Prayers for Japanese, a photo from Nara, Kinki

Photographer's Note

We probably all watched terrified the TV News from Japan yesterday. The view of the cars and ships taken by tsunami wave was shocking. But on the other hand it was a lesson to learn. We cannot prevent such events but with a good organization the losses and damages can be at least reduced. Japanese are amazing nation. They are so kind, respectful, wonderful people and in the hard moment so brave. I pray and wish them strength to overcome this tragedy.
I was worried for our TE friends and I am happy to see that they are safe with their families.

Ema (絵馬?) are small wooden plaques on which Shinto worshippers write their prayers or wishes. The ema are then left hanging up at the shrine, where the kami (spirits or gods) receive them. They bear various pictures, often of animals or other Shinto imagery, and many have the word gan'i (願意), meaning "wish", written along the side. In ancient times people would donate horses to the shrines for good favor, over time this was transferred to a wooden plaque with a picture of a horse, and later still to the various wooden plaques sold today for the same purpose.

Ema are sold for various wishes. Common reasons for buying a plaque are for success in work or on exams, marital bliss, to have children, and health. Some shrines specialize in certain types of these plaques, and the larger shrines may offer more than one. Sales of ema help support the shrine financially.

ikeharel, siudzi, daddo, delpeoples, bukitgolfb301, maloutim, Sonata11, jlbrthnn, yquem46, raszid62, jjcordier, vasilpro, Kofman, baclama has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

ikeharel (113453) 2011-03-12 0:52

Hi Malgo,
Yes indeed, hared to see the TV coming out from Japan.
A nice tribute here, and a colorful set well collected.
Ike

*** I just got mail from Takro, and yesterday from Akihisa in japan,
They are OK.

Ricx (13495) 2011-03-12 1:39

Morning Malgo, a very appropriate and gentle posting for those affected in Japan by the devastating natural disaster.. the cultural changes in the world show how we all respond to disasters .. Your note is most interesting.

Have a wonderful weekend-

Rich

PS Look forward to seeing you in May.

Rich

InasiaJones (31566) 2011-03-12 2:01

Hi Malgorzata,

What you are telling about Japanese people is so true. When I go there, I feel humble and I think to myself that everyone should go there once in there life to get a lesson about respect, humility and the quest of perfection in everything they do.

I admire them a lot, for their culture, not only the visible one, but for the one inside of them as well.

A great photo of circumstances. Prayers is all we can do, even if we don't believe in God.

Andrй

siudzi (34141) 2011-03-12 2:43

Malgosia,
Dzieki za zamieszczenie dzisiaj tego fantastycznego zdjecia.
Obrazy, jakie widzimy w telewizji czy internecie sa przerazajace. Trudno to nawet skomentowac.
Pozdrawiam, M

delpeoples (60342) 2011-03-12 4:07

Ciao cara Malgo

What a beautiful thought for Japan and our Japanese friends here on TE. Thank God they are safe. But the tragedy in Japan is horrifying. I hope that the death toll does not rise and no more countries are affected by the tsunami.

Un abbraccio
Lisa

daddo (28748) 2011-03-12 4:12

Zdravo Malgo.We all watched in horror and disbelief the events unfold. How can humans survive a wave which picks up houses, boats, trains and swallows them in seconds? I fear the death count will be terrible. I share your opinion of the Japanese character and I am sure that their strong sense of nation, community and duty will be mustered for the rebuilding of the nation. An enormous task awaits them. Our hearts go to them and our friends. Pozdrawiam. Klaudio.

bukitgolfb301 (54014) 2011-03-12 4:27

TO: My dear Malgo and other friends

Thank you very much for your warm and sincere words / attention / sympathy. If possible, I would like to convey to all the victims in the north areas.
Now the risk of another earthquake and tsunami are decreasing but the most serious problem is the leakage of radiation from the damaged nuclear power plant. The special operaration by using the sea water will be conducted two hours more. All citizens living within 20km of the power station are evacuated to the safty zone.

