Lake Kawaguchi

In this week’s video of landscape photography in Japan, we visit Oishi Park on the coast of Kawaguchi Lake in Yamanashi Prefecture near the base of Mt. Fuji.

Among the various cosmos flowers, the park has many summer cypress plants, which are used as an ornamental plant. In Japan, the plant is known as either “kokia” (コキア) or “houki-gusa” (ほうき草 lit. broom-grass) since the plant is used for making brooms after the dead plant dries out. The plant also seems to be known as fireweed, kochia burning bush, summer cypress, ragweed, and several more names.

Info on how to access Oishi Park:

Oishi Park is located 117 km (72.8 mi.) west of central Tokyo:

https://goo.gl/maps/fwYHjfYASQdLqTYP8

It is a 3-hour 40-minute drive to the park if you take toll-free highways, or a 1-hour 50-minute drive if you take expressways (tolls apply).

Taking a train to Kawaguchiko Station and a bus to the Kawaguchiko Natural Living Center bus stop will take about 3 hours.

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White Cosmos

Licensing & prints: https://pix4japan.myportfolio.com

Pentax KP + Pentax-DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6

135 mm ISO 100 for 1/250 sec. at ƒ/5.6

#LandscapePhotography #flower #cosmos #OishiPark #Kawaguchiko #LakeKawaguchi #Yamanashi #Japan

#風景写真 #お花 #コスモスの花 #大石公園 #河口湖 #山梨県

Summer Cypress

Licensing & prints: https://pix4japan.myportfolio.com

Pentax KP + smc Pentax-DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6

48 mm ISO 100 for 0.5 sec. at ƒ/25

#LandscapePhotography #SummerCypress #KochiaGrass #OishiPark #Kawaguchiko #LakeKawaguchi #Yamanashi #Japan

#風景写真 #コキア #ほうき草 #大石公園 #河口湖 #山梨県

Summer Cypress and Lake

Licensing & prints: https://pix4japan.myportfolio.com

Pentax KP + smc Pentax-DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6

24 mm ISO 100 for 60 sec. at ƒ/22

#LandscapePhotography #SummerCypress #KochiaGrass #OishiPark #Kawaguchiko #LakeKawaguchi #Yamanashi #Japan

#風景写真 #コキア #ほうき草 #大石公園 #河口湖 #山梨県

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Gear used for this Photo Shoot

Camera Gear:

Pentax KP

(https://amzn.to/2EbbLRZ)

Standard zoom lens: smc Pentax-DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 ED AL[IF] DC WR

(https://amzn.to/2Ysz5lJ)

Telephoto zoom lens: HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE

(https://amzn.to/3iNEsDF)

Tripod: Manfrotto MT190CXPRO4 (carbon fiber legs with quick locking clamps)

(https://amzn.to/2Fqpghd)

Ball head: Manfrotto Cloud XPRO Series Ballhead BHQ2 with 200PL locking plate

(https://amzn.to/3g6WI9j)

Video Gear:

Canon EOS Kiss M/M50 Double Zoom Kit

(https://amzn.to/2Ef3mNg)

SIGMA 16mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary C017 (Canon EF-M Mount, APS-C Size, Mirrorless Only)

(https://amzn.to/3axkn1w)

PolarPro 67mm QuartzLine Circular Polarizer Filter

(https://amzn.to/2FUTBVS)

Zhiyun Weebill-S Gimbal

(https://amzn.to/32c0FFL)

RODE Road Wireless GO Wireless Microphone System WIGO

(https://amzn.to/35lygz1)

*Links to Amazon are affiliated links, which means that if you choose to purchase an item that I may get a small commission that has no bearing on your purchase price whatsoever.

Music Tracks Licensed for this video through Epidemic Sound. Visit this link to subscribe: 

https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/0uag9f/

"Malin's Song" composed by Niclas Gustavsson and performed by Sum Wave.

