Neil Duckett » Exhibitions and Festivals

Jamaican Festival

Neil — Mon, 11 May 2009 01:24:00 +0000

It was only by chance i found out the One Love Jamaican festival was on at Yoyogi park on the weekend so Sunday i got myself over there for a look.

Walking through Yoyogi Park on what was close to a 30 degree day i knew there’d be a ton of people out and about enjoying the sun.

Plenty of drummers drumming.

Not shortage of cool cats either, and i haven’t even entered the festival yet.

Coming over the bridge it was obvious this was a popular festival

Lots of characters out and about.

The bridge from Yoyogi Park was strewn with punters.

No shortage of food and drink.

Tattoos were in an abundance.

Downside of that many people meant the lines to get food and drink were long.

Unlike many other festivals this one was extremely laid back with people pulling up and old bit of ground to pitch their camp.

Lot’s of Jamaican type goods on sale.

Old mate on the wheels of steel had the crowd dancing up a storm.

I can imagine it went well on into the night.

Plenty more pics from Glenn who i lover of the festivals in Yoyogi park and my better quality ones are on flickr.

If someone knows a central resource for the festivals in Yoyogi park then please let me know. Until then, here’s a list of the ones i know that will come up in the next few months, the websites are 2008 but i guess they’ll update soon enough. Update, cheers to Glenn for the link to a monthly agenda for Yoyogi Park events and on that note, looks like i’ll be going to the Thai festival next weekend!!

Brasil Festival

Vietnamese Festival

India Festival

Sri Lanka Festival …. although i can’t find the official site.Similar Posts:

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Jamaican Festival

Tokyo CGM Night III

Neil — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 01:56:24 +0000

Friday night saw me get along to the Tokyo CMG (Consumer Generated Media) .. or dudes involved in web based stuff in Japan …. night hosted by Danny and Andrew.

The night has evolved since it’s first run back in October and looks like it’s only going to get bigger and better.

As always there were lots of interesting people to meet, some new faces and some i’d met before.

On the left of me we have Chris Gaunt and to the right Jerome Sadou.

One of the giveaways at the door for the night, an electronic business card exchange device named “Poken”

Hector Garcia who’s site Kirainet is the most viewed blog about Japan in Spain

After some initial confusion as to the ordering process all was cleared up with a few signs.

Japan Youtuber TkyoSam chatting to fellow Youtuber Applemilk

Ken Brady in focus and Ken Lee to his left.

Michael Keferl from CScout Japan in discussion with Kynapple

And lastly David Shackelford partially obscurred by the glass.

….. and that would be me under there posing for a few photos.

The night was held at Cafe Ratia in Harajuku and had a turn out of about 200 … looking forward to the next one already.

Somehow Rick, Joseph and Shane all managed to escape my camera … maybe next time they won’t be so lucky.Similar Posts:

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Tokyo CGM Night III

Cherry Blossom Forecast 2009

Neil — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 04:15:28 +0000

Updated April 1st – Looks like they’ll be blossoming early this year in Tokyo.

It’s almost upon us, the 2009 Cherry Blossom Season and of course the Cherry Blossom Forecast that is, and every god damn blog that has anything at all to do about Japan will make mention of it …. multiple times too no doubt, myself included.

Thanks to Evan for the map via Tenki.

The Cherry Blossom Season signifies a few great things about Japan. One of my favorites being the license to go and get on the sauce at places like Yoyogi Park on a Saturday afternoon, sitting under one of the many Cherry Blossom trees … admiring the view … and what a sweet sweet view it is.

I’m still waiting for the official forecast from Sakura Zensen but if i were a betting many i’d say the last week in March i’ll be out and about with my new camera enjoying the view in Yoyogi Park.

I’ll update this post when the 2009 Cherry Blossom forcast is ready … here’s the 2008 forecast for reference.Similar Posts:

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Cherry Blossom Forecast 2009

Ice Sculptures

Neil — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:01:36 +0000

While on my way to take some pics of the Seijin No Hi action the other week i came across this display of Ice Sculptures in Harajuku.

What i thought was going to be 1/2 a dozen or so sculptures turned into at least 30 and it made for a scenic walk down to the shrine.

Too bad all the photos have that damn red rope in front of them, kind of spoils it but you get the idea.

There was a heavy animal theme present in many of the sculptures.

The intricate detail was quite amazing, not sure you can fully appreciate it in the photos.

Slowly as the temperature rose the sculptures started to deteriorate, but not before thousands of people had time to appreciate the effort gone into creating them.

Coming up in a few weeks time is the Sapporo Snow Festival, one of Japans largest winter events.

Last weekend when i was in Ochanomizu picking up some new gear for this season i noticed a few girls building a snowman on the street.

Not sure where they got the snow from but they were having fun.

If you’re up that way it would be well worth checking out here’s some more info on it.Similar Posts:

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Ice Sculptures

Seijin No Hi

Neil — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 07:45:15 +0000

I once again braved the cold and headed out to grab some photos of todays Seijin No Hi which in English is the Coming Of Age Day.

Anyone turning 20 this year is invited by their local ward to attend a ceremony which officially welcomes them to adulthood. It`s a busy day around all the shrines and major hotels in Japan and after formalities are done it`s not uncommon for many of the new “Adults” to go to the nearest Izakaya and get on the turps.

I went to Meiji Jingu this morning then on to the Keio Plaza hotel and took some photos and a short movie.

I didn`t see all that many fellas at Meiji Jingu, then again i wasn`t looking that hard.

Seijin No Hi from Neil Duckett on Vimeo.

Girls especially get in to Seijin No Hi and enjoy the day and night with their Friends.

