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Winter in Akita is long and harsh. For days on end the snow kept falling, cutting me off from the outside world. The snow is ever-present, at times creating an oppressive force that traps you inside.

On this day the skies were blue, and I went out to the shops and arcades in Akita city.
This photo was taken from inside Aeon, a shopping centre (mall) in Goshono. Goshono is part of Akita city, about 20 minutes on train from the city centre.

The area's full name is Goshono New Town ("Goshono Nyuu Taun"). A "New Town" is the term given to a satellite city in Japan that's built outside the city centre, to allow people to live in the suburbs and commute into the city centre. Large areas of land are taken to be used for these new settlements.

The sky was blue, but an approaching blizzard was hanging ominously in the distance. It seemed like a huge mountain of snow, about to avalanche over the city. That was the effect I wanted when I took this photo.

True enough, a few hours later that evening a huge blizzard came.


Technical: Adjusted contrast, levels; resized for Trek Earth.


Akita Aeon Mall
http://akita-aeonmall.com/index.jsp

Goshono New Town
http://www.go-net.tv/ko-dan/