Japanese Festivals
"Matsuri" is the Japanese word for "Festival" which take place at various times throughout the year but are concentrated around the Summer season.
Here we see some folks carrying a Mikoshi - a vessel for the spirits and gods. Folks dressed up in traditional gear carry the Mikoshi on their shoulders and bob it up and down like you see in the video below.
Matsuri have a load of stalls which are usually either food or games. Here we see a load of Rilakkuma goodies up for grabs.
Matsuri look better at night time when the signs for each stall are lit up.
Kingyo Sukui is where folks try to nab as many goldfish as possible from the tub with a single hoop of thin paper.
MIkoshi can be seen all over the gaff at this time of year. Here we see a bunch of people crowding round a Mikoshi being carried down our local shopping arcade.
This fellow gets up on to the Mikoshi to thank everybody for their support.
Lots of traditional festive fun to be seen on the streets of Tokyo. This photo was taken at Jiyugaoka. In other parts of Japan, many different types of matsuri are taking place like the Mizukake Matsuri below - a festival where water is splashed on people - lovely video.
Carrying the Mikoshi around is hard work (its heavy!) and you will see a huge group of carriers taking a rest form time to time.
Lanterns line the streets at this time of year in most neighborhoods. The head of the neighborhood comes round and asks if you would like to pay to have your lantern up which can cost anything from a few thousand yen.
If you do decide to have a lantern, you choose a name and they will paint it on the side.
And this is our lantern. Most people choose their own name or business name. We chose "Suenaga Mirai" [末永みらい] ^o^
Lanterns are lit up at night. Many folks will be out n about walking around the neighborhoods at night to enjoy the lantern lit roads.
This place is completely empty by day - no stalls and just a quiet road.
You will see boards like this dotted around here n there. Its a list of all the people who paid to have their lantern up and how much they paid.
A Mikoshi being prepared for the next day.
Lanterns light up the nearby tents where more Mikoshi are being prepared.
On the way home from a matsuri enjoying the lanterns that stretch out into each road.
A drummer beats on the drums while folks in yukata and traditional happi dance around in a circle.
The music and dance can be experienced by watching the video below.
At this time of year its normally quite warm but this Summer was particularly cool - t'was actually cold this night. Did you have a hot Summer as usual or was it abnormally cold?
Many matsuri take place inside a shrine. This shrine is near Himonya and has hundreds of stalls.
If you are going then take a load of spare change. Most snacks cost from about 500 yen.
One can find all manner of foods at a matsuri. Here we see a stall selling freshly made cookies.
You will also see a load of yourng children and girls playing about with balloons filled with water.
This is my fave snack - steamed potato.
When you get your potato, wallop on a healthy wad of butter and a handful of salt.
The popular stalls will have looong queues of people waiting for some grub.
Nights like this usually pass without incident despite the amount of alcohol being consumed.
A lot of grilled foods available for consumption.
The low temperature was probably the reason why there were considerably less folks dressed in yukata this year.
A stall selling hot spices - great for spiking your best friends meal when they are not looking.
Speaking of which, when I was a wee lad, I put a load of soy sauce in my uncles coke before ^^; Have you done something evil like this?
The Seasame Street gang wait to be taken home by a new master. Speaking of Sesame Street - its a bit different in Japan.
A stall with a load of Ponyo goodies. Does make me wonder if its all officially licensed though.
A load of inflatable goodies.
Castella cakes. The ones with custard in the middle taste great but the ones with nothing taste dry.
More Kingyo sukui action - this time the tub is lit up.
Fun to watch but dont think I'll bother after listening to your feedback - most of the fish caught here seems to die within a few weeks.
"Chin Chin" can be used to describe the sound of a bell but is usually used to refer to what we call "dolphin."
Here we can see folks lining up to get some baby castella called "Chin Chin Yaki" which look like this.
Ayu on a stick. Still cant bring myself to eat the whole thing including head and guts and poo sack. Is eating a whole large fish a specialty of yours?
Some traditional performances taking place at the stage in the shrine.
The red kanji you see on the stall on the right says "Koori" [氷] or "ice" and there they sell a traditional Japanese dessert which is shredded ice with a dollop of syrup.
The guy running this Kingyo sukui must be really annoyed that these customers are able to scoop out so many fish on one hoop!
The secret is to try to use the side of the hoop as much as possible - using the plastic bit means you lighten the pressure on the paper.
Some deep fried potato thingy - looked great but tasted like tall dried grass which had just been walked through by a cow with its bollocks dangling in the grass.
Regularly see some international foods like this chap selling kebab.
How about a game of pinball with your fave character before heading home?