“Beach Memories” composed by Niclas Gustavsson and performed by Sum Wave.

“Bermuda” composed by Henrik Olsson and performed by “Ooyy”.

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Pix4Japan by Iketani, Daisei is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license are available at Pix4Japan.

Shirahama Beach

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The first two shots in today's series were taken before and after sunrise at the following location:

Miharashi Hiroba (見晴広場) in the district of Shirahama in the  city of Shimoda, Shizuoka Prefecture.

• Google Maps:
• https://goo.gl/maps/d56PohXMcspgs3in8)
• 〒415-0012 静岡県下田市白浜の見晴広場

Ocean View Before Sunrise

Portfolio: https://pix4japan.myportfolio.com

Pentax KP + Pentax-DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6

31 mm ISO 100 for 25 sec. at ƒ/29

#trees #shore #coast #longexposure #PacificOcean #Izu #Shizuoka #Shimoda #ShirahamaBeach #Japan #seascape

#木 #岸 #沿岸 #長時間露光写真 #太平洋 #伊豆半島 #静岡県 #下田市 #白浜海岸 #海の風景

Outcrop as Sun Rises over Pacific Ocean

Portfolio: https://pix4japan.myportfolio.com

Pentax KP + Pentax-DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6

31 mm ISO 200 for 1/250 sec. at ƒ/4.5

#trees #shore #coast #sunrise #PacificOcean #Izu #Shizuoka #Shimoda #ShirahamaBeach #Japan #seascape

#木 #岸 #沿岸 #日の出 #太平洋 #伊豆半島 #静岡県 #下田市 #白浜海岸 #海の風景

The last three shots were taken at Shirahama Beach:

• English Address:
• Shirahama Beach, Shirahama, Shimoda, Shizuoka 415-0012
• Japanese Address:
• 〒415-0012 静岡県下田市白浜の白浜大浜海水浴場
• Google Maps:
• https://goo.gl/maps/bdAVfcCKmheCFKp67

Waves Crashing on Shore

Portfolio: https://pix4japan.myportfolio.com

Pentax KP + Pentax-DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6

53 mm ISO 1600 for 1/640 sec. at ƒ/16

#crashingwaves #power #waves #shore #coast #beach #PacificOcean #Izu #Shizuoka #Shimoda #ShirahamaBeach #Japan #seascape

#波の力 #波 #岸 #沿岸 #太平洋 #伊豆半島 #静岡県 #下田市 #白浜海岸 #海の風景

Gate and Rope on Shoreline Rocks

Portfolio: https://pix4japan.myportfolio.com

Pentax KP + Pentax-DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6

48 mm ISO 200 for 1/640 sec. at ƒ/16

#longexposure #torii #toriigate #coast #rock #PacificOcean #Izu #Shizuoka #Shimoda #ShirahamaBeach #Japan #seascape

#岸 #沿岸 #太平洋 #伊豆半島 #静岡県 #下田市 #白浜海岸 #海の風景 #石 #鳥居

Torii Gate to Shinto Shrine on Shore’s Edge

Portfolio: https://pix4japan.myportfolio.com

Pentax KP + Pentax-DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6

68 mm ISO 100 for 8.0 sec. at ƒ/20

#crashingwaves #power #waves #shore #coast #rocks #rope #shimenawarope #torii #toriigate #PacificOcean #Izu #Shizuoka #Shimoda #ShirahamaBeach #Japan #seascape

#波の力 #波 #岸 #沿岸 #太平洋 #伊豆半島 #静岡県 #下田市 #白浜海岸 #海の風景 #石 #鳥居 #注連縄

Torii Gate & Ocean

Portfolio: https://pix4japan.myportfolio.com

Pentax KP + Pentax-DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6

36 mm ISO 100 for 6.0 sec. at ƒ/20

#longexposure #shore #coast #rocks #torii #toriigate #PacificOcean #Izu #Shizuoka #Shimoda #ShirahamaBeach #Japan #seascape

