In Kyoto, there's history even on the hoardings

4th Sept 2010

Buildings for the future surrounded by figures from the past.

Two of Sakamoto Ryoma. His wife Oryo was there on the hoardings too.

As were other figures from the Bakumatsu period: Katsu Kaishu, Saigo Takamori and Yamaoka Tesshu (below).

This is based on the photo taken when he looked old, venerable and had cultivated a magnificent beard. But I sort of prefer the picture taken when he was young, square-jawed and looked sideways at the camera with a glint in his eye.