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Dear friends, thank you so much for the many encouraging messages!
I’m out of words to thank you enough…

I’m feeling a lot better now, my recovery is going well and I’m preparing to return home, but it will take me a few more days to return to my usual routine.
…It’s hard to work with photos with a blurry vision…

Muza-chan

Post related to: Temporary interruption

Dear friends,

We have good news, Muza-chan is now out of danger and her condition is improving. She is in great hands, receiving the best treatment possible.

We were overwhelmed to tears by your wonderful response. We received hundreds of messages by email, website comments, Google+ and Twitter.
We want to thank you all so much for your prayers, compassion, encouragement and support.

Her family

Post related to: Temporary interruption

Feb 21 update: Preparing to return

Dear all,

Instead of today’s Daily Photo from Japan, we are sadly announcing that our beloved Muza-chan has just been admitted to emergency room, due to sudden diabetes.
Since she started the Daily Photo series, she never missed a day! She asked us to continue her work, but we think you will agree with us, that she’s simply irreplaceable…

Hoping that she’ll return soon, we are praying for her health and recovery,
Her family

Feb 15 update: Good news

Feb 21 update: Preparing to return

French Kiss - Kakko warui I love you:

If you like modern architecture, one of the most interesting cities to visit in Japan is Osaka. I already presented a few very interesting skyscrapers like the Gate Tower Building, the Rinku Gate Tower Building (second tallest building in Japan) and the spectacular Umeda Sky Building.

Today, I would like to show you a complex built in 1991 near the Osaka Castle, including the NHK Osaka Broadcasting Station and the Osaka Museum of History. The two buildings are independent, but they were designed to harmonize well together. The building in the forefront of this photo, with the entrance through the spherical glass dome, is the Osaka Museum of History (Ōsaka Rekishi Hakubutsukan) and the building in the back is the 135-meters-tall NHK Osaka Broadcasting Station.

An interesting fact related to this complex is that it was built on the place where once was the Naniwa Palace (Naniwa-no-miya), a palace built in 645 by the Emperor Kōtoku, when Osaka was the capital of Japan.

Travel tip: Besides the Osaka Castle, here you can also visit the foundations of the throne room, at the Naniwa Palace Site Park, located across the Hanshin Expressway. Even more interesting, at the last floor of the museum you will find a full-size replica of the Naniwa Palace interior.

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NHK Osaka Broadcasting Station, Osaka Museum of History, Osaka

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Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Popular Japanese food, salt grilled Ayu

sifow - Clover:

If you’re browsing the stalls (yatai) from a Japanese festival (matsuri) and feel the appetizing smell of grilled fish, chances are that you found grilled ayu… a popular delicacy in Japan.

Ayu is a fresh water fish and, like the koi, a symbol of courage and perseverance, because it swims against the current. It is a hard to catch fish and, besides fly fishing, old traditional methods, like cormorant fishing, are still used in some places in Japan.

Ayu is also known as sweet-fish, because of its deliciously sweet taste. One of the most popular cooking methods is to grill it with salt over a charcoal fire (Ayu no shio yaki), like in this photo taken during the New Year’s celebrations at the Senso-ji Temple in Tokyo.

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Salt grilled ayu (ayu no shio yaki)

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Yesterday’s Japan Photo: A Shrine that protects… Information Technology

My Little Lover - Blue Sky:

Located on a small hill near Akihabara, Kanda Myojin is one of the oldest shrines in Tokyo, being originally established in 720. It enshrines the famous samurai Taira no Masakado and two of the Seven Gods of Luck, Ebisu and Daikoku. That’s why, from the old times, the shrine was a place where people were coming to pray for happiness, recovery from illness, for prosperity and business success.

But the times are changing and today, people can go to Kanda Myojin to pray for their… IT systems! I’m not kidding… (^_^) Probably because of its proximity to the Akihabara Electric Town, the shrine has become a “guardian of IT data". Yes, Japan delighted me again with this example of tolerance and flexibility…

If you want to go there and buy a charm for “Protection and Safe keeper of IT Data", you will find it in the Phoenix Hall (on the left side in this photo).

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Kanda Myojin Shrine, Chiyoda, Tokyo

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Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Harumi Passenger Ship Terminal Night View

Loveholic - Shinkirou:

Tokyo is one of largest ports in Pacific and it is well known for its multiple cargo and container terminals, but the Port of Tokyo also includes passenger terminals. The newest Tokyo passenger ship terminal, Harumi, opened in 1991, features an observatory and restaurants, from where the passengers can admire Tokyo, Rainbow Bridge and even the Tokyo Tower. But not only the passengers can admire the scenery, from the promenade near the Harumi terminal the view is also spectacular and this is actually one of the best places to admire Rainbow Bridge at night time.

The design of the terminal’s building is gorgeous and original and by night it looks breathtaking…

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Harumi Passenger Ship Terminal, Tokyo

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Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Japanese Customs and Traditions - Chinowa, the ring of purification

Globe - Perfume of love: