Traveling through Japan I noticed many cases of graceful blending between the tradition and the modern life, between the religion and the popular culture.

Some impressive examples are the Shinto ema made with characters from a popular anime, the omamori amulets made with Hello Kity or with the symbol of the Japan Football Association or the machines making Buddhist senja-fuda with anime characters.

Here is another example of such blending, a Daruma Doll lucky charm painted with the Suica Penguin, the well known mascot of the JR East IC card, photographed right at the birthplace of the Daruma Dolls, the Shorinzan Daruma temple in Takasaki, Gunma.

Suica Daruma doll, Shorinzan Daruma Temple, Takasaki

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Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Traditional Japanese restaurant in Arashiyama, Kyoto