There’s a very beautiful Japanese shrine that I know of and decided to visit. It’s not on my way from home to work and work to home but something I’ve been going to since my childhood, maybe every few years or so. I never remembered much except the huge koi in the gigantic pond, a huge temple, and two girls that were my age. The girls in particular stuck out in my mind as they were twins who I used to play with when I was younger whenever I visited. Now that I was older, I thought playing probably wasn’t something we could do anymore when we met and maybe just talking and enjoying some tea while we fed the koi would bring something that we never had before. Stepping out from my car I walk across the stone bridge with it’s bright red wooden side rail’s that I have passed since childhood, noticing the fresh coat of paint as I ran my fingers along it. As I near the end of the bridge I can see the huge temple and gigantic koi pond, majestic, as if from a storybook tale. Out of the corner of my eye I can see two figures with purple hair talking towards each other as they walk and stopping when they notice me and gave a smile and a wave as I approached the twin girls, Kagami and Tsukasa Hiiragi.
As you can see from the picture above, the two pictured are Hiiragi, Kagami (柊 かがみ) and Hiiragi, Tsukasa (柊つかさ) from Lucky☆Star (らき☆すた). The manufacturer is Wave. They are from a limited edition completed set and are sold separate but don’t come with the interesting base that it comes with which looks like a part of a Shinto shrine.
I went to a Buddhist temple to take the pictures. The temple is in a slightly remote area, I say slightly because there’s a mini mall just down the hill from it lol. I wasn’t lying about the part in the story where I’ve been there since childhood every few years, though I usually went because a relative visited. The place is full of wildlife as you can see below.
It’s a beautiful place and nice place to visit. But enough about that, let’s talk about the twins.
As you have noticed they are wearing their shrine maiden outfit. The difference is what they are holding. Tsukasa is holding a omikuji container which contains sticks inside with numbers on it which coincide’s with the fortunes you pick. Kagami is holding a ema which is what people write their wishes on around new years and hope it comes true. Kagami is holding one with a rat as it was the year of the rat when I bought the two.
The sculpting is really done well, especially anatomically, and really looks just like the girls from the anime. I love how Kagami’s left foot is angled slightly, it makes her look cuter for me lol.
The one thing I don’t like is omikuji container which can fall out pretty easily when I move Tsukasa a little more than a bit ^^;;. While Kagami holds the string strung through the ema pretty well.
Overall, a really great figure and something I recommend for people who can get it.
Figure Information:
Character: Hiiragi Kagami (柊 かがみ) and Hiiragi Tsukasa (柊つかさ)
Manufacturer: Wave
Anime: Lucky☆Star (らき☆すた)
Price: ¥8,500
Availability: N/A
I remember this figure selling like hotcakes when it came out. I love the temple you used in the background, it’s very fitting since the Hiiragi twins are in their shrine maiden outfits.
Nopy´s last [type] ..My History With Anime
Yep, it’s the biggest shrine around that I know of. I think there are a few more around but nothing as nice as this place.
There was a lot of talk about this set of figures when pre-order was up, but I did not take notice of reviews when they were out.
Where is this shrine at? I really like how you’ve got the photos done in an appropriate place for the twins; and needless to say they blend in very well~ ^^
Q´s last [type] ..1234GOHAN! K-On! figma mod
I think I missed that talk lol.
It’s at a shrine located within the mountains.
Thank you, it was the best place I could think of.
Nice! Btw, do you use a compact camera or DSLR? Did you lie on the floor to take those close-ups?
I use a compact digital camera, a 12 megapixel Sony Cybershot.
Ya, I had to lie down to get a few of the shots which isn’t exactly comfortable or not in public lol. I’m sure I got a few stares lol.
Nice pics and nice job with the setting, it’s perfect for them ^^. I also own these figures and like them quite a bit
Miko Kagami <3 <3 <3
anonymous_object´s last [type] ..Lucky Star Beach Queens Konata and Kagami
Thank you ^^.
Kagami is the best ^^.
wah, never knew wave already have this twin sister’s figures… they both look cute in your photos
multiseven´s last [type] ..Separated from the world
Thank you ^^. I think Wave makes very nice figures.
I like your intro text, it really creates a good atmosphere. the two are really cute and the location is really great. Kagami in front of the bell in picture 2860.jpg is nice
Fabienne´s last [type] ..Asuka Apron Version by Wave
Thank you ^^. I don’t have the time anymore to come up with long stories so I decided to do a introduction paragraph only from now on.
Took a while to find the right angle to shoot Kagami in front of the bell ^^;;.
Ah! I saw the main picture on MFC and favorited it just the other day
I absolutely love the pictures, and I envy you for having been to such a beautiful place especially so often!
Ya, I try to upload my favorite shots to MFC now to keep active.
Takes a bit of time to find these places but they are around ^^.
I LOVE your pictures!! My miko Tsukasa and Kagami are my favorite Lucky Star figures and I love the background! Also I had a helluva time with Tsukasa’s container too, that little sticker on the bottom does nothing.
lovelyduckie´s last [type] ..Recent Hauls
Haha, ya, I was afraid I would lose the container during the photo shoot ^^;;. One strong gust of wind and into the lake it would have gone ^^;;.
Nice photos! They look like they fit perfectly there.
MkMiku´s last [type] ..Does Art Style Matter
great figures to bring for this shoot!
wow, the japanese shrine looks lovely and very peaceful. I’ve always wanted an omikuji
very nice photos~
tabetaiii´s last [type] ..Hyperdimension Neptunia NISA Limited Edition
It was quite peaceful. I think it’s mainly a tourist spot more than anything else now ^^;;
Great shots of Byodo-In. This is actually where I plan to get married
Thank you ^^. It would be a great place for a wedding and wedding pictures ^^.
Really nice photos! It’s a gorgeous and very fitting place for the two adorable girls. I love how they look life-sized in the shots.
Yi´s last [type] ..Reversing the Irreversible in Puella Magi Madoka Magica – Future Predictions Using Physics
Thank you ^^. I try to get life-sized shots if possible. The life-likeness of those kind of photos always amazes me ^^.
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