hmccaw's Photobucket Kansai album media

P8040282.flv

hmccaw — Thu, 7 Aug 2008 05:02:30 MDT

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P8040282.flv

Modanyaki

hmccaw — Thu, 7 Aug 2008 01:28:39 MDT

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Modanyaki - P8040273.flv

View of Osaka

hmccaw — Thu, 7 Aug 2008 00:39:58 MDT

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View of Osaka - P8050336.flv

View of Osaka

hmccaw — Thu, 7 Aug 2008 00:26:17 MDT

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View of Osaka - P8050332.flv

At Umeda Skybuilding

hmccaw — Thu, 7 Aug 2008 00:14:18 MDT

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At Umeda Skybuilding - P8050327.flv

Adding bonito

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 23:52:12 MDT

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Adding bonito - P8040280.flv

Adding the bonito flakes

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 23:45:57 MDT

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Adding the bonito flakes - P8040279.flv

Making Okonomiyaki

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 21:50:00 MDT

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Making Okonomiyaki - P8040272.flv

Fireworks

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 21:31:14 MDT

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Fireworks - P8010077.flv

Fireworks at Kobe Port

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 21:13:59 MDT

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Fireworks at Kobe Port - P8010076.flv

Yum yum!

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:43:11 MDT

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Yum yum! - P8040284.jpg

So delicious

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:43:06 MDT

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So delicious - P8040285.jpg

Ugh so full

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:43:00 MDT

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Ugh so full - P8040288.jpg

Octopus

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:42:56 MDT

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Octopus - P8040289.jpg

P8040290.jpg

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:42:50 MDT

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P8040290.jpg

P8040291.jpg

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:42:46 MDT

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P8040291.jpg

Donki Hote

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:42:40 MDT

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Donki Hote - P8040293.jpg

But the ferris wheel wasn't running

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:42:36 MDT

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But the ferris wheel wasn't running - P8040294.jpg

Billboard for porn?

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:42:30 MDT

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Billboard for porn? - P8040295.jpg

Yamapi!

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:42:26 MDT

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Yamapi! - P8040296.jpg

New Kabukiza

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:42:21 MDT

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New Kabukiza - P8040297.jpg

Kabuki theatre

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:42:16 MDT

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Kabuki theatre - P8040298.jpg

Takashimaya

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:42:10 MDT

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Takashimaya - P8040299.jpg

America-mura

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:42:04 MDT

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America-mura - P8040300.jpg

It is a well-known haunt of expatriate Westerners, and centres on Triangle Park, a concrete rest area surrounded by retail outlets of Western fashions, bars and nightclubs, some of which are run by Westerners.

Mural in Ame-mura

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:41:58 MDT

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Mural in Ame-mura - P8040301.jpg

Service

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:41:54 MDT

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Service - P8040302.jpg

Free quiche at Hana-Dining Hawaiian restaurant.

Mozzarella and Tomato Rattatoule

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:41:50 MDT

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Mozzarella and Tomato Rattatoule - P8040303.jpg

Crab and Avocado cakes

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:41:45 MDT

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Crab and Avocado cakes - P8040304.jpg

Fried Chicken with Wasabi Mayo

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:41:41 MDT

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Fried Chicken with Wasabi Mayo - P8040305.jpg

Meat

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:41:36 MDT

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Meat - P8040306.jpg

Oh, so pretty

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:41:31 MDT

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Oh, so pretty - P8040307.jpg

Learning to tie an obi

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:41:26 MDT

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Learning to tie an obi - P8050308.jpg

Wah?

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:41:22 MDT

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Wah? - P8050309.jpg

Osaka

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:41:17 MDT

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Osaka - P8050311.jpg

The city is the capital of Osaka Prefecture. Often dubbed the second city of Japan, Osaka was historically the commercial capital of Japan, and to date the heart of Japan's second largest (and the world's ninth largest) metropolitan area of Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto, whose population is 17,220,000.

