We have had a really high quality of entrants for the photo contest this year, so we thought it would be great to share those photos with you! Below are the photos that are currently on display at the Japan Information and Cultural Centre, in the three categories of Current School Students, Former JET Participants, and General Public. Click on an image to see it in larger form.
Current School Students
View from Ōsakikamijima, Hiroshima Prefecture
A shrine located in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto.
Mt Fuji stands in an ethereal world of cloud.
Tokyo City from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Tower’s observation deck.
Kinkakuji, Temple of the Golden Pavillion, Kyoto.
This photo was taken at the front of the walk to Asakusa Temple in Tōkyō, and you can see all of the many interesting and bustling stalls that are there.
These are some of the keychains that can be bought at Asakusa Temple, in one of the many wonderful small stalls along the walk to the temple. They have all kinds of Japanese culture in them, with Mount Fuji, geisha dolls, sumo wrestlers, and the traditional Japanese geta shoes. Needless to say, it was very difficult not to buy all of them!
The Japanese spirit of perseverance and resilience is captured in this peaceful morning shot on Lake Ashino, near Mt Fuji in Shizuoka.
Taken in Inokashira Park, in Suginami near Tokyo. We were so lucky to arrive in the sakura cherry blossom season to see the last of the beautiful sakura blossoms.
Taken at Meiji Shrine. The days I was in Japan had very good weather, and the nature surrounding the shrine was very refreshing and beautiful.
Former JET Participants
English Speaking Club getting a few shots for their promotional poster. Their mascot – an alpaca – floats above them as Naruto-kun shows off his raw strength.
Kyūshoku – A class of 7-year-olds eat their school lunch during the summer time.
これは良い行です – These monks at a bus stop in Kyoto caught my eye. Their hats and garb reflect an ancient world whilst their day-to-day lives reflect the modern one.
A photo of some expectant carp at Korakuen in Okayama City.
Taken at the ruins of Takeda-jo. Every morning the mist rolls through the valley and people gather to see the sun-rise. Takeda is located in Hyogo prefecture.
A view of Mt. Fuji from Lake Saiko.
‘A Well Loved City’ – This is a photo of Osaka city’s North Ward at dusk.
Frozen (Nagano)
Pilgrimage (Shikoku)
Temple Cat
General Public
An elderly man feeding birds at Ueno Park in Tokyo.
Amazing Kumano Nachi Shrine in Wakayama Prefecture
A drummer at the 2013 Naha Eisa Festival, Okinawa.
Nebuta Matsuri, in Aomori Prefecture
Matsumoto Castle by night
A rack of traditional Japanese sandals known as geta outside Kinosaki Station in Hyogo Prefecture. The sandals are available for visitors to borrow during their stay in this town famed for its hot springs.
The decorative pagoda situated in the centre of a pond behind Shitennoji Temple in Osaka
Ceramicist at work in his studio in the back streets of Kyoto
Statue depicting Jizō at Zōzō-ji Temple in Shiba, Tōkyō.