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Yanagawa Ferryman - Neil Witkin - Japan photograph
Nakasu Women's Festival
Hakata Yamakasa Festival Runner - Neil Witkin - Japan documentary photography
Martha
Snake Woman Hebi Onna
Yanagawa Spring River Festival Neil Witkin - Japan photography
A Shinto priest gazes at massive freighter as he waits for the timber purification ceremony for the Hakata Yamakasa festival - Neil Witkin - Japan photography
The lantern maker no longer has finger prints
Nakasu Lantern Maker - Neil Witkin - Japan documentary photography
Hakata Yamakasa at Kushida Shrine
Yamakasa Morning Break - Daikoku Nagare - Japan documentary photography
A very friendly, elderly Shinto priest asks me to take a portrait so that it can be used at his funeral - Japan photography
Hakata Yamakasa Festival - Running the shrine - Japan documentary photography
Hakata Yamakasa Father and Son - Neil Witkin - Japan documentary photography
Yamakasa Spectator Wearing a Kimono - Japan documentary photography - Neil Witkin
Sumo Training
Neil Witkin - Hakata Yamakasa
Hakata Yamakasa - A A retired sumo wrestler and his happy grandson run together - Neil Witkin
Yamakasa - Carrying the shrine
That tree, the spring flowers drifting too slowly, and someone moving like a stickbug
Yamakasa - Neil Witkin
Hakata Gion Yamakasa - Resting During Practice
Hakata Yamakasa Festival - Taking sand from the sea at Hakozaki Shrine - Neil Witkin - Japan documentary photography
Yamakasa Festival Kushida Shrine Security Guard - Japan documentary photography - Neil Witkin
Yamakasa - Higashi Nagare Shrine
Copyright Neil Witkin - Hakozaki Shrine Snake Sideshow - photograph
Nakasu Womens' Festival - Neil Witkin - Japan documentary photography
Neil Witkin - Kushida Bride - Japan wedding photograph
Copyright Neil Witkin - Meadows of Mindy - Japan photograph
Copyright Neil Witkin - Snake Woman - photograph
Copyright Neil Witkin Snake Woman - photograph
Copyright Neil Witkin - Hebi Onna Snake Woman - photograph
Hebi Onna Snake Woman - photograph - Neil Witkin
The Nakasu lantern maker retires for the evening - Neil Witkin - Japan documentary photography
Vender waits at the Hojoya festival in Fukuoka, Japan
Hebi Onna Snake Woman - Neil Witkin - photograph from Japan
Copyright Neil Witkin - Taxi Driver at Fukuoka Castle - and hot dogs
Neil Witkin - Nakasu Lantern Maker - Japan documentary photography
Copyright Neil Witkin Hirao Dai - photograph
Snake Woman Hebi Onna
Neil Witkin - Dazaifu Mother - Japan photograph
Geisha in Nakasu take purikura photos in Nakasa, Fukuoka, Japan
Copyright Neil Witkin
Copyright Neil Witkin - Dreams of Onamuji - photograph from the Philippines
Nakasu Matsuri Women
Neil Witkin - Lily in a Nakasu Corridor - photograph
Lily in Nakasu
Neil Witkin - A final breath - photograph
Japanese Police on the Nakasu Beat during a festival - photograph
Gokoku Shrine 7 5 3 Ceremony
Neil Witkin - Little Arrows - photograph
Neil Witkin - Shinto priest at port prior to the timber washing ceremony for Hakata Yamakasa
Cherry blossom bridal photography
Peter Fraser Assignment
Copyright Neil Witkin - baby deer island dancer - photograph
Neil Witkin - Takamiya Dragon - photograph
Winter in Futsukaichi, Japan - Copyright Neil Witkin
Hojoya festival cork gun carnival game
Neil Witkin - Japanese Archery (Kyudo) for Seniors
Neil Witkin - to burn at both ends - photograph
Neil Witkin - Making Nakasu Hers - Lily - photograph
Narita San, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan
Neil Witkin - Girl and child at Oniyo fire festival in Japan
Neil Witkin Taxi Driver in Nakasu
Copyright Neil Witkin - Making Nakasu Hers - The Lily - photograph
Neil Witkin - Takamiya Dragons - photograph
Neil Witkin - Fukuoka Castle bridal photograph
Snake Woman Sideshow, Japan
Neil Witkin Shinto Traditional Dance - Kagura - photograph
Neil Witkin - Traditional Shinto Dance Kagura - photograph
Neil Witkin - Sad Asami Leaving Atago - photograph
Neil Witkin - Ol No. 8 - Philippines photograph
Neil Witkin - Nakasu Lantern Maker Copyright Neil Witkin - Oniyo Festival Fire Japanese Snake Woman Sideshow Neil Witkin - Japanese crane (Tsuru) - photograph Neil Witkin - Nakasu Corridor Lily - photograph Neil Witkin - Kego Park Father sold me a key - photograph
Takachiho Buddies Neil Witkin - Noma Park Stranger - photograph Yamakasa - Flexing Neil Witkin - Ohori After Hospital - photograph Neil Witkin - Munakata Shinto Shrine - photograph Yosentei Garden - Japan photograph
Neil Witkin - Gokoku Shrine Fukuoka - photograph Neil Witkin - Okonomiyaki Chef Neil Witkin - Hakata Yamakasa Member - Japan documentary photography Hakozaki Shrine Hojoya festival Neil Witkin - Atago Shrine - photograph Neil Witkin - Lily, this is Agent C - photograph
Neil Witkin - Strange Mountains of Takachiho - photograph Mount Fuji Sunrise Neil Witkin - Nakasu Lantern Maker Glue      

ABOUT

Neil Witkin is a Japan-based photographer.

Recently-added documentary photography features the Hakata Gion Yamakasa Matsuri, a Shinto festival in which massive one-ton shrines are carried on mens' shoulders and raced through the streets of Fukuoka, Japan.

The festival's history reaches back to 1241, when the Buddhist monk Kokuchi Seiichi is said to have driven out an epidemic which had spread through Hakata. Carried high on an offering tray by followers, he purified the city with sacred water. This event grew into a traditional Shinto festival conducted by the Kushida Shrine, (itself having been established in Hakata in the year 757).

In the modern festival, seven venerable groups each race a colassal shrine decorated by a local Hakata doll craftsman.

A seperate documentary photography series captures moments from two years of performances by the Hebi Onna 蛇女 (Snake Woman), who appears in a sideshow in a back corner of the Hojoya festival; held at the Hakozaki Shrine.

She returns each year to the same spot in order to entertain crowds of all ages. They pack inside a large wooden tent lit with incandescent bulbs, which pulse with heat in the waning summer nights.

The photography presented here was shot primarily in Fukuoka City, Hakata, Nakasu, Dazaifu, Chikushino, Aso, Munakata, Kurume, Tenjin, Kanagawa, Oita, Takachiho, Takamiya, Yanagawa, Nokonoshima, and Kitakyushu. Additional photos were shot in the Philippines.

Notable Shinto shrines featured in these photographs include Atago Shrine, Kushida Shrine, Dazaifu Tenmangu, Munakata Taisha, Daizenji Tamataregu, Izumo Taisha, Hakozaki Shrine, Gokoku Shrine, and Iwato Shrine.

Other locations of interest include the Fukuoka Castle, the Yosentei Garden, Tochoji, and the Kotokuin Temple.

Thank you for viewing my work.

 

Neil Witkin

ニール • ウィットキン

CONTACT

fukuokaphoto (AT) yahoo (DOT) com

 

All photographs and images Copyright © 2012 Neil Witkin ニール•ウィットキン. All rights reserved.

 

 

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