Confessions of a Grade School Role Model

Big Bend, Texas, November 2007

California, June 2007

Elephant lions, San Simeon

Golden Gate Bridge

Painted Ladies, San Francisco

Monterrey, Mexico. December 28-31, 2006

New York City

More photos from my last trip to New York in the Photo Album linked at right...

Hiroshima, September 2002

Inuyama, December 2004

Ogaki, Christmas lights and castle

Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kyoto

Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto is the head of the more than 30,000 Inari shrines throughout Japan.  It was established in the early 8th century, and moved to its present location in the 9th century.  Inari, the Shinto god of rice and sake, was traditionally worshipped by farmers seeking a good harvest, but in modern Japan most Inari followers are businessmen hoping for commercial success.

The shrine complex includes five individual shrines linked by a four kilometer mountain trail through roughly 10,000 bright orange torii.  The torii were donated to the shrine by successful businesses and individuals, with the names and addresses of the donors inscribed on the torii's legs.  Nearly every well-known company in Japan has sponsored a torii at Fushimi Inari Taisha.

Also prominent throughout the complex are stone statues of foxes, the messengers of Inari.  The foxes' favorite food is said to be balls of rice in pockets of sweetened fried tofu, which can be ordered at most sushi restaurants by the name "inari."  Other foods popular at shrine-area shops include kitsune ("fox," so called because the dish also includes sweetened fried tofu) udon, and barbecued sparrow.

Momotarou shrine, Inuyama

"Long, long ago, there lived an old man and his old wife in a village. He went to the mountain to gather woods. She went to the river to wash clothes, when a big peach came floating down the river. 'What a big peach this is! I'll take it home.' said she and came home with it on her back. When she began to cut it, to their surprise, the peach cut apart of itself and a big baby came out of it. 'Oh, my God!'"

You can read more about Momotarou the peach boy here.

Kobe, October 23, 2004