Osaka-jo, or "the 'Jo" as I like to call it - a trend which I'm hoping will sweep the local youth. Far from the prettiest, or the oldest, or the largest of Japanese castles, it has nonetheless become my favourite. I spend a good chunk of time here. Japan can be a lonely place but this castle and its grounds help to cheer me up. There�s a quiet calm over this area. Even when tourists are thronging its courtyard it still seems tranquil.





These plum blossom shots were taken in February. That�s the height of plum blossom season (not the same as the more famous pink cherry blossoms, those bloomed and faded in April). There were lots of professional, or seriously enthusiastic amateur, photographers around. They had tripods and different lenses and bags of film. They were waiting, with a patience that only experience can bring, for the sun and wind to be just right. I felt fairly out of place with my shoddy cellphone camera and hurried shots. Oh well, you can see that there were trees with colours, so my job�s done.