Illuminating

'Tis the holiday season, and all over the place (both in Japan and in Canada, and I'm sure in many places in between) people are getting festive by stringing lights on their homes and buildings. In Japan this is known as "illumination." The most famous happens in Kobe where entire streets are lit up with thousands upon thousands of lights.


Other locations, often businesses, create smaller but nonetheless beautiful displays. Shinjuku's Takashimaya department store always puts on an impressive display along the boardwalk by their store. The theme this year is the circus, complete with a lion jumping a flaming hoop, an elephant, a seal balancing a ball on its nose, and tightrope walkers...





My favourite illumination, however, was on a much smaller scale. A house just down the road from my dorm had lights up, including these ones...


It may be difficult to tell, but the picture is of the two kayaks hanging in their carport, decked out in full colour!

Happy Holidays!