These guys has some fun with it, wearing some not so traditional clothing.

If you want more then check out last years pics here.Similar Posts:

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Seijin No Hi

Christmas In Japan

Neil — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 10:31:15 +0000

As another Christmas quickly approaches us there’s no chance it’s going to slip by unnoticed in Japan, everyone seems to get in on the Christmas spirit … or commercial spirit depending on which way you look at it.

Like anywhere in the world Santa comes in all shapes and Japan has its fair share of variations and i had a bit of a gander through flickr to find some examples.

Ginza Santa.

Santa busting out the all too familiar peace sign, something very synonymous with life in Japan like a mentioned here.

Nampa Santa.

Master Santa.

Free Hugs Santa. I’m sure this is the same guy.

Diving Santa.

Extremely poorly made Santa.

Retro Santa.

Colonel Santa.

A Nagoya Santa.

Osaka Love Hotel Santa

Tai Chi Santa.

Unfortunately in Japan, Christmas is a working day so it will go pretty much unnoticed by me this year, unlike last year where i went home to Australia and caught up with the family.Similar Posts:

Post from: Neil Duckett

Christmas In Japan

Vietnamese Festival

Neil — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:42:34 +0000

This week it was the Vietnamese communities turn to take over a section of Yoyogi Park with their culture. It only dawned on me on my way there i’d be able to get some rice paper rolls, a favourite from back home, those along with some 333 beers …. or as i found out, “Bababa” in Vietnamese.

It was another cracking warm day and living pretty close to the park it’s just as easy to walk as it is to get to the station, catch the train one stop then walk the rest.

Unfortunately i was over enthusiastic Saturday morning and stuffed the settings on my video camera so this week it’s still shots only, some of them came out a treat.

Music was plentiful at this festival and the beating of the drums got my attention.

Massive crowds at this festival, much bigger than last weeks Sri Lanka Festival

A “How-To” cooking session on Vietnamese food … i’ll just stick with take-away thanks.

These Watermelon carvings were pretty cool.

This was the place i picked up my rice paper rolls from, they have a shop in Shimo Kitazawa i’m sure i’ll get to some time soon.

My long awaited rice paper rolls and 333 brewski.

There were that many food stalls it wasn’t funny.

Ojiisan decided it was too hot so he’d use the Vietnamese Airlines display for a seat.

Women Wearing Fundoshi

Neil — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 05:00:01 +0000

It’s the season for Natsu Matsuri, or Summer Festivals and after seeing old mate with his fundoshi on the other day it reminded me of another set of photos i’d seen a little while back and lately a topic of conversation around the internet, that of women wearing fundoshi.

Although this festival probably seems totally ridiculous to most people, it’s actually as legitimate as the day is long, well, maybe not these specific pics i don’t know, but the Kanamara Matsuri “Festival of the Steel Phallus” that happens every year on the 1st Sunday in April is. I forgot about it this year and have visitors here next year but i will certainly get down to Kawasaki for a squiz at this at some stage.

In all cases … click the image to remove the hot stuff …. probably not safe for work though.

That’s the first and last of the front on pics anyway, the rest should be OK if you could make it through that one.

OK, heads up ladies, some hard work ahead, time to stiffen things up.

A brief clinic on how top get the best grip on day ahead.

Here the women are encouraging the penis into a vertical state.

And finally the penis has successfully been erected.

For more pics on women wearing Fundoshi you can check out the Fundoshi Bikini site, however buyer beware, there’s certainly some nefarious action on the site, nothing tooo over the top though.

The rest of this gallery is here if you’re Japanese isn’t that flash, same site but straight to the source and nothing worse than you’ve seen above.Similar Posts:

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Women Wearing Fundoshi

Yoyogi Omatsuri

Neil — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:05:25 +0000

Sunday was the Yoyogi Omatsuri and although i was pushed for time i still managed to get up to the station for the start of their journey around the neighborhood.

The majority of my meals during the weak are eaten around Yoyogi and there were many familiar faces of restaurant owners, the lady with the green hair being one of them, her 2 grand daughters were nowhere to be seen … unfortunately.

For more on the Omatsuri and the Mikoshi they carry around you’re better off checking out the proper sources, for photos and some video keep reading.

This guy decided on the traditional Fundoshi an item of clothing generally worn by men, but on sale in japan for women this year. More on this tomorrow.

The green haired lady i see every day on my way to and from the station.

Slowly they head up the road, on their way to the first rest location.

Many people are involved in carrying the Mikoshi and many walk along in front and behind the parade.

I might be mistaken, but i think she’s checking me out. Edit for Chris, not the woman with the green hair, the one below looking straight at me!

When the group arrives at a designated resting spot it’s important for the Mikoshi to be put down straight, if they group come in on an angle then they’re sent back to try again, sometime several times … and believe you me the thing is heavy, very heavy as i found out last year at the Nakano Sakaue Omatsuri.

Yoyogi Omatsuri from Neil Duckett on Vimeo.

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Yoyogi Omatsuri

Sri Lanka Festival

Neil — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 03:39:00 +0000

At this time of the year Yoyogi Park is a buzz with festivals every week, this week was no different and it was Sri Lanka’s turn to take over the park with their food, music and dancing.

I took a stroll over to Yoyogi Park and checked it out at at lunchtime, sampled some great chicken and chugged down a few Lion beers. I took a bit of video too and as always you can check it out on Vimeo for the HD version.

Sri Lankan Festival from Neil Duckett on Vimeo.

Sri Lankan Festival Dancing from Neil Duckett on Vimeo.

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Sri Lanka Festival