Shiga

This weekend I took a trip to Shiga prefecture. After the heady heights of a gig at Field the night before, we headed out to photograph the newly-planted rice-fields in open countryside. Across Japan the rice is now growing on the terraces; the glint of water caught among young shoots is seen on many a slope or mountainside. We explored the Hata area outside Otsu city; along with the patchworked hills, we noticed spiders and frogs, snakes and fireflies; conversed with local folk tending the crop, and spotted the once-daily Osaka-Hokkaido Express snaking along, northward-bound. I didn’t know there was a floating torii on Lake Biwa, yet we found one at Shirahige Shrine. As the day ended we were close to Hakodateyama, and feasted on hand-made soba noodles. Lá breá a bhí againn - bhi an grian amuigh 's chuir se sasta ar mo chroi.