Umeda Sky Building

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:41:12 MDT

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Umeda Sky Building - P8050312.jpg

Sky Garden

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:41:06 MDT

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Sky Garden - P8050313.jpg

This building is the seventh-tallest building in Osaka City, and one of the city's most recognizable landmarks.

Fountain into the garden below

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:41:01 MDT

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Fountain into the garden below - P8050314.jpg

See-through Escalators

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:40:56 MDT

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See-through Escalators - P8050315.jpg

It consists of two 40-story towers that connect at their two uppermost stories, with bridges and an escalator crossing the wide atrium-like space in the center.

Garden

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:40:51 MDT

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Garden - P8050316.jpg

About the garden

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:40:46 MDT

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About the garden - P8050317.jpg

Rice fields?

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:40:40 MDT

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Rice fields? - P8050318.jpg

From 39th Floor

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:40:35 MDT

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From 39th Floor - P8050319.jpg

Osaka - East

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:40:29 MDT

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Osaka - East - P8050326.jpg

Osaka - East

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:40:24 MDT

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Osaka - East - P8050328.jpg

Osaka - East (173m)

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:40:18 MDT

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Osaka - East (173m) - P8050329.jpg

Osaka - North (173m)

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:40:13 MDT

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Osaka - North (173m) - P8050330.jpg

Osaka - North (173m)

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:40:09 MDT

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Osaka - North (173m) - P8050331.jpg

Locks of Love

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:40:04 MDT

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Locks of Love - P8050333.jpg

Not ready

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:39:58 MDT

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Not ready - P8050334.jpg

Osaka Skyline

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:39:54 MDT

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Osaka Skyline - P8050335.jpg

Osaka - West

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:39:49 MDT

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Osaka - West - P8050337.jpg

Osaka - South

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:39:45 MDT

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Osaka - South - P8050338.jpg

What a job

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:39:40 MDT

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What a job - P8050339.jpg

The building features a rooftop observatory, The Floating Garden Observatory, as well as an underground market that attempts to recreate the atmosphere of Osaka in the early 20th century. At the base of the towers is an urban garden with walking trails and water features.

Nap time

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:39:36 MDT

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Nap time - P8050340.jpg

P8050341.jpg

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:39:32 MDT

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P8050341.jpg

Going down

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:39:27 MDT

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Going down - P8050342.jpg

Cuz I'm an English nerd

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:39:23 MDT

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Cuz I'm an English nerd - P8050344.jpg

Post Office

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:39:19 MDT

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Post Office - P8050345.jpg

Takimi-koji

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:39:14 MDT

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Takimi-koji - P8050346.jpg

Wan wan

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:39:08 MDT

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Wan wan - P8050347.jpg

Aoya Gate

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:39:04 MDT

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Aoya Gate - P8050355.jpg

The main tower

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:38:58 MDT

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The main tower - P8050356.jpg

P8050357.jpg

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:38:54 MDT

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P8050357.jpg

Osaka-jo

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:38:48 MDT

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Osaka-jo - P8050358.jpg

Originally called Ozakajo, it is one of Japan's most famous castles, and played a major role in the unification of Japan during the sixteenth century of the Azuchi-Momoyama period. Osaka Castle is situated on a plot of land roughly one kilometer square (1100 yards square).

P8050359.jpg

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:38:43 MDT

hmccaw posted a photo

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P8050360.jpg

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:38:38 MDT

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P8050360.jpg

P8050361.jpg

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:38:33 MDT

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P8050361.jpg

P8050362.jpg

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:38:27 MDT

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P8050362.jpg

Gokuraku Bridge

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:38:23 MDT

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Gokuraku Bridge - P8050363.jpg

P8050364.jpg

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:38:18 MDT

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P8050364.jpg

Fishing in the moat

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:38:14 MDT

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Fishing in the moat - P8050365.jpg