Thanks a lot for your warm heart,

Best regards,

Takero

maloutim (13617) 2011-03-12 4:58

Thank you Malgorzata for this beautiful photo in memory of the tsunami victims .
God bless them!
Kind regards.
Marie-Louise.

Sergiom (117241) 2011-03-12 5:43

Bonjour Malgorzata,

Les couleurs sont magnifiques.L'image est trиs bien dйcoupйes et possиde un certain graphisme trиs lumineux.

Amicalement

Serge

lakshmip1949 (19081) 2011-03-12 7:08

Hi Malgorzata,

It is indeed very sad about the devastation in Japan. My prayers go to the people.This is a very appropriate shot for this disaster. Nice colors and good framing.

Lakshmi

fabianoleite (13575) 2011-03-12 7:44

I join you on this tribute. Everytime a disaster takes the country, they reemerge stronger. There's a Brazilian song that says: "A bomb over Japan made a peaceful Japan be born". But it's hard, and may God help all the victmims and their families.

macjake (98456) 2011-03-12 8:03

Hi Malgo
I share your sentiments.
my jaw dropped when i saw the events on tv, shocking to say the least.
love the photo, the colors, the textures, and the 2 photos in one type, with a clear separated top and bottom half.
cheers
craig

Sonata11 (34119) 2011-03-12 8:03

Witaj Malgosiu,
tragedia jaka dotknela Japonie to jest nie do opisania. Powinnismy chociaz myslami i modlitwa byc razem z nimi. Modlic sie o ich rodziny i kraj, ktore dotknela taka niesamowita tragedia. Wspolczuje im z calego serca.
Serdecznie pozdrawiam,
Barbara

jlbrthnn (76043) 2011-03-12 9:50

Hello Malgorzata,
The subject of the photo is surprising. This good image teaches us another aspect of the Japanese culture. Colors are magnificent, the accentuation seems to me a little bit strong. Bravo.
Have a good evening
Cordially
Joлl

Silvio1953 (221751) 2011-03-12 10:45 [Comment]

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yquem46 (38752) 2011-03-12 10:53

hello Malgorzata
A very instructive note and a very nice colorful image
Quite appropriate dedication to our japanese friends
I have the feeling that sharpness is just a bit over accentuated as I see some flickering on the hanging ribbons
have a nice WE Malgorzata
Best regards
patrick

leo61 (0) 2011-03-12 10:56

Dear Malgorzata!
Thanks for uploading this photo.
My heart is with the japanese nation and our japanese TE friends!
Yesterday I sent e-mails to Takero and Hisashi.This morning ,I recieved a reply from Takero,but no news from Hisashi??????
I hope he and his family are fine too.
Leo

raszid62 (18457) 2011-03-12 14:12

Cze¶ж
I ja rуwnie¿ pogr±їony jestem w smutku i їalu i przyі±czam siк do modlitw za spokуj duszy polegіych w tej wielkiej katastrofie. Cze¶ж ich pamiкci.
Pozdrawiam
Jуzek

jjcordier (79299) 2011-03-12 23:48

Malgorzata
Ton rйcent voyage lа bas te rend certainement encore plus sensible que nous а cette tragйdie dont on n'a pas fini de dйcouvrir l'ampleur. Je m'associe йvidemment а ton hommage au peuple japonais.
JJ

vasilpro (41801) 2011-03-13 12:04

Hello Malgo,
Wonderful composition dedicated to Japanese people for that disaster, excellent POV, lovely light and colors.
All the best, Vasilis.

dkmurphys (79209) 2011-03-14 1:57

Hi Malgo,
Good shot for the tribute.Indeed, a big tragedy for those people. Hope things will be ok.
Have a nice week.

baclama (19214) 2011-03-15 12:34

une tres belle photo pour un evenement si tragique
je me joins а ces prieres pour ce peuple qui nous donne une leзon de courage
merci de c epartage
vero

jmdias (115280) 2021-01-16 12:35

malgo

curiously I received many influence of japanese culture here where I live, but I never thought Japan as a priority for my trips.
a colorful amount of objects, I saw something similar in china, but the colors were stronger.

take care

jorge