I have been obsessed with the concept, philosophy and aesthetic of the Daruma Doll - a Japanese tumbler figurine, which represents, amongst other things, resilience. I was lucky enough to get to visit Japan in 2019 and I knew I had to visit Takasaki - the home of the Daruma Doll and the incredible Daruma temple.
Photographed here is a tight crop of the many compiled and wish-fulfilled Daruma's of all shapes, sizes and colours and is sure to bring good luck, fortune and health to anyone who hangs this print in their home.

This island, that you need to take a ferry from Tadamo-Umi in the Hiroshima prefecture, has a dark pat; being a poison gas storage facility during World War II. However, when trying to see if the island was safe to reinhabit, they introduced rabbits to see if they would survive. They did - and they populated like, well, rabbits! The island is covered in semi-friendly bunnies and is a huge tourist destination to feed and see the rabbits. However, I found the architecture and structure of the island, and its horrid past a lot more interesting.

I don't want to sound like that obnoxious New York VIP Tik Tokker, BUT "if you haven't had Ramen in Japan, then you haven't had ramen." I mean, it goes without saying, that the food absolutely blew my mind.
One night, walking around the entertainment district of Shibuya, we discovered some alleyways that reminded me so much of Melbourne and home. It was here a window illuminated the chefs from inside one of the many restaurants, going back and forth and busily preparing many meals. This shot both reminds me of Melbourne and home, but also this awesome Japanese adventure - but most of all, the yummy ramen!

After a busy day sightseeing in Kamakura, shopping, eating delicious treats, sightseeing at the mountain and the Giant Buddha and generally doing the touristy stuff, we were walking back to the train station just as the sun was going down. The common, yet amazing, Familymart (like a levelled up 711 which sells all kinds of incredible Japanese treats) appeared. It was facing the setting sun, illuminated and beckoned for us to buy another treat. But tied up out front, alert and so appropriate was a beautiful Japanese Shiba Inu. You couldn't get a more contemporary Japanese tableau!
I love street photography and I happily captured the urban scene.