muikabochi 208 Posted October 18, 2008 Share Posted October 18, 2008 Well, the epicenter! Today there were sunny skies early on and so we took a drive aroun Sumon, Yamakoshi and Kawaguchi - those places in Niigata that where the most shook up in the Chuetsu earthquake of 4 years ago (23rd Oct 04). I have posted photos of the area before and it really is a very pretty and remote area, but this time my friend and I were determined to try to find the actual 震央 (epicenter) place of the earthquake - it has been bugging me for ages as no-one seemed to know exactly where it was. I knew it was in the middle of nowhere just to the east of Kawaguchi-machi as I remember a local new story where they showed it as being in the middle of a rice field and the farmer who owned it. It sure was too. After stopping and asking a few ojisans along the way, and getting lost more than once, we eventually got on what they now call "shinou road" and a bit later found a small sign that basically said "Epicenter This Way". So we parked the car and walked down into a small valley that had a few rice fields. Found! That earthquake really affected me and friends pretty bad and so it was a strange feeling standing right on top of it and brought back a lot of memories. Here's a few photos I've just uppped to SJ --- This is where it really really shook! A rice field, in the middle of nowhere (about 10 minutes drive from the centre of Kawaguchi town). That stick shows you where the epicenter was. This is a replica of the original (you can just about see the original in the background) Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted October 18, 2008 Author Share Posted October 18, 2008 Nice sunset too Link to post Share on other sites
SnowJapan Admin SnowJapan 178 Posted October 18, 2008 SnowJapan Admin Share Posted October 18, 2008 Nice photos as always muika. You'll have to tell me where that is, never been up there. Link to post Share on other sites
JA2340 16 Posted October 18, 2008 Share Posted October 18, 2008 Yeah, them is some damn fine pics. Link to post Share on other sites
stemik 14 Posted October 18, 2008 Share Posted October 18, 2008 i really like your pics muika....something to aim for. Used to like Bushpigs but he hasnt posted for a long time. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted October 18, 2008 Author Share Posted October 18, 2008 Thanks stemik (and others!) I plan to take lots and upload them here again this year. I hadn't used my camera for a while actually and I really enjoyed getting it out again and having fun. Really need to get back into the habit and certainly intend to. Hope to see some of yours too stemik - no excuse now with a nice new shiny D80. Link to post Share on other sites
echineko 1 Posted October 19, 2008 Share Posted October 19, 2008 Very nice photo Link to post Share on other sites
scouser 4 Posted October 19, 2008 Share Posted October 19, 2008 Like the pics. Other than the stick, is there any other kind of memorial or museum going on up there? Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted October 19, 2008 Author Share Posted October 19, 2008 Sorry didn't explain. Check out the map on one of the photos above - basically you need to get behind Kawaguchi.... to the east of the town central area / route 17. You can get to it either side of the town but I recommend the road to the north of the town. PM me if you want more details and I'll try to explain more! Link to post Share on other sites
big-will 7 Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 Ooohh nice. I remember when it all happened on tv there were lots of photos of that Yamakoshi area and the layered rice fields - was very photogenic. Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 Did the ground not "open up" at the epicenter in some dramatic fashion?! Link to post Share on other sites
brit-gob 9 Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 Did you predict that one gg? Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 Lovely photos. Still scared of earthquakes or have you pretty much got over it? Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted October 21, 2008 Author Share Posted October 21, 2008 Feel much more at ease now.... though the slightest wobble now and the heart goes racing again. It seems that once you've experienced a big one, those small ones take on a whole different meaning. Link to post Share on other sites
miller 1 Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 I see on that sign they say the rice made in those fields is now called 'shinou' rice. Can't be much of it. Like the sunset photos muikabochi. Link to post Share on other sites
joshnii 2 Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 Same as muikabochi. Much more sensitive to them now than I was before (when I wasn't really at all). Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted November 13, 2008 Author Share Posted November 13, 2008 Moody pic of Yamakoshi Link to post Share on other sites
sanjo 2 Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 That's a cracker that one. Link to post Share on other sites
HoTRoD 2 Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 Wow! Link to post Share on other sites
snowdude 44 Posted November 14, 2008 Share Posted November 14, 2008 Nice! Link to post Share on other sites
Jerro 0 Posted May 6, 2014 Share Posted May 6, 2014 Love the sunset pics! Link to post Share on other sites
7-11 2 Posted May 7, 2014 Share Posted May 7, 2014 Interesting all the same. Link to post Share on other sites
tokabochi 9 Posted May 8, 2014 Share Posted May 8, 2014 Ah yes still want to go there. Not far either, 30 minute drive or so. Link to post Share on other sites
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