#岸 #沿岸 #太平洋 #伊豆半島 #静岡県 #下田市 #白浜海岸 #海の風景 #石 #鳥居

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Access details and links via car and train:

• Access by bullet train, local train, and bus:
• Approx. a 2-hour and 50-minute commute
• Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/WUe8zbR7Eooz82gz6
• Access by car on highway:
• Approx. a 3-hour or a 4-hour drive depending on traffic.
• Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/W6BzShZCuA8mWt9j6
• Access by expressway:
• Approx. a 3-hour or 3-hour 40-minute drive
• Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/EFuaEXJBkL6scs2x5

Thanks to the popularity of this destination, there are  several useful sites with detailed information specifically for tourists:

• “Shirahama Beach: White Sand Beach just outside Shimoda”
• https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6304.html
• “Shirahama Beach: Head to the white sand beach closest to Tokyo pronto!”
• https://travel.gaijinpot.com/shirahama-beach/
• “Nature: Shirahama Beach”
• https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/1273

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Gear used for this photo shoot:

Camera Gear:

Pentax KP

(https://amzn.to/2EbbLRZ)

Standard zoom lens: smc Pentax-DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 ED AL[IF] DC WR

(https://amzn.to/2Ysz5lJ)

Telephoto zoom lens: HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE

(https://amzn.to/3iNEsDF)

Tripod: Manfrotto MT190CXPRO4 (carbon fiber legs with quick locking clamps)

(https://amzn.to/2Fqpghd)

Ball head: Manfrotto Cloud XPRO Series Ballhead BHQ2 with 200PL locking plate

(https://amzn.to/3g6WI9j)

Video Gear:

Canon EOS Kiss M/M50 Double Zoom Kit

(https://amzn.to/2Ef3mNg)

SIGMA 16mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary C017 (Canon EF-M Mount, APS-C Size, Mirrorless Only)

(https://amzn.to/3axkn1w)

PolarPro 67mm QuartzLine Circular Polarizer Filter

(https://amzn.to/2FUTBVS)

Zhiyun Weebill-S Gimbal

(https://amzn.to/32c0FFL)

Synco Wireless Microphone

(https://amzn.to/35lygz1)

*Links to Amazon are affiliated links, which means that if you choose to purchase an item that I may get a small commission that has no bearing on your purchase price whatsoever.

Music Tracks Licensed for this video through Epidemic Sound. Visit this link to subscribe: 

https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/0uag9f/

"Morning Traffic" composed and performed by Raymond Grouse.

"Solemn Nights" composed and performed by Placidic.

"You Can See Us From the Moon" composed and performed by Christian Andersen.

"Noble Heart" composed and performed by Placidic.

"True Self" composed and performed by Jon Björk.

"Vivid Memories" composed and performed by August Wilhelmsson.

---

Pix4Japan by Iketani, Daisei is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license are available at Pix4Japan.

Ashinoko Lake - Hakone

This weeks photo shoot brings us to the shores of Ashinoko Lake in the Hakone mountains located about 100 km (approx. 62 miles) south of Tokyo.

Access by car to a parking lot that is free (as of this blog post):

• Torii No. 2 Parking Lot A (P2A第2鳥居駐車A)

If access by train, I would recommend this route which will bring you to the southeastern shore of the lake:

• Shinjuku Station → Hakone-Jinja-Iriguchi Bus Stop

The lake was formed after the eruption of a volcano over 3,000 years ago. The lake is popular for fishing, sightseeing, and is home to many historical sites:

• Hakone-Jinja Shrine
• Former Summer Palace for Imperial Family
• Hakone Tokaido Checkpoint & Old Tokaido Highway

There are many more attractions in the area around the lake including hot spring resorts, famous restaurants, cafes, souvenir shops, western hotels, Japanese style inns, museums, ropeways, and much more.

