birthday
While I was in Tokyo the Emporer had his birthday, one of only two days a year the Imperial Palace is open to visitors. We went along with all the crowds and indulged in a frenzy of flag waving. Strange as I am not the kind of person to go out of my way to wave at monarchs.
You can see the royals behind the glass in the background. The palace is huge but on a horizonal plane, and with lots of windows and beautiful iron chain drainpipes as opposed to the vertical stone castle type of thing. The communist party of Japan were out in force with flags, blue overalls and megaphones protesting the day.