LGD's Photos

© & (M) LGD 2011. Auckland's annual Japan Day exhibition of Japanese products and culture. Here a tea-ceremony is performed. One of many performed every 30 minutes (between 10am and 5pm) for the benefit of visitors. Two days prior, an earthquake and devastating Tsunami struck Japan. The Japanese are a stoic people and the mood of the events wasn't noticeably down (although this was my first Japan Day, so I have no point of comparison). (13th March 2011 - Auckland, Japan Day 2011)

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© & (M) LGD 2011. Visitors got to play a game of cards (Karuta comes from the Portuguese carta, meaning cards) with an expert at the game (presumably). (13th March 2011 - Auckland, Japan Day 2011)

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© & (M) LGD 2011. Visitors got to challenge an expert at Japanese Chess. (13th March 2011 - Auckland, Japan Day 2011)

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© & (M) LGD 2011. A food product needs to be pounded. It's a two person job, where one hammers it down and the other uses a freshly wettened paddle to re-fold it up. Actually a third person calls out the timing, but presumably that's optional. (13th March 2011 - Auckland, Japan Day 2011)

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© & (M) LGD 2011. Here the pounding is done by the pro, but he was welcoming of men who had parters to impress to have a go. (13th March 2011 - Auckland, Japan Day 2011)

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© & (M) LGD 2011. It's a pale yellow substance. Very thick and sticky (water stops it sticking to your hand, paddle or hammer). (13th March 2011 - Auckland, Japan Day 2011)

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© & (M) LGD 2011. The Taiko group watch another group performing a series of choreographed dances to the crowd outdoors. They had previously performed at the main indoor stage. The Taiko group will be performing indoors shortly. (13th March 2011 - Auckland, Japan Day 2011)

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© & (M) LGD 2011. (13th March 2011 - Auckland, Japan Day 2011)

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© & (M) LGD 2011. Creamy fried balls. With shrimp. Smelt good, but the queue was too long.. I'm not that patient when it comes to food... (13th March 2011 - Auckland, Japan Day 2011)

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© & (M) LGD 2011. Yup. Definitely smelt good. (13th March 2011 - Auckland, Japan Day 2011)

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© & (M) LGD 2011. Perhaps I should have joined the queue.. (13th March 2011 - Auckland, Japan Day 2011)

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© & (M) LGD 2011. A drummer walks back after his dance group's performance concluded. (13th March 2011 - Auckland, Japan Day 2011)

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© & (M) LGD 2011. Looking up from the Showground pavilions towards Greenlane West Rd. with One Tree Hill in the background. (13th March 2011 - Auckland, Japan Day 2011)

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© & (M) LGD 2011. Japanese streetfood stalls lined the left side of the street. (13th March 2011 - Auckland, Japan Day 2011)

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© & (M) LGD 2011. Unfortunately the noisy venue wasn't suited to this style of very considered music. (13th March 2011 - Auckland, Japan Day 2011)

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© & (M) LGD 2011. Two artists working on a mural. (13th March 2011 - Auckland, Japan Day 2011)

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© & (M) LGD 2011. Many of the performers, and these painters were multi-ethnic. The girl (back) is Japanese and the guy (fore) looks NZ European. (13th March 2011 - Auckland, Japan Day 2011)

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