It's been a difficult week for some in Japan. Kumamoto prefecture has been hit with multiple magnitude 5+ earthquakes and the biggest at magnitude 7.3 came this morning. There has a lot of destruction, people displaced and life loss. The photos come from there are very terrifying. The Japanese Red Cross are at the forefront of the rescue efforts passing out food, water, blankets, and emergency kits. You can make donations here if you want to help. I have been spending what little free time I have lately practicing guitar. I usually find time after 11PM but it is a great way to relax before going to bed. I'm currently learning Johnny Cash's Nine Inch Nails cover 'Hurt', Eric Clapton's 'Layla' and Staind's 'It's been a while' as well as a few others. A good mix of riffs and picking patterns. It's nice to be able to see progress although slow and steady. It will take a long time to master these but it's nice that I can recognize what I am playing. Very satisfying and a good way to pass an hour before bed.

I haven't taken the train in a while as I have been mostly driving lately but had a good reason to this week...

Some friends from SmugMug where in town shooting for SmugMugFilms. We spent a few days together shooting all around Tokyo for one of their upcoming films. Make sure to subscribe to their YouTube channel and check out their epic videos. I see a lot of videos everyday at work and this team has some serious shooting and editing skills. They are amazing story tellers.

We started off in my hometown of Jiyugaoka.

We passed this girl in Toritsudaigaku. Great glasses...

Meet Anton. He is the amazing Film Maker at SmugMug. I think he has one of the coolest jobs in the world.

Meet my friend and co-worker Hitomi. She came along to help us out with signing waivers and other logistics. Thanks Hitomi!

Us in the mirror... To my right is Kevin. He is one of the engineers at SmugMug and was one of the videographers shooting.

We went for a short walk through Meiji Jingu Shrine...

Me too...

I need to take more headshots again...

We headed over to Zojoji. It's a beautiful temple near Tokyo Tower that dates back to 809. I have shot here a few times and always enjoy it. It was the site of Tokyo Photo 2013.

One of the interesting parts of the temple is the Unborn Children Garden. You see these in a lot of temples in Japan. Rows of stone statues of children representing the unborn children of Japan such as miscarried, aborted and stillborn. The statues are Jizo, the guardian of unborn children who ensures they are brought to the afterlife.