Although known as a global artistic wonder, the Taj Mahal lies close to poor villages, whose inhabitants must gather wood for cooking
State University of New York at Buffalo.
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Goat herds with Taj Mahal and mosque in background
Because of families' economic needs, children often herd small animals rather than attend school
Camels survive well in this hot, dry section of India, and have been domesticated for hauling heavy loads
Most construction in rural India is carried out with earthen bricks
To beautify camels, Indian tour companies often clip leg hair into geometric patterns. Everything in India is decorated, even camels.
Because of dry conditions in this part of India, wells must be dug deep. This stepwell, which measures nearly 65 feet deep, was constructed in the 8th or 9th century.
On display at women's sewing cooperative
At this women's fair trade sewing cooperative, sellers display items group members have made
indians use all forms of transport, animate and inanimate
Dried cow patties burn well, and can be gathered free from fields or along roads
Exterior walls provide good space for symbolic designs
child showing family treasure [sewing machine]
Oxen assist with plowing and other crucial rural tasks
Interior decorations, Indian rural home
Pictures on the walls depict popular Hindu deities
Most rural people rely on the sun to dry washed clothes. However, they must be inspected for vermind before being worn
The 2011 census indicated more than 100 million Indians work in agriculture, many as landless laborers
When cattle die, they are usually left in the open for scavengers, since touching them would pollute practising Hindus
Indian children line up before morning classes start
December chill is clear: look at the clothes
These youngsters are studying devanagari script, used for over 120 languages
An elephant and its mahout, by school entrance
Groups of deer have little fear of humans in this preserve
This depicts a trained elephant with mahout [jockey] and rider
This nature preserve in NW India allows views of many kinds of birds and animals, perhaps even including tigers
Highly elusive tigers can be tracked by their distinctive pug marks
Jal Mahal, or 'water palace' on the Man Sagar.
Hawa Mahal, in Hindi, is the offiicial name. Wives of the Sultan could watch public events while remaining hidden
Delhi's burgeoning population can be seen in the large number of unemployed or underemployed persons
All kinds of transport - animal and mechanical - can be found in Indian markets
Cows, sacred in Hinduism, roam freely, even in congested urban areas
A poster advertising new tobacco "Winston".
It says "What do you think of this taste?! It has just arrived in Japan."The price is 290 yen. Sentences at the bottom of poster warn of the danger of tobacco: "Smoking is one of the causes of lung cancer, and enhances the risks of myocardial infarction, stroke, and emphysema of the lungs. Underage smoking has harmful effects upon health and increases the degree of dependence on tobacco. Do not smoke if the people about you recommend. Tobacco smoke has harmful effects upon the health of the people about you, especially infants, children, and the elders. When smoking, you should be careful not to be a nuisance to the people around you."
At the bottom of the sign, note the name of a bank "Mizuho-shintaku-Ginkou" or Mizuho Trust & Banking.
The sign above the statue says, "Offerings to the sage" (in Chinese characters, which are frequently used in Japanese temples).
Sign for a typical McDonald's franchise.
The exterior is not made bright in accordance with city regulations for scenic preservation.
A poster appealing to citizens to install a residential fire alarm by asking "Have you installed a residential fire alarm?"
A Kongōrikishi (Ungyō)- a protective image for a structure - holds a residential fire alarm. The poster also tells the deadline for installment, which is 31 May, Heisei 23 (2011).
A poster of Kyoto City Fire Department appealing to citizens to protect cultural assets against fire.
The wooden statue of Fūjin of Sanjūsangen-dō is depicted by Shigeo AIwasawa, a noted Japanese artist.
Part of an information board about the opening of Japan to the West in the Edo period.
Members of Commodore Matthew Perry's fleet entered Edo bay for the first time on July 8, 1853. The image shows Commodore Perry. This woodblock print was made around 1854. It is in Ryōsen-ji's possession.