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The cedar trees lining the route to the shrine are about 350 to 400 years old. A wide angle lens in a portrait orientation is needed to capture the full height of these trees. This was the widest I could get without including distractions on the sides using a standard kit lens. I chose an aperture of ƒ/25 to maximize depth of field while trying to maintain a minimum amount of sharpness. The smaller aperture combined with a cloudy sky right after sunrise necessitated a 30-second exposure.

Staircase to Shinto Shrine

https://pix4japan.myportfolio.com

Pentax KP + smc PENTAX-DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6

28 mm ISO 100 for 30 sec. at ƒ/25

#trees #moss #anzansugi #JapaneseCedar #cedartree #Hakone #HakoneShrine #Japan #landscapephotography

#風景写真 #箱根神社 #箱根 #木 #コケ #安産杉 #箱根神社

This shot did not turn out as I had expected. I chose a larger aperture to soften the tree in the background which introduced too much light from the sky behind the tree. In hindsight, I should have used an ND filter or at least an 8-stop ND grad.

Stone Lantern at Mountain Shrine

https://pix4japan.myportfolio.com

Pentax KP + smc PENTAX-DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6

53 mm ISO 100 for 1.3 sec. at ƒ/9.0

#stonelantern #kasugastyle #moss #HakoneShrine #Hakone #Japan #stilllifephotography

#石灯篭 #春日型 #コケ #箱根神社 #箱根 #静物写真

This was another shot that proved disappointing as well. I think the original concept was good, but there were too many objects along the edges of the frame that were blurred by the breeze, the autumn colors were dull, and water surface reflected too much light in spite of using a circular polarizer. This photo was heavily edited in Lightroom. Pixel peeking will review the the awful results. Photo is OK I guess if viewed on a tiny mobile screen.

Volcanic Crater Lake and Early Autumn Foliage

https://pix4japan.myportfolio.com

Pentax KP + smc PENTAX-DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6

100 mm ISO 400 for 1/125 sec. at ƒ/5.6

#trees #autumn #foliage #lake #Ashinoko #Hakone #Japan #landscapephotography

#風景写真 #紅葉 #箱根 #木 #芦ノ湖

This shot was taken at a different angle in relation to the sun, so the circular polarizer was much more effective at cutting reflected light. Unfortunately, if you zoom in on the shot, you'll notice that the foliage is not sharp since this is a 30-second exposure, which softened the water and clouds, but there was a light breeze that shook the foliage on the right.

Early Autumn Foliage

https://pix4japan.myportfolio.com

Pentax KP + smc PENTAX-DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6

48 mm ISO 100 for 30.0 sec. at ƒ/18

#trees #autumn #foliage #lake #Ashinoko #Hakone #Japan #landscapephotography

#風景写真 #紅葉 #箱根 #木 #芦ノ湖

I struggled with this composition. I wanted to convey the age of this historical building and felt that the mist in the mountaintop added to the mystery or mood of the building. Unfortunately, I don't think this emotion is conveyed to the viewer. This photo just might appear to be some random old building to the viewer. Maybe if I should have zoomed in on a particular architectural element, such as one of the lamps hanging from the corners of the roof eaves.

Historical Hot Spring Resort

https://pix4japan.myportfolio.com

Pentax KP + smc PENTAX-DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6

100 mm ISO 100 for 5.0 sec. at ƒ/11

#resort #historicalbuilding #Ryuguden #lake #Ashinoko #Hakone #Japan #landscapephotography #TakogawaOnsen

#風景写真 #蛸川温泉 #箱根 #芦ノ湖 #龍宮殿

Finally, this is probably the only photo I feel good about from this photo shoot. The sun had risen to a height and angle that allowed the polarizer to do its job at cutting out reflections of light from the water surface. Although there is a lot of noise in the top of the frame, photo most closely expresses the ethereal emotion that this scene invoked in me.

