Wednesday 30 January 2013

NOSTALGIC

Here is nostalgia on so many levels.  The pic was taken only about 40 years ago, but it is taken in Japan, near where I used to live.  Oh, the remembrances of walking through this park and, by extension, of walks in the rest of Japan and indeed my life there.  The occasion photographed was the local cherry blossom festival, the celebration of the beautiful blossoms, of the transitory nature of beauty and of the end of winter.  How I long now for the end of winter and dream only of spring!  And of course, at this festival, one eats delicious thingies on sticks and with them one drinks sake.  How could I not be nostalgic for that?!  But also, there is something much older about this uniformed band, with its military style conductor and painted backdrop that reminds me of my childhood and days in the park back here with my parents, long gone.  Ah, such fond distant memories!

Cherry Blossom band 

This is my contribution to this week's Picture Perfect.

17 comments:

  1. A really interesting piece of personal nostalgia. How long did you live in Japan?

    Here is MY PP LINK

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  2. Terrific image, and for you, it must bring many memories!
    Those were the days

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  3. A very nice entry for the theme

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  4. amazing how sights and sounds stay with us! awesome share!

    http://classicmonica4.blogspot.com

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  5. Oh this is great! http://muzenews.ning.com/profiles/blogs/ppwcw4-nostalgic

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  6. konichiwa neil...what a great memory this pic must bring back for you...and love how it depicts life then...great shot

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  7. You must have had a very interesting childhood living in Japan.

    http://muzenews.ning.com/profiles/blogs/picture-perfect-nostalgic-2

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  8. I spent several years in my youth in Japan and remember festivals as you describe with great fondness. Very neat reminder of the past for you and good times....nicely done!
    http://muzenews.ning.com/profiles/blogs/picture-perfect-nostalgic-5

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  9. Very cool picture!

    http://muzenews.ning.com/profiles/blogs/furball-s-picture-perfect-comp-week-4-nostaligic-theme-jan-30

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  10. Such lovely memories!
    Thanks for visiting my entry :)

    http://muzenews.ning.com/profiles/blogs/picture-perfect-4-nostalgic

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  11. Great historic shot! It looks like a movie poster for 76 Trombones or something! So interesting what makes us nostalgic.



    http://muzenews.ning.com/profiles/blogs/picture-perfect-nostalgia

    Harriet

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  12. Thanks, Harriet. Yes, I thought it looked painted. I left the top of the backdrop and some trees visible to show (I hope) that it was real.

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  13. Exceptionally interesting..a good capture too.
    http://mil-oneinamillion.blogspot.com.au/2013/02/picture-perfect-winter-competition.html

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  14. Oh Neil this is simply CLASSIC!!

    Cherie

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