Random picture thread for Friday

@1northcoin said:

And these shots were captured as I was crossing the street in the Ginza district of Tokyo:

(At the time I thought I had just chanced upon a wedding party. Later I learned that it I had walked into a staged commercial. If this is the take they use, when it airs on Japanese TV I will likely be in the commercial. . )

@1northcoin said:

@asheland said:

@1northcoin said:
With Friday now here, for this week's postings some views taken this past November as I was being driven through the streets of Tokyo. (Pictured are Tokyo Tower, The Diet Building [Japan's Capital], and a police car ahead of us.)

And these shots were captured as I was crossing the street in the Ginza district of Tokyo:

(At the time I thought I had just chanced upon a wedding party. Later I learned that it I had walked into a staged commercial. If this is the take they use, when it airs on Japanese TV I will likely be in the commercial. . )

That's actually very cool! If they air it and you can find it, post it here!

Thanks. Hopefully one of my friends in Japan will alert me if they see it.

For an added piece of trivia, I did get my 15 minutes of fame on Japanese TV though in 2019. The Diamond Princess Cruise ship on which I was a passenger had its inaugural port call in Himeji, Japan and the whole town celebrated the event either by coming out to the port or watching the festivities on TV.

When the TV crew found out I could speak some Japanese they singled me out for a live interview asking about my reactions to the welcoming ceremony that was attended by the mayor and ship's captain along with Miss Himeji and the Himeji Castle Mascots. The entertainment included a special Taiko Drum performance and they wanted my thoughts on that as well. I am sure the townsfolk were entertained to hear a foreigner being interviewed in Japanese and responding back in much less than perfect Japanese.

As a footnote that was the last full year the Diamond Princess sailed in Japan and its contemplated returns to Himeji as a port have remained on hold due to COVID-19 and Japan having been closed to foreign tourists until just this past fall. It will finally return to Japanese waters this year. (This was the same cruise ship that was the focus of media attention as its passengers remained under quarantine in the port of Yokohama as the world first came to learn of COVID's threat at the beginning of 2020.)

Pictured:

The townspeople of Himeji, Japan gathered to celebrate the Diamond Princess Cruise Ship's inaugural docking at Himeji:

Himeji's iconic castle as I photographed it during our Sakura Season port call there:

The Taiko Drummer who performed for us during the welcoming ceremony along with the cameraman who filmed the live TV interview with me:

Yours truly at the Himeji, Japan Port after appearing on camera:

The Diamond Princess Cruise Ship in its last full year sailing on Japanese Waters before the quarantining of its passengers:

The Governor, Mayor, Ship's Captain and other luminaries along with Miss Himeji and the Himeji Castle Mascots all gathered to welcome us for Princess Cruise's inaugural port of call to the Himeji, Japan Port:

The scheduled events:

Looks like we will once again get a chance to board the Diamond Princess.

@joeykoins said:

@JWP said:

The one on the right, looks like, David Lee Roth. Could that also be, Eddie?

Since you are in Chicagoland, do you recognize that as the original golden arches McDonalds that Ray established there?

@1northcoin said:

@JWP said:

Wow, that almost looks like a view from my place, green deck railing, distant water and all. (I'll have to check my security cameras to see if JWP was trespassing.

@ironmanl63 said:

@1northcoin said:

@joeykoins said:

@JWP said:

The one on the right, looks like, David Lee Roth. Could that also be, Eddie?

Since you are in Chicagoland, do you recognize that as the original golden arches McDonalds that Ray established there?

In Des Plaines. Easily recognizable.

Thanks for confirming. Thought it looked familiar.