Lake Ashinoko Shoreline

https://pix4japan.myportfolio.com

Pentax KP + smc PENTAX-DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6

18 mm ISO 100 for 30.0 sec. at ƒ/22

#stone #lake #longexposure #moss #Ashinoko #Hakone #Japan #landscapephotography

#石 #湖 #長時間露光写真 #コケ #芦ノ湖 #箱根 #風景写真

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Gear used for this photo shoot:

Camera: Pentax KP

(https://amzn.to/2EbbLRZ)

Standard zoom lens: smc Pentax-DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 ED AL[IF] DC WR

(https://amzn.to/2Ysz5lJ)

Telephoto zoom lens: HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE

(https://amzn.to/3iNEsDF)

Tripod: Manfrotto MT190CXPRO4 (carbon fiber legs with quick locking clamps)

(https://amzn.to/2Fqpghd)

Ball head: Manfrotto Cloud XPRO Series Ballhead BHQ2 with 200PL locking plate

(https://amzn.to/3g6WI9j)

Video camera: Canon EOS Kiss M/M50 Double Zoom Kit

(https://amzn.to/2Ef3mNg)

SIGMA 16mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary C017 (Canon EF-M Mount, APS-C Size, Mirrorless Only)

(https://amzn.to/3axkn1w)

PolarPro 67mm QuartzLine Circular Polarizer Filter

(https://amzn.to/2FUTBVS)

Zhiyun Weebill-S Gimbal

(https://amzn.to/32c0FFL)

Synco Wireless Microphone

(https://amzn.to/35lygz1)

*Links to Amazon are affiliated links, which means that if you choose to purchase an item that I may get a small commission that has no bearing on your purchase price whatsoever.

Music Tracks Licensed for this video through Epidemic Sound. Visit this link to subscribe: 

https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/0uag9f/

"Morning Traffic" composed and performed by Raymond Grouse.

"Solemn Nights" composed and performed by Placidic.

"You Can See Us From the Moon" composed and performed by Christian Andersen.

"Noble Heart" composed and performed by Placidic.

"True Self" composed and performed by Jon Björk.

"Vivid Memories" composed and performed by August Wilhelmsson.

---

Pix4Japan by Iketani, Daisei is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license are available at Pix4Japan.

Odaiba Tokyo

We arrived at Odaiba Park around 3:30 a.m. Although a couple of hours before sunrise, the sky was actually quite bright due to a a waxing gibbous moon, and the ambient city lights reflecting off of the scattered cloud cover.

Access by car (from Nihonbashi) is a 22-minute drive via normal streets or a 14-minute drive via the expressway to the Municipal Parking Lot closest to Daiba Park.

Access by train from Shinbashi Station on the Yurikamome Line: a 24-minute train ride + a 11-minute walk from Odaiba-Kaihinkoen Station.

Sightseeing information for the Odaiba district is available here:

• Odaiba Travel Guide - 15 Must Do Things In Tokyo's Best Entertainment Spot! 
• Recommended Courses for shopping, sightseeing, strolls, etc.
• Tokyo's entertainment isle—high-tech, modern and colorful
• Futuristic Architecture on a man made island
• Haven of Shopping and Entertainment on Tokyo Bay

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For this photo shoot, I wanted to capture nightscape/cityscape compositions without the fuss of worrying about blocking tourists and local families living on the island with my camera gear (cameras and tripods).

Fortunately, I did not see any other people at the parks, beach, or tourist spots until about an hour after sunrise.

First shot was taken on the edge of Daiba Park almost directly under the Rainbow Bridge. Tokyo Tower, a lattice tower whose design was inspired by the Eiffel Tower, is the 2nd largest tallest structure at 332.9 meters (1,092 ft). A beautiful symbol of Tokyo that has been around since 1958. Buildings surrounding the tower were softened in post processing to help the tower stand out from among the glare of so many lights and reflections.

