Philadelphia’s Sakura Sunday – Hello Spring !!!

Posted on April 20, 2014

Philadelphia’s Cherry Blossom Festival, better known as Sakura Sunday, was recently held at Fairmount Park on April 13, 2014. It was organized by the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia (JASGP). Beautiful spring weather and an outstanding program featuring a variety of artists from Japan and the United States contributed to the success of this event.

Without too many words the following photos will hopefully communicate the spirit of Sakura Sunday. Below are four gallery sections featuring Doshinkan Aikido, Tamagawa University Taiko Drum and Dance, La Siana, and, finally a couple of random photos from around the venue.

Doshinkan Aikido (AANA)

Members of the Aikido Association of North America (AANA), founded by Yukio Utada Sensei, delivered a beautiful and breathtaking demonstration. All age groups were represented. Many of the students make a lifetime commitment to the practice and refinement of this art involving a very dynamic life philosophy. Sometimes they live far away from the training hall or dojo, and, for the most part, training then takes on a different dimension keeping the positive spirit and energy alive. For me, who lives far from the main dojo located in Philadelphia it is always great to know that Utada Sensei and these dedicated students keep the dojo lights on for anybody far away or close by. For more information please visit the website of the AANA.

(Please click on an image to view in carousel format)

The short life of a cherry blossom, 1/200 of a second shutter speed, instant and flawless execution, beautiful and sophisticated. Doshinkan Aikido Demonstration

Preparation time – Everybody is involved either on or off the matt – Doshinkan Aikido Demonstration

Women selfdefense – an applied aspect – Doshinkan Aikido Demonstration

Doshinkan Aikido Demonstration

Jo (Staff) is an integral part of Doshinkan Aikido practice – Doshinkan Aikido Demonstration

Tanto (Knife) exercise – Doshinkan Aikido Demonstration

Rob McKeown Sensei (Children’sprogram) and Utada Kancho – Life dedicated to Aikido – Doshinkan Aikido Demonstration

Ben Cliver Sensei (Temple University) – Doshinkan Aikido Demonstration

Doshinkan Aikido Demonstration

Doshinkan Children’s Aikido Demonstration

Complete focus and dedication – Doshinkan Children’s Aikido Demonstration

Doshinkan Aikido Demonstration

Learning how to fall, on or off the matt – Doshinkan Aikido Demonstration

Next are some images of the Tamagawa University Taiko Drum and Dance Performance

A powerful and spirited way of communicating Japanese traditional arts of Taiko drums and dance. Watching the students of Tamagawa University perform was a very energizing experience. Harmonizing, happy, smiling performers drew the audience very close into their rhythm. Even now, after the festival, looking at the photos I can hear the Taiko drums and feel the spirit of their show.

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Tamaga University Taiko Drum and Dance

Here are some photos of La Siana

These five ladies showed a very vibrant, high energy program without speed limit. Moving, dancing and singing while staying synchronized almost without effort was worth seeing. It was hard to get close to the stage because of the attention La Siana received from the Philadelphia audience.

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La Siana

Finally here are some random images from beautiful Sakura Sunday

I took these images without thinking too much about composition or other aspects of photography. They happened in a very spontaneous way. The entire event was a microcosm of small experiences happening not only on stage but also among the audience. It seemed as if the entire Sakura Sunday was a performance where everybody played a role. Via the camera I was able to freeze situations showing the beautiful spontaneity of moments involving wonderful people.

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Everybody was a performer – Sakura Sunday Impressions

Sakura Sunday Impressions

Thank you to the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia, all the participants, whether on or off stage for making this Philadelphia Sakura Sunday such a beautiful memorable event.

City Hall in Philadelphia

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Category: Aikido, Japanese Art, Martial Art, Pennsylvania, Uncategorized, United States Tagged: #AANA, #Aikido, #Aikidodemonstration, #Art, #Beautiful, #Blossom, #Cherry, #Cosplay, #Dance, #Demonstration, #Doshinkan, #Fashion, #Hans, #HansNagl, #Happy, #Interesting, #Japan, #Japanese, #JASGP, #Kimono, #LaSiana, #Love, #Martial, #MartialArt, #Nagl, #New, #Nikon, #Peace, #Philadelphia, #Photography, #Photos, #SakuraSunday, #Smile, #Spring, #Subaru, #Sun, #Taiko, #Tamagawa, #Utada, #Warm

Around the Cape – Inspirations and Photos

Posted on March 27, 2014

Please click on an image to view photos in slideshow format.

