Every year in early January the residents of Himonya, (Meguro ward, Tokyo), bring the New Year decorations from their front doors and put them in a heap in the park. The heap is then carefully wrapped in cord, from which wishes for the year ahead hang on calligraphic scrolls.
After much anticipation, the village elders step forward with their flaming torches (rolled up newspaper!) and set light to the pyre ...and it all goes up in smoke! There's plenty of members of the Tokyo fire brigade on hand in case the fire gets out of control. It also makes a nice change from tackling house fires.
I live-streamed the burning too - check out the short video at
www.ustream.tv/recorded/3873308
It's more than just a bonfire though. The local fire brigade bring about 5 water pumps with them, and let children hold the huge hoses, blasting jets of water over the big pond.
There's an area where children can meet a fireman dressed up in all his gear, who tells them about how important it is to run out of the building when there's an earthquake. Next to that, they're making stilts out of tin cans and string.
There's also free baked sweet potatoes, amazake (sweet rice wine), and free rice soup - the same stuff that the authorities hand out in times of emergency.
I like these kinds of community events. Next time I'll remember to bring the washing in before I join the party though!
Are there any traditional festivals like this where you're from? If you're in Japan, do they do this where you live?
We have Guy Fawkes night on 5th November in the UK, but other than that no other excises to play with fire!
Joseph
