PHOTO of the DAY (JAPAN)

[AsahinaKimi]

Vendor Tsuyoshi Yokoyama carries a portable stall on his shoulders, selling “manju,” or buns with sweet bean paste, at Tokyo’s Asakusa traditional shopping district. Tokyo Sky Tree is in the background.

Bonus photos

Hiroshi Aoyama (7), of Japan, leads Valentino Rossi (46), of Italy, Hector Barbera (8), of Spain, and Toni Elias (24), also of Spain, through a turn during practice Friday for the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix MotoGP world championship motorcycle race at Laguna Seca raceway in Monterey, Calif.


Soma Nomaoi samurai warrior festival in the Soma region of Fukushima Prefecture

[gateley]

1. I envy them their history. We don't have such roots here in the US of A. nt

[AsahinaKimi]

2. Its amazing ...

Japan's history goes back to 10,000 BC with the Jomon (Straw People) with the Ainu to follow around 700 BC. Pacifc Islanders from Luzon and Guam came to the Kanto area around 600 BC, and some think they may have brought the *Amaterasu with them. Shinto developed in Japan around 500 BC and later
the Yamato dynasty consolidated its rule over most of Japan.

*Amaterasu (天照?), Amaterasu-ōmikami (天照大神／天照大御神?) or Ōhiru-menomuchi-no-kami (大日孁貴神?) is a sun goddess and one of the principal Shinto deities (神 kami?). The meaning of her name, Amaterasu-ōmikami, is "the great august kami who shines in the heaven".<1> She was born from the left eye of Izanagi as he purified himself in a river and went on to become the ruler of the Higher Celestial Plain (Takamagahara).

She is also said to be directly linked in lineage to the Imperial Household of Japan and the Emperor, who are considered descendants of the kami themselves. Wikipedia

The Japanese monarchy is the oldest continuous hereditary monarchy in the world. The imperial house recognizes 125 monarchs beginning with the legendary Emperor Jimmu (traditionally dated to February 11, 660 BC) and continuing up to the current emperor, Akihito~ wikipedia

There is a lot of history on that tiny little island nation..

[gateley]

9. Fascinating! Thanks for the education!! nt

[upi402]

8. oi, not me

they just evil as US in the past if not far far more sick at times. they don't teach about the cruelty dealt to the chinese, in the PI, etc... in japanese schools. it's like our "History" Channel - a joke and a distraction.

[gateley]

11. Every country on the planet probably has horrors in its history -

it's good that SOME have learned and grown.

I envy all countries their history - a sense of who you are. I don't feel we have that in America. We're all newcomers, relatively speaking.

And truthfully, we don't belong here.

[upi402]

12. good point

i see what you're saying.

Thailand is pretty decent. Never colonized, never a colonizer - just border disputes or fighting back invaders. Maybe a Buddhist thing.

[AsahinaKimi]

13. Thailand is very Buddhist..

More so, it seems than most countries in the area. I have friends from Thailand and have learned a lot about their prospective on Buddhism...they are very devout. I appreciate it as a Buddhist, to hear their take on many things.

[AsahinaKimi]

3. I just now noticed the

Vendor in the first photograph. He is actually carrying his business on his shoulders. Notice the Shelves? I can't imagine what he has in there. If all the shelves have items, then that ads to the weight. The portable stall looks hand built. Can anyone imagine someone doing that here in the States? Of course you would need a food sellers permit, and probably permission to even do this...I wonder if his banner is hand painted? It is taped to the portable stall! It also appears the stall has small wheels. Its an amazing photograph if you look at the details closely.

[Parker CA]

4. Looks like someone in the background of photo two took a bit of a fall. Ouch. nt

[AsahinaKimi]

6. Didn't see that!

Thanks for pointing that out! Ouch, indeed!

[sakabatou]

5. I hear manju are one of the fastest sellers in schools

[AsahinaKimi]

7. It certainly looks yummy!

[greytdemocrat]

10. I thought Godzilla was climbing the Sky Tree...n/t

[AsahinaKimi]

14. He would be a bit larger than that ...

I would think...