Highland Light near Truro (Winter) – Cape Cod

Highland Light near Truro (Winter) – Cape Cod, Catching the last rays of light. Provincetown is visible in the background on the right.

Highland Light near Truro (Summer) – Cape Cod

Head of the Meadow Beach (Summer) – Truro – Cape Cod

Head of the Meadow Beach (Summer)- Truro – Cape Cod – An enjoyable evening watching the sunset.

Head of the Meadow Beach (Winter) – Truro – Cape Cod

Head of the Meadow Beach (Winter), Truro – Cape Cod –

Head of the Meadow Beach (Summer) – Truro – Cape Cod

Head of the Meadow Beach (Winter), Truro – Cape Cod – Dunes – a geological snapshot

For many children growing up in Austria, surrounded by mountains, a future life close to the sea is mostly a far-fetched exotic idea. The thunder of waves, the changing colors of the oceans, the sounds of fishing boats’ diesel engines, seagulls sailing high in blue skies, the taste of saltwater, witnessing four seasons are impressions belonging to the world of dreamers or people far away already living there. During my Austrian childhood I was very interested in movies produced by Jacques Cousteau, the famous French diver, and the adventures of the Calypso submarine, as well as Vienna born Hans Hass, who courageously researched shark behavior. These stories about the sea introduced a foreign world to me, mysterious, yet touchable, possible to reach, somewhere, sometimes in the future.

: Nantucket (Summer) – Massachusetts

: Nantucket (Summer) – Massachusetts – leaving Nantucket

: Nantucket (Summer) – Massachusetts

: Nantucket (Summer) – Massachusetts

I now live very close to the sea near Cape Cod and with great interest enjoy all the curiosities mother nature has to offer probably inspired by my childhood experiences. Photos are my pocket moments of great impressions. Here are a couple which I found in my archives. Sometimes I took almost identical photos at different times during the year. I tried to place those side-by-side sometimes creating a very strong contrast between, for example, situations in the summer vs. in winter.

I will attempt to add more photos in the future including other places and seasons around the Cape. (If you would like to have a copy of a photo shown here, then please send me an email via the form at the end of this photo gallery. Thank you very much. )

The impossible missions are the only ones which succeed.
– Jacques Cousteau

Provincetown (Winter), Cape Cod – Very silent place

Provincetown (Fall), Cape Cod

Provincetown (Fall), Cape Cod – A very busy place

Provincetown (Winter), Cape Cod – Sometimes it is tough to remove snow.

Provincetown (Fall), Cape Cod – Gallery Cat looking at the latest art

Provincetown, Cape Cod (Winter) – waiting for the spring

Provincetown (Winter), Cape Cod (Winter) – Sleeping, busy streets

Provincetown (Fall), Cape Cod – Pilgrim Monument – Biking in the Dunes the colors are stunning.

Provincetown (Winter), Cape Cod – Pilgrim Monument

National Seashore (Fall), Cape Cod – Beautiful clear, warm days.

Provincetown (Summer), Cape Cod – Sunset colors seem to be the softest at this place

Provincetown (Fall), Cape Cod – The Wood End Lighthouse is a symbol of perseverance through the seasons without fail sending its beacon into the night.

Provincetown (Winter), Cape Cod – Wood End Lighthouse

Provincetown (Winter), Cape Cod – Seagulls playing in the wind.

Provincetown (Winter), Cape Cod – Wood End Lighthouse

Provincetown (Winter), Cape Cod – Freezing cold winds allowing only for a few photos

Provincetown (Summer), Cape Cod – Wood End Lighthouse

Provincetown (Winter), Cape Cod – Wood End Lighthouse

Provincetown (Summer), Cape Cod – Wood End Lighthouse

Provincetown (Summer), Cape Cod

Provincetown (Winter), Cape Cod – between dunes and frozen salt water marshes – Wood End Lighthouse

Provincetown (Winter), Cape Cod – Wood End Lighthouse

Provincetown (Fall), Cape Cod – Wood End Lighthouse

Provincetown (Fall), Cape Cod – Near wood End Lighthouse.

Provincetown (Fall), Cape Cod – Wood End Lighthouse

Provincetown (Winter), Cape Cod – Wood End Lighthouse

Provincetown (Winter), Cape Cod – Cross Country Skiing after a blizzard along the sea was an amazing, unforgettable experience. The ground was solid frozen with snow allowing for tracks not damaging this fragile nature.