A sign advertising the "Kyoto Tezuka Osamu World"
At this amusement area you can enjoy the characters created by Osamu Tezuka, including Astro Boy, Jungle Taitei (Jungle Emperor) and Princess Knight. Note: this amusement area closed on January 16th, 2011, after this picture was taken.
Japan Railroads is comprised of six regional railroads and a national freight company
A vending machine which creates your own name stickers.
It indicates "Kyoto-no-maki" meaning Kyoto version.
The words on the torii show the date of dedication. The top characters indicate the torii were placed during the reign of the Heisei Emperor.
The cafe "café Gū" sells "siphon coffee".
The advertisement says that Coca-Cola West Co., Ltd. supports the memorial projects of the 1300th anniversary of Nara Heijō-kyō Capital.
Sign outside a tavern offering fresh and healthy seafood cuisine "Sakura-suisan"
The sign of the 1300th anniversary of Nara Heijō-kyō Capital
The Chinese characters at the side of this Buddhist religious site read, "Site for respectful chanting of the Buddha’s name."
Sign saying that persons who damage cultural assets by scribbling will be punished under the law.
A sign at the entrance to Kokiriko village, "Kokiriko-no-sato".
It also shows "Etchū Gokayama" and "Kokiriko-odori (Kokiriko-dance)". Etchū was an old province, which is now called Toyama Prefecture. Gokayama is an area within the city of Nanto in Toyama Prefecture. Their traditional Gasshō-zukuri houses have been inscribed on the World Heritage List so that there are Gasshō-zukuri houses on the sign.
The entrance of Shirakawago Gassho Zukuri Minkaen, an open air museum in Shirakawa-mura, Gifu Prefecture.
The sign says "Open Air Museum Gassho Zukuri Minkaen".
Shirakawa-mura Kyōiku Iinkai (Gifu-ken, Japan)
In Japanese, "Takarakuji" means a lottery. "Loto" and "Numbers" are varieties of lotteries. The right sign shows that someone who had bought lottery tickets won 300 million yen including subprizes. The name of this lottery ticket booth is "Kanazawa Sky Plaza Chance Center". There are many cats becasue the maneki-neko (welcoming cat, lucky cat, beckoning cat, fortune cat or so in English) is a common Japanese lucky charm which is often believed to bring good luck to the the owner.
There are many flags and advertisements of Coca-Cola. The sign on a door indicates that they sell the carbonated soft drink "Ramune". Another sign shows that there are instant cameras and film of FUJICOLOR by Fujifilm.
This is a festival held in Kaminashi Hakusangu Keidai, Nanto, Toyama Prefecture, every year on September 25 and 26. The man in the poster holds the Sasara, which is a string-bound bundle of 108 boards of Japanese cypress (the same as the number of worldly desires in Buddhism). During the matsuri (festival), an elegant dance is performed to the sounding of these planks of cypress.
A poster of Kanazawa tourist association advertising Kanazawa geisha (traditional Japanese female entertainers).
The event is held in teahouses from 1pm to 2pm every Saturday from June 12 (Sat.), Heisei 22 (2010) to March 26 (Sat.), Heisei 23 (2011). It costs 3000 yen including tea and cakes. The period when reservations are accepted begins May 20 (Thurs.), Heisei 22 (2010). At that time, one yen was worth about one cent American.
The sign at the entrance to a spit-roasting restaurant "Kushiyaki-no-mise Dokkorasho".
Kushi refers to the skewers and yaki means roasting in Japanese. Mise refers to a restaurant.
Kaga refers to Kaga city, Ishikawa Prefecture or Kaga Province which is an old province of Japan and now part of Ishikawa Prefecture. Yakuzen means hearbal medicine cuisine in which Chinese herbal medicine is combined with normal food ingredients to restore health.
A poster of JA Zen-Noh (National Federation of Agricultural Co-operative Associations) Kyoto advertising local vegetables, written in Kyoto dialect.
It states, "The water is good in Kyoto. Rich soil and good water. Therefore, vegetables are also good. No matter what you say, those vegetables have been satisfying poeple in Kyoto who are particular about the way dishes should taste so that they are delicious. Please try those vegetables produced in Kyoto."
