石西正二 / Isonishi Masaji

Our final correspondence:

石西: 明日の事はわかりませんが

とりあえず楽しくておつきあいをいただいたこと

ありがとうございました

me: BEST FRIEND

石西: ゆーつー

This might not be the most appropriate memorial photo for my friend Isonishi-san. But it is my favorite of the many photos I took of him over the years. I like to think it captures a lot about who and what he was: gregarious, friendly, funny, intelligent, informed... He adored his wife, his cats and dogs, the Beatles, trying to speak English and the Hanshin Tigers.

Isonishi and his wife ran a coffee shop in Tenri city in Nara prefecture called "Apple." Apple was a very important place and space for me, family, friends and many others. Isonishi taught me a lot and influenced me in many ways. There were so many good times. But now I find that words escape me. I put together a small album of photos I took to give to his wife and family. I feel that this is a time when photos can evoke memories and feelings better than words. At least my words now.

Isonishi-san passed away on July 13, 2025, at the age of 78. For now, may he rest in peace. But I have a feeling that I will be reunited with him again.

Kayashima Shrine Summer Matsuri (July 27, 2025) / 萱島神社夏祭り（2025年7月27日） / PLUS! A Surprise Bonus! / さらに！サプライズボーナス！

A HOT early Sunday afternoon, the deafening sound of the cicadas on the cherry tress that line the small stream behind out house, and the sound of shouting and taiko drums approaching... "Washai! Washai!" This is the parade of the Kayashima Shrine Summer Festival mikoshi (portable shrine). There are two mikoshi this year, a small, light one hoisted by children and a large one in the back of a truck along with a taiko drum. During this parade, the local deity of the shrine is temporarily transferred to the mikoshi so that it can bestow blessings to all as it moves through the neighborhood. In the past, the mikoshi was hoisted by an army of hot, sweaty men and women. These days, due to the dwindling number of children and elderly people (as a result of the low birth rate and aging society), COVID-19 (durimg the pandemic years) and the sweltering hot tempertures, the number of participants is low and the truck is used. It is a very different scene than it was several years ago, as can be seen here in 2013:

https://visualanthropologyofjapan.blogspot.com/2013/07/local-matsuri-i-mikoshi.html

and here in 2014:

https://visualanthropologyofjapan.blogspot.com/2014/08/local-matsuri-2014-edition.html

But still, the festival goes on...

BONUS: Mushrooms on the cherry trees (I actually noticed these a month ago)...

Takeshi Mamezuka Photo Exhibition "People Who Didn't Hear the Pika-don Bang"

Text and photos from kyoto-muse.jp.

The Kyoto Museum of Photography's Gallery Japanesque will be holding a photo exhibition by Takeshi Mamezuka entitled "People Who Didn't Hear the Pikachu/Snake Bang" from Tuesday, July 22nd to Sunday, July 27th, 2025 .

The deaf victims of the Nagasaki atomic bomb have survived the postwar period while bearing the triple suffering of being deaf, unable to speak, and exposed to the atomic bomb. Using a 6x6 format camera, Mamezuka carefully captured their way of life, getting very close to their inner selves. What is captured in his photographs are various thoughts and suffering, as well as the many expressions that only Mamezuka could capture by facing his subjects head-on.

The first paragraph of the artist statement: The atomic bombing had faded from people's memories, and the footsteps of war could be heard, when the news of the Hidankyo's Nobel Peace Prize came in. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the bombing. Deaf atomic bomb survivors of Nagasaki live with the desire for peace and the bombing experience. Looking back, it all began 40 years ago when a group of sign language interpreters was formed in Nagasaki. In Nagasaki, it was thought that one could not fully understand the lives of deaf people without knowing the bombing, so they began to record the experiences of the atomic bombing. As I had a close relationship with the sign language interpreters, I received a request to "record the experience photographically." As a group with no money, we began making volunteer visits to Nagasaki. We continued to visit Nagasaki for nearly 10 years.

Takeshi Mamezuka Photo Exhibition "People Who Didn't Hear the Pikadon Bang"
2025/07/22 ~ 2025/07/27
Gallery Japanesque, Kyoto Museum of Photography

For more information: https://kyoto-muse.jp/news/185559

See also: https://kyoto-muse.jp/exhibition/184680

Where to get baseball cards in Japan? Forget the bubblegum, think potato chips and kaki no tane... (and updated 7/14/25)

When I was growing up in America, I would often buy baseball cards that came with a stick (and scent) of bubblegum. But here in Japan, you can get baseball cards when you buy a certain brand of potato chips and a certain brand of kaki no tane (small, crescent-shaped rice crackers flavored with soy sauce and chili). Here are a couple of recent purchases...

I bought 3 small packs of chips at my neighborhood convenience store in Kadoma-shi. You get two cards per pack. Unfortunately I didn't get any Hanshin Tigers player cards this time.

*******

I found these kaki no tane at a convenience store in Kyoto. I had never seen these before. You get one card per pack. I was lucky to get one Hanshin Tigers player card, Nakano Takumu. My daughter and I enjoy opening up the packs and seeing which players we got, and then eating the snacks. Go Tigers!

UPDATE! 7/14/25:

Recently when we bought potato chips we got a "lucky card." We sent it in the the company and received a small folder to keep our cards in good condition.