little less bright back then.

It was fun for this young man then......

TOKYO 2006

2011-09-09T09:22:00.001-07:00

TOKYO 2006, a photo by manel gran canaria on Flickr.

TOKYO 2006 by manel gran canaria___________________________

Long ago, hairstyles like these were common...

THANKS TO MANEL ALMAZAN for great photo.

IT WAS A GREAT TOUR OF DUTY

2011-09-08T05:47:00.001-07:00

IT WAS A GREAT TOUR OF DUTY, a photo by roberthuffstutter on Flickr.

On a clear day, Mount Fuji could be seen from our Naval Air Station at Atsugi, Japan. Unfortunately, only one side of Mt. Fuji is revealed in this photograph. This photo was taken in the autumn of 1963.
Robert L. Huffstutter, editor of BLOGABOUTJAPAN

Welcome

2011-09-07T12:05:00.001-07:00

Welcome, a photo by David Kyle Craig on Flickr.

Those of my generation will surely remember the frightening sight of KING KONG IN TOKYO when we went to the Saturday movies.

Well, now, it is Hollywood's turn to suffer the wrath of the GIANT SLIME AND LICK TOAD whose vicious tongue eradicates all who are guilty of adding methane gases to the environment.

Hint: stay away from Hollywood and Vine...

The photograph is by my Flickr friend David Kyle Craig; the text is by Earl R. Stonebridge.

Gion lantern

2011-09-07T06:30:00.001-07:00

Gion lantern, a photo by i_love_japan_27 on Flickr.

Gion lantern by i_love_japan_27

Brad's photos of Japan are a real treat for those who have been to Japan or are planning on a visit.

This is one of my favorites photos by my Flickr friend who is serving in the U.S.Navy and shooting photos of all aspects of Japanese life and scenery. Please take time out to enjoy his Flickr photostream.
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Click on highlighted text and you will be be transferred to Brad's Flickr photostream.

takagi_famous_1919_15

2011-08-25T09:24:00.001-07:00

takagi_famous_1919_15, a photo by roberthuffstutter on Flickr.

THE YOKOHAMA PIER OF THE LATE 1800S. Photo by famous Japanese photographer of that era, Takagi

www.baxleystamps.com/litho/ta/1919110319b.shtml

YOKOHAMA PIER, Photos by Takagi

Japanese-American camp, war emergency evacuation, [Tule Lake Relocation Center, Newell, Calif.] (LOC)

2011-08-25T00:19:00.001-07:00

Japanese-American camp, war emergency evacuation, [Tule Lake Relocation Center, Newell, Calif.] (LOC), a photo by The Library of Congress on Flickr.

It was a shameful act and one that should not have happened. Certainly, so many years after the fact, it causes anger and despondency, two things that tell us we are still humans with conscience feelings about right and wrong.

No, it will not happen again.

Who is our enemy on the homeland today? There are many more than there were in the 1940s, and most are Americans, some elected and some appointed. What? you ask!

No, no proof or evidence, just observance of what is happening in my good old USA, in Washington and in the foreign service. But of course, this is my opinion.

I still have that right to have an opinion.

Mt Fuji 富士山 and Farm and Wood Gatherer

2011-08-24T15:49:00.001-07:00

Mt Fuji 富士山 and Farm and Wood Gatherer, a photo by born1945 on Flickr.

Mt Fuji 富士山 and Farm and Wood Gatherer
There is quite a bit of detail in the largest size picture. There are a couple of workers to be seen.
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Mt Fuji 富士山 and Farm and Wood... by born1945

Japanese children 1957

2011-08-24T15:42:00.001-07:00

Japanese children 1957, a photo by asachitose on Flickr.

Japanese children 1957
Photo provided by Milt Kessler asachitose.com/MiltsPhotoIndex.html
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Japanese children 1957 by asachitose
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I look at this photograph and see children whose parents must have suffered much through World War Two. My heart aches for that suffering. I am glad that Japan has such a forgiving heart; I am so glad we have been friends for more than 50 years.
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My thanks to ASACHITOSE (Phil Peters) for making photos available for exhibition in BLOGABOUTJAPAN.

slide003

2011-08-22T12:54:00.001-07:00

slide003, a photo by vincentvds2 on Flickr.

One of the best photographs I have seen of Mt Fuji with Yokohama in the foreground. I truly love this photograph.
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Thanks to the photographer VINCENTVDS2

HIKER SILHOUTTE

2011-08-21T08:15:00.001-07:00

HIKER SILHOUTTE, a photo by i_love_japan_27 on Flickr.

HIKER SILHOUTTE by i_love_japan_27
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Photograph by Brad, a Flickr friend...

Otorii (Gate) at Itsukushima Shrine, Japan

2011-08-20T16:33:00.001-07:00

Otorii (Gate) at Itsukushima Shrine, Japan, a photo by Sue Ann Simon on Flickr.

I love the lights in the distance. Lights twinkling in the distance are always special, but in Japan, such lights were joyful like no others. Perhaps, it was simply youth and Japan combined. Your photography is really special.
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY SUE ANN SIMON

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner 'Mädchen unterm Japanschirm'

2011-08-17T12:03:00.001-07:00

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner 'Mädchen unterm Japanschirm', a photo by pittigliani2005 on Flickr.

