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I’ve recently been taking photography more seriously and going on photowalks to find and take pictures. It’s something I really enjoy doing. It’s inspired by the stunning photography and his photowalks over at thomashawk.com

This is of an abandoned motorbike front part next to a rice field.

I went to see the mighty Hanshin Tigers baseball team on Friday. They’d won all of their last 10 games and were top of their league.

Naturally I was there and they lost.

We were in the best seats I have ever been in. Right in the home run zone in the noisy section close up with the season ticket holders and most devoted fans.

It was noisy, it was sweaty and it was incredibly fun.

The goal of the people in that area is not to watch the game it seeems but to chant each player’s song. This usually goes like, “Hit it hard [plus player's name!] The fans whack miniature bats together as they shout. This creates an amazing atmosphere.

They don’t seem to be that interested in the game itself but shouting it and following along with the designated cheer leaders (above)who help synchronize the cries of thousands of people at far ends of the stadium into one. At that distance, you can`t really follow along with what`s happening anyway.

I love going to Koshien Stadiumand even though they lost, it was such a good time.

As I wrote this in my notebook, I was sitting in the Kirin Plaza in the heart of Shinsaibashi enjoying a very satisfying ale on the bottom floor.

Japan is a very lager orientated country and it’s very hard to find an ale that isn’t a Guinness and the Plaza has a few.

The Kirin Plaza is going to close soon and it’s a shame. They do a well priced all-you-can-drink 2 hour session where you can try a variety of beers. Even though you can’t taste the difference after the first 2 or 3.

I’m writing this all as the place will be shutting soon and it gave me some very fond nights. If you’re in Osaka, be sure to check out the place before it closes around October.

If you look through my blog or my flickr stream, you will see that whilst there are plenty of pictures of rust, temples and statues, there are very few photos of the people of Osaka.

This is a great shame as the people of Osaka, especially the ones that hang around the Americamura and nearby Shinsaibashi areas of Osaka are very unique. Colourful, loud and original.

I`m too much of a coward to go up to people and stick a camera in their face so I used my broken camera that I fixed with an elastic band and held it at hip height and took pictures.

I was mostly surprised as some of the shots came out better (albeit a little dark on occasion) than if I had taken the time to frame and compose them.

However Reiko thinks the next stop is up women`s underwear.

for a Japanese language school in Osaka?

Whilst walking through the narrow passageways under Umeda train station which I like to call Salaryman Central, I came across this takoyaki shop which bills itself as the smallest takoyaki shop in Japan. It had newspaper cuttings to prove its point.

Takoyaki is fried octopus pancake balls and is a speciality of the Kansai region of Japan.

The shop may have been small but the takoyaki were normal sized. I’ve had better though.

It’s local election time again in Japan. Candidates stand outside train stations wielding megaphones and wishing everyone good morning. Signs are erected with the various candidate’s posters extolling their virtues with winning smiles.

Wait a minute winning smile? That’s a grimace of the first order! Come on man you can do it! Stretch those mouth muscles! No don’t cry, smile! Smile!

A noodle shop in Kyobashi, Osaka which bills itself as quick, cheap and delicious.

Here`s some posters for live events in Osaka.

This is the area in which I live - Aobadai in Izumi City, Osaka nearing sunset.