Different signs: for a restaurant "Sushi Sute," customer parking, and a lunch menu.
The hanging paper says that there is a full selection of limited number of sake vault T-shirts.
One of the vegetable and fruit shops "Akako-Shoten" in Omi-ichiba (Omicho Market).
Omicho market is a historically valuable market that has thrived along with changing times and the development of Kanazawa. It is still supporting the food culture of Kanazawa today.
A poster of "Ogatsu Hoin Kagura" which is a performance of sacred Shinto music and dance dedicated to shrines.
The poster includes the program, information on tickets, the date and the location.
A poster of Kabuki "Narukami" which is one of the Kabuki-juhachiban.
A poster of "Tsukiji Shishi Matsuri" (Festival) in Tsukiji, Namiyoke Inari"Shrine .
It says "Get rid of misfortune and get through the wave". In the original Japanese, the character refers to both an ocean wave and to travels. The Tokyo area is subject to ocean floods. The poster includes the schedule and location.
A sign of Safety Station for Children "Kodomo 110-ban no Eki".
Kodomo means children and eki refers to station in Japanese. 110 is the phone number of the police in Japan. At the bottom of sign, there is "JR Higashi-Nihon" or JR East. JR means Japan Railroads, an overall company for six regional passenger and one national freight railroad.
A seafood shop and local fish restaurant "Funazen" in Enoshima, which is part of the mainland city of Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture.
A poster advertising a speech by Akira Koike (a Member of the House of Councillors, the head of a policy planning committee, and doctor) and Kazuo Shii (a party leader and a member of the House of Representatives) of Nihon Kyōsan-tō (Japanese Communist Party) at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium on May 14 (Fri.). The slogan says "Now, from Tokyo to national administration."
A sign for the soba restaurant "Nagasaka Sarasina Nunoya Tahee" in Azabu, Tokyo.
The restaurant was founded around 220 years ago. The sign indicates the direction to the restaurant from the nearest station.
A poster advertising a speech by Jimintō, or Jiyū-Minshutō (Liberal Democratic Party of Japan) at Jiyū-Minshu hall on August 4 (Wed.).
The three panelists on the poster are Sanzou Hosaka (the manager of a proportional representation district of the House of Councillors), Takashi Fukaya (the senior advisor of Tokyo Jimintō), and Yukuo Hattori (a member of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly).
An old poster of "Dai-Nippon Seito" Co., Ltd. which is a sugar manufacturer.
The characters should be read from right to left. At the right of this poster, a long and narrow hangs, reading "High-quality sake Shin-sekai".
Advisory sign in sidewalk warning against smoking while walking.
The Japanese prize cleanliness. It shows that Taitō-ku is a city which has enacted an ordinance against littering.
Poster for a Marc Chagall exhibition at the University Art Museum, Tokyo University of the Arts.
A tokonoma is a decorative alcove within a room. The large wooden fish is known as a mokugyo, It is used during Buddhist rituals usually involving the recitation of sutras, mantras, or other Buddhist texts. The two large bells are called kesu.
Celebrated annually on March 3, 'Hinamatsuri' (doll's day or girl's day) involves elaborate staging. This shows the Emperor and Empress in Heian period dress
The Shimogamo Shrine is one of Japan's oldest (6th century)
Jizō serve in Buddhism as protective figures, often linked to cemeteries. Jizō means "lost babies" or miscarriages.
Professor Jeannette Ludwig gets ready for Japanese dinner, Okonoin monastery
Professor Jeannette Ludwig enjoys tea, Okonoin monastery
Professor Claude Welch prepares tea in monastery. Electricity provides the main heat
Japanese futons are customarily placed on the floor. Professor Claude Welch prepares for sleep
This torii – a gateway found at Shinto shrines – stands at the Itsukumisa Shrine. A torii is said to separate sacred and profane places in Shintoism.