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner 'Mädchen unterm Japanschirm'
Quelle: HAZ, Ausgabe 15. Juli 2009.
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Thanks to Pittigliani for exhibition of a masterpiece influence by the Japanese art of the era.

Untitled

2011-08-14T03:53:00.001-07:00

Untitled, a photo by OwenFinn on Flickr.

I have a title for this photo: One Mastepiece by Owen Finn. I could write a novel about such scenes, really.

Best Place to Write Novels

2011-08-14T03:32:00.001-07:00

Best Place to Write Novels, a photo by iNUiNUi on Flickr.

Yes. Once I get back to Japan, I hope to find a room like this to write the novel that lives in both my heart and mind.

Thanks to Yoshihiko Inui for a photographic masterpiece.

maiko od genka

2011-08-14T03:20:00.001-07:00

maiko od genka, a photo by graza82 on Flickr.

...she sent me a photograph of herself in a kimono like this one and I was sorry that we had said "sayonara." That was in 1964.

THE BEACH VENDOR -- A Happy Snack of Japanese "Oden"

2011-08-14T02:37:00.001-07:00

THE BEACH VENDOR -- A Happy Snack of Japanese "Oden", a photo by Okinawa Soba on Flickr.

THE BEACH VENDOR -- A Happy Snack of Japanese "Oden"
Ca.1898 photograph by T. ENAMI of Yokohama. ODEN....Yummy ! What you are looking at here is the Japanese equivalent of a Hot Dog Stand along the boardwalk of Atlantic City or Coney Island. If native Japanese looked at this picture while hungry, they would probably start to drool. www.t-enami.org/

MOTOMACHI STREET SCENE 1962, By Robert L.Huffstutter

2011-08-14T02:17:00.001-07:00

MOTOMACHI STREET SCENE 1962, By Robert L.Huffstutter, a photo by roberthuffstutter on Flickr.

HISTORY OF MOTOMACHI, WIKIPEDIA REFEERNCES.......

Motomachi was originally a quiet farming and fishing village until 1859, when the Port of Yokohama was opened. Since then, the close-by Kannai district became the foreigners' business district, and the adjacent Yamate and Yamashitacho districts became the foreigners' residential districts. Situated in-between, with Yamate to the east, and Kannai and Yamashitacho to the west, Motomachi became frequented by many foreigners. Shops and businesses were opened, catering to the needs of foreigners.

Soon after the start of the Meiji era, the number of foreign residents increased. And western influence became more evident in Motomachi, with the opening of many cafés, bakeries, and boutiques. Such shops were uncommon in Japan at the time, and Motomachi helped introduce Western culture into Japan, as part of what is called bunmei kaika (文明開化?). This was the beginning of the Motomachi Shopping Street as it is known as of 2008.

In the 1970s, the "Motomachi Shopping Street" produced a new style of fashion called the hama tora (ハマトラ?) (short for "Yokohama traditional"). The most famous producers of the hama tora style were Kitamura [1], Mihama [2], and Fukuzō [3], three of the most fashionable boutiques in Motomachi.

In the 1960s, on one end of Motomachi stood the German Bakery and next door was the fantastic Madame Pompadour Bakery with the best puff pastry imaginable. When the aromas filled the street on Saturday mornings it was beyond description. On the end stood (and stands today) Nakayas grocery store, which sold wonderful liquor spiked communist jellies and jams from Czechoslovakia; nearby the vinyl record store which made available many popular 45 rpm records of the day on RCA Victor such as the Monkees and the Beatles. In between as today stands the Union Supermarket where one could purchase US or Japanese versions of the same cereals such as Sugar Pops. And across the street stood the French Restaurant with the best chocolate ice cream.

[edit] NamingUpon the opening of the Port of Yokohama in 1859, this area was called Motomura (本村?). The name was changed to Motomachi in 1860.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motomachi,_Yokohama

MUSICAL JAPANESE AUTO VIDEO FROM THE 1960S

2011-08-10T08:40:00.001-07:00

MUSICAL JAPANESE AUTO VIDEO FROM THE 1960S, a photo by roberthuffstutter on Flickr.

MUSICAL JAPANESE AUTO VIDEO FROM THE 1960S
A friend of mine who knows how much I love the Japan of the 60s sent me some really vintage film clips a while back. I have been selfish, keeping them for my enjoyment, so now is the time to share them with you who also like vintage Japan, and of course, Japan today too.

View and listen, and let me know what you think. It is all about Japanese autos and pretty young women, Tokyo and Yokohama in early 60s.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aGx5_0A7qc&feature=related

noge street

2011-08-05T10:25:00.001-07:00

noge street, a photo by Molly Des Jardin on Flickr.

SUDDENLY, IT IS 1961 AGAIN! What is missing, however, is the crowd of young women and young men from different cultures, meeting and partying until the early light of dawn. Perhaps this party has moved to another area?

PHOTO BY MOLLY DES JARDIN

This looks like it is near Ise-Zaki-Cho in Yokohama.