Plenty of Nothing

Dragon Ceiling, Butsuden

Source.

Kobayashi-san Chi no Meidoragon

George and the Dragon

Dragon and Fox

Check out the line work in this 17th-century Persian dragon. You'd think that China and Northern Germany were next door neighbours. Source.

Smaug by Tove Jansson

Tove Jansson illustrated the 1961 Swedish edition of The Hobbit. She has taken a lotta stick for not getting  all the details right, but she's done a pretty fine Smaug here. Source.

Victor Ambrus

I'm a huge fan of Victor Ambrus, an illustrator whose eye for historical costume is unsurpassed in our day and age. You might know him from Time Team, or from one of about a million children's books he's illustrated. Here's a set of stamps he designed for the Isle of Man. I pretty desperately need to study his book Ways of Drawing Hands. His website. Time Team Isle of Man episode.

About Mito HollyHock

Mito HollyHock FC was formed from two older clubs in 1994, and has been a member of the J League since 2000. The club name and emblem derive from the mitsuaaoi (triple-hollyhock) crest of the Tokugawa clan, who ruled from Mito during the Edo period. I haven't been able to figure out the significance of the blue dragon, except perhaps that 2000, like 2012, was the year of dragon.

In twelve J2 seasons Mito Hollyhock have never finished better than 8th in the division, and last year they wound up 17th. They are known for a defensive style called "Mito-nachio", a play on Catenaccio and natto, a local delicacy made of fermented soy beans.

Mito HollyHock play at K's Denki Stadium, which seats 12,000. Team colours are blue and black.

After 15 league games Mito are in ninth place with seven wins, three draws, five losses, and  a +2 goal difference.

Former Japanese international Takayuki Suzuki plays for Mito.

Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture, is a mighty interesting place, so I think I'll touch on its history and architecture in future posts.

Today Mito host Tochigi Soccer Club. Tochigi are the only team in the league to call themselves a soccer club, and more power to them. Originally, in 1953, they were Tochigi Teachers' Soccer Club, and are still colloquially The Teachers. They should play UCD AFC, and teach them a lesson. [Mito 3 - 1 Tochigi.]

Last night UDC were away against Bray Wanderers. Top flight clubs Montreal Impact and Pohang Steelers are on break. [Bray 3 - 1 UCD.]

Quinpool Creatures

I took these photos in September. Since then the King's Palace dragon has been painted over.