Mitaka Mushi

Unidentified mothra.

Hiroko gets up close and personal with a kamakiri-mushi in Inokashira Park.

An unlikely roost for Japan's reigning mushi king, the kabuto-mushi rhinocerous beetle, at Jindaiji temple. Here's a closer shot.

Comments

[Tim]

Nice lenswork! Jindaiji is one of my fave temples in Kanto, lovely Edo-ish atmosphere and great soba shops in front. Annual daruma festival there is worth checking out too. Surprised a Japanese kid hadn't pocketed that kabuto mushi for his collection!

[Matt]

Funny you should mention that -- it was a weekday and we all but had the run of the place to ourselves, but halfway through our photo session, a couple of kids caught sight of what we were shooting. The first words out of their mouths: "Is that real? Did you actually find it outside?" There aren't a whole lot of kabuto-mushi to be found in Tokyo, and I'm sure they were more familiar with the cybernetic versions (Sega Toys sells a series of remote-controlled kabuto- and kuwagata-mushi for city-slicker kids who don't have access to the real deal.)

[hillsy]

Not just Japanese city-slicker kids, but big, white, pasty American gaijin, too! I bought a couple beetle toys from the local Japanese market...they've got various beetle types and they all have a little piece of "fruit" with a string attached that when pulled, draws the beetle towards the fruit. The nice thing is that you can hang them on the wall to make it look like it's crawling up it, and scare the wife.

[hillsy]

Hey Matt....right about now is the cicaida molting season, isn't it? THAT would make a cool pic...Cool Japan!