Harajuku

Today, I visited an area called: Harajuku.  It is located in Tokyo.  My first stop was at the Meiji Shrine.  The Meiji shrine is dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife.  When Emperor Meiji died in 1912 and Empress Shoken in 1914 the Japanese people wished to pay their respect to the to influential Japanese figures.  It was for this reason that Meiji shrine was constructed and their souls enshrined on November 1, 1920. (http://en.wikipdia.org/wiki/meiji_shrine) Check out slide show.

While there I was fortunate to witness a traditional Japanese wedding.  Like most brides, she wore white and maintained a demure demeanor.  There wasn't any cheering or outward displays of extreme happiness from the attendants or the public.  Everything was very quiet.  This was a serious, spiritual occasion.  Check out slide show.

The last place I visited was a park called: Yoyogi.  This place was an artistic haven!  There was everything from street performance artist, tap dancers, musicians, rappers, dancers, you name it!  I was in heaven.  Taken it all in and loving the freedom of expression.  If you weren't directly participating in the outward form of expression, you were blessed to be the recipient of it.  I walked, danced, clapped, chilled and just took it all in.  The energy of this place was great.  It put me in mind of Chicago during the summer festival months.  I thought to myself:  show me a place where art doesn't live and I'll show you a place that's dying.