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New #TGIF Photos out now and more coming


A caucasian and Japanese woman in a bar with wine.

A Caucasian and Japanese woman in a bar with wine.

3 March Girls Day (Hina Matsuri)

Each year on the 3rd March is Girls Day in Japan. In Japanese it’s called Hina Matsuri, which means Dolls Festival. Usually, families set up a large display in late February, like the one below, and have their daughters pose next to it for photos. The dolls are based on the Heian court, and are arranged in descending order of rank across either a five or seven tiers. Each tier and doll has a specific meaning, but generally it was or is believed that the dolls take away evil spirits. The display is usually set up in the tatami room or guest room of the house. There are special foods and drinks that girls have on the day. Some communities might host some events just for girls, but other than that, not much else happens, however, the Nagoya Womens’ Marathon is next weekend. Also see the Japan Today Girls Day story, and Wikipedia/hinamatsuri.

For this photo, and others like it, see the Girls Day gallery.

#tgif Snow Monkeys




Expect to take lots of photos.

Valentine’s Day

May all the chocolates, flowers, kisses you want come your way. St Valentine’s Day is celebrated in different ways in different countries. For instance in Europe and North America, it’s a day when couples both treat each other, well, usually it’s the guy who organises a special dinner at a restaurant, flowers, and chocolates. However, in Korea and Japan, it’s the woman who makes the first move by giving a guy she likes a small box of chocolates. Then on March 14th the guy reciprocates. However, in Korea on 14th April, if a guy didn’t get anything from a girl on 14th February he then needs to eat black food (usually black soybean noodles) so his soul doesn’t wander forever lonely if he should die without finding love. For both Korea and Japan, the Valentine’s ritual is just for young couples, and not so much for married people. For this photo, and others like it, see my PhotoShelter portfolio and my agent’s website, or go here for the St Valentine’s Day gallery.

Happy Valentine's Day.

Happy Valentine’s Day.

#TGIF Sumo starts on Sunday


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