P8050366.jpg

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:38:08 MDT

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P8050366.jpg

Murals at Osaka-jo Koen Station

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:38:03 MDT

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Murals at Osaka-jo Koen Station - P8050348.jpg

Murals

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:37:58 MDT

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Murals - P8050350.jpg

Osaka Castle Park

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:37:53 MDT

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Osaka Castle Park - P8050351.jpg

Fountain

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:37:49 MDT

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Fountain - P8050352.jpg

Baseball diamond

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:37:43 MDT

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Baseball diamond - P8050353.jpg

The Moat

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:37:38 MDT

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The Moat - P8050354.jpg

Tenshu-kaku

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:37:33 MDT

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Tenshu-kaku - P8050367.jpg

Much of the castle was burned in the civil conflicts surrounding the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Under the Meiji government, Osaka Castle was converted to a barracks for Japan's rapidly-expanding Western-style military. The main tower was restored in 1928 after the mayor of Osaka concluded a highly successful fund-raising drive. Bombing raids on Osaka in WW2 damaged the reconstructed main tower. In 1995, Osaka's government approved yet another restoration project, with the intent of restoring the main tower to its Edo-era splendor which was completed in 1997. The castle is a concrete reproduction (including elevators) of the original, although the interior does not resemble a Japanese castle at all.

The main tower

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:37:29 MDT

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The main tower - P8050368.jpg

View from the top

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:37:25 MDT

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View from the top - P8050369.jpg

It is a popular spot during festival seasons, and especially during the cherry blossom bloom (hanami), when the sprawling castle grounds are covered with food vendors and taiko drummers. The large indoor arena Osaka-jo Hall is also located within the grounds of the castle.

Osaka-jo Hall

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:37:20 MDT

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Osaka-jo Hall - P8050370.jpg

Osaka

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:37:14 MDT

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Osaka - P8050371.jpg

So many trees!

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:37:10 MDT

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So many trees! - P8050372.jpg

The Inner Bailey

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:37:05 MDT

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The Inner Bailey - P8050373.jpg

The Castle grounds, which cover approximately 60,000 square meters (15 acres) contain thirteen structures which have been designated as Important Cultural Assets by the Japanese government, including the Toyokuni Shrine, dedicated to Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

Tenshu-kaku

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:36:59 MDT

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Tenshu-kaku - P8050374.jpg

P8050375.jpg

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:36:54 MDT

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P8050375.jpg

The old Osaka Museum of History

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:36:50 MDT

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The old Osaka Museum of History - P8050376.jpg

Takoyaki

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:36:39 MDT

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Takoyaki - P8050377.jpg

Hokoku Shrine

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:36:25 MDT

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Hokoku Shrine - P8050378.jpg

Hershey's Kisses

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:36:07 MDT

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Hershey's Kisses - P8050379.jpg

Another fountain

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:36:01 MDT

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Another fountain - P8050380.jpg

A nicer looking fountain at the entraince to the park except for all the dead cicadas in it!

Miso Sai-sai Men

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:34:33 MDT

hmccaw posted a photo

Miso Sai-sai Men - P8050381.jpg

Kansai ramen is indeed different -- the soup is thinner and less salty than what we get in Tokyo and you can see the noodles through the soup, more so in shoyu (soy sauce) ramen.

Justin and I on our way

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:09:56 MDT

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Justin and I on our way - P8010016.jpg

Misfire

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:09:51 MDT

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Misfire - P8010017.jpg

Going to Kansai on the Shinkansen!

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:09:46 MDT

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Going to Kansai on the Shinkansen! - P8010018.jpg

First time on the Shinkansen (bullet train) for me!

Shinagawa

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:09:42 MDT

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Shinagawa - P8010019.jpg

Shinagawa from the Shink

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:09:37 MDT

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Shinagawa from the Shink - P8010020.jpg

P8010021.jpg

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:09:33 MDT

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P8010021.jpg

P8010022.jpg

hmccaw — Wed, 6 Aug 2008 17:09:29 MDT

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P8010022.jpg