Communications and Observation Tower in Tokyo

Portfolio: https://pix4japan.myportfolio.com

Pentax KP 210 mm ISO 100 for 40.0 sec. at ƒ/13

#tower #structure #nightscape #cityscape #TokyoTower #Tokyo #Japan #symbol #landmark

#タワー #東京タワー #東京 #港区 #シンボル #ランドマーク #夜景写真 #都市景観 #都市景観

The second shot was taken from the beach looking towards the shoreline. Tokyo Rainbow Bridge connects Minato Ward, Tokyo with the Odaiba waterfront development district—a man-made island sitting in the middle of Tokyo Bay. The bridge uses solar panels during the day to “paint” the bridge in red, white, and green every night. The sun had just risen at the time this shot was taken. Streaks of light were able to break through the clouds and shine on the high-rise apartment building in the distance. A grad filter was used for the upper portion of the shot (to increase contrast) and a reverse grad filter was applied to the bottom portion of the shot to decrease contrast and increase exposure. 

Suspension Bridge Crossing Northern Tokyo Bay

Portfolio: https://pix4japan.myportfolio.com

Pentax KP 88 mm ISO 100 for 10.0 sec. at ƒ/14

#landmark #cablestayed #TokyoBay #RainbowBridge #Tokyo #Odaiba #Japan #cityscape 

#橋 #湾 #東京港 #レインボーブリッジ #東京 #港区 #大台場 #都市景観 #都市景観

The original 14-ton 22-meter tall statue titled “Liberty Enlightening the World” (aka Statue of Liberty) was donated to France by American expats in 1889 to commemorate the French Revolution. In 1998, the statue was shipped from France an put on display in Tokyo to commemorate 100 years of French-Japanese relations. After the statue returned to France a year later, a replica was built and placed at Odaiba Island in Tokyo Bay. This shot was taken at a distance of only 44.43 ft. (13.54 m) from the pedestal of the statue with the shortest focal length possible with the lens I was using.

Replica Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World 

Portfolio: https://pix4japan.myportfolio.com

Pentax KP 18 mm ISO 100 for 1/160 sec. at ƒ/3.5

#landmark #StatueofLiberty #LadyLiberty #TokyoBay #Odaiba #Tokyo #Japan #cityscape 

#自由の女神像 #橋 #湾 #東京港 #レインボーブリッジ #東京 #港区 #大台場 #都市景観 #都市景観

Blue hour view of Tokyo Tower as viewed from Daiba Park, part of the waterfront development district—a man-made island sitting in the middle of Tokyo Bay. Positioning of the camera for this shot was almost the same as the shot above. Post processing of this image aims to subdue the tones of all other structures to help the tower stand out without too much difference with the surrounding structures. 

Communications and Observation Tower in Tokyo

Portfolio: https://pix4japan.myportfolio.com

Pentax KP 135 mm ISO 100 for 1/500 sec. at ƒ/5.6

#tower #structure #nightscape #cityscape #TokyoTower #Tokyo #Japan #symbol #landmark

#タワー #東京タワー #東京 #港区 #シンボル #ランドマーク #夜景写真 #都市景観 #都市景観

View of Rainbow Bridge from Daiba Park. The park is actually an island that was built in 1854 as one of several batteries built for coastal defenses after the arrival of USN Commodore Perry in 1853. Remnants of stone cannon pedestals, ammunition storehouses, and barracks can still be seen at the park. The shot aims to focus on symmetry. Post processing was minimal, so this image is close to the RAW file that came out of camera.

Suspension Bridge Connecting Island in Tokyo Bay

Portfolio: https://pix4japan.myportfolio.com

Pentax KP 260 mm ISO 100 for 1/25 sec. at ƒ/18

#landmark #cablestayed #TokyoBay #RainbowBridge #Tokyo #Odaiba #Japan #cityscape

#橋 #湾 #東京港 #レインボーブリッジ #東京 #港区 #大台場 #都市景観 #都市景観

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Pix4Japan by Iketani, Daisei is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license are available at Pix4Japan.