Dandelion

This one kind of looks like a seeding dandelion.

Distant Star

This looks like something you might find in space. Although I have not ever seen anything like this.

Just the Middle

I am not too fond of the big red splot, but I like the blue part.

The Unusual

One thing I have been striving for is to get a glimpse of the unusual. I want to see what others have not seen. (Ironic that the technique I used is not my own.)

Five Star Rating

Only because there are five bursts in this picture.

The Rockets White Glare

A shot of the downtown Sendai fireworks.

What Goes Up ...

I think this looked better on the back of the camera.

Alien Fireworks

This might be my favorite one of the night.

Triple Burst

I like this one for the green one.

Sea Urchin in the Sky

Just like something to eat.

Blues and Reds

One of the first fireworks of the night. There was still plenty of light in the sky.

The Crane, The Crane

Another high-rise building going up in downtown Sendai.

The Reason

This is one reason I always take my camera with me when I go downtown.

Hand in Fan

I really wish I had not cut off the hand.

The Rat Dance

I know about the history of the Sansa Dance from Morioka. The short version is that there was a demon terrorizing the town and the residents prayed to a god called Mistuishi, (Three Rocks). Mitsuishi caught the demon, forced him to imprint his hand on the rock (This is why Iwate (literally "boulder hand" is named) , and made him promise to go away. Then all the people broke out in dance to celebrate. A better description is here.

The Demon

One of the dancers wears a demon mask during the susume odori in downtown Sendai.

Sendai Aoba Matsuri: In Form

The Aoba Matsuri is held every May in downtown Sendai. Different companies and groups have "teams" that dance, sing, and play music while walking down the streets.

Jozenji Torii

I wish they would keep this up forever.

Miyagi Prefecture Office

Here's a parking tip - the prefecture office (宮城県庁) has parking for 100 yen an hour.

Want it Now

This is under the pedestrian bridge by Nishi Park.