Stomach filled and time to walk it off with a stroll taking the scenic route home.
Do you have festivals like this in your neck of the woods? When would be a good time to catch one?
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I hope things like these never fade from Japan even with all the westernization going on. we have the usual pride festivals around here but nothing like this.
College Student (ICT Software Development)
http://www.zentocorp.co.uk/
so true. i hope to see all this and more when i get there :D
Otaku Programmer
http://oufukunaga.wordpress.com
Wow, now that's what I call a matsuri, just like what we saw in animes and mangas ^_^
This reminds me, there's going to be a matsuri called Nagoya Matsuri in this weekend. Let's see if it's as awesome as this.
三年せいとオタク
Wow looks like a lot of fun you'd never find something like this here where I live. T^T The most you'd get is the Latino or Irish festivals which are okay but nothing compared to these.
student
http://zephi-san.deviantart.com/
I still want to visit Japan during those big summer festivals...
lol a child would get nightmares after watching that Sesame Street Japan version.
I've never eaten Castella cakes... but chinchinyaki puts me off already. Those deep fried potato things don't look appetizing at all...
The only fish we eat all the guts and everything are sardines (pilchards) and really really small fishes.
Animator
http://ewen-nguyen.blogspot.com/
Yeah it's funny that he says that the tall dried grass stuff looks great......it really just looks like tall dried grass......that perhaps has had a cow walking through it with its bollocks dangling.
College Student, Computer Science Major
http://www.projectsaber.com
Yeah, we hope to be able to go to one of these festivals when we visit Japan *hopefully* next summer.
Student
That looks awwessoooome.
I want to go to one of those soo badly.
It would be lots of fun. >____<
Full-time geek/Part-time student/Part-time musician
http://randomgeekness.livejournal.com/
I wish i could assist to one ^^.
Student
http://holy-star-ocean.livejournal.com
I wanna go to matsuri T_T
Hospital supply manager and Gundam pilot in training
Hey Danny, did you use a tripod for some of the street photos? They are really bright and clear. I shake way too much to take good night picture without anything to rest on. Witch camera did you take these photos with?
Student, Help Desk Worker
http://aaronsblog-godpir.blogspot.com/
Wow, yet another reason I can't wait to visit Japan! Great photos!
Student
http://www.turningotaku.com
sounds amazing!
Student
http://www.turningotaku.com
僕の一番好きなキャラクタはドラエモンだよ！
Programmer
http://linuxhacker.ru
Hm, those chinchins look a lot like Russian dessert on the outside (that I used to enjoy in school), though it seems there is no filling in the Japanese version.
Russian version is filled with boiled condensed milk is and named "nuts with condensed milk" because the appearance is like that of walnut.
Here is how Russian version looks like (along with some pictures of how it is actually made): http://www.izbushka.com/forum/showthread.php?t=199
???Confused???
Not too many festivals around here...or at least pretty rare...
University Student
My Japanese Studies Professor once held onto the portable shrine, he said his shoulders felt like raw meat afterwards.
I love all the pictures!
Student or something like that
http://myanimelist.net/profile/tiberis1221
Nice!!
I'd love to go to one of these matsuri's ^^
Here in Mexico, our "fair's" are some kind of communal drinking, and could get a little dangerous, it still doesn't take the fun away, though.
Wanna go to Japan!!! :'(
I only see those festivals in my manga...I would really hope to be in that festival for real someday! ^_^
Student, Bowler, Collector
http://carldica.wordpress.com
Their cultural heritage is still thick! Love it when people still appreciate their culture!
Poet (not)
Great photos!!
I've been to a matsuri in Nikko. The ambience was like in these photos, except it was during the day, and then there was the cold rain.... :/
Student, part-time slave
http://yakuri.wordpress.com/
It says something about Japan if they can still put this kind of traditional events for the people while being an advanced society. The only thing that could be considered remotely similar around here (a traditional event where everyone in the community participates) is Halloween, but it's still very sad. Children don't come to your door dressed up, only teens 14 and up with a paper mask on trying to get your candy without any effort.
In Argentina there's nothing like this either, too busy trying to imitate US I hardly experienced the roots outside school events. I think now it's a bit more different, who knows.
pwn3d by two big and a whole bunch of itty bitty dolls.
http://msgeek.insanejournal.com/
We do have Nisei Week every year, which is more like Nisei Month now. That's loads of fun...I have some pix up from this year's events here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/msgeek/sets/72157622019593443/
You can see the festivities through the eyes of my Yumiko-tan.
Student, part-time slave
http://yakuri.wordpress.com/
Yeah there are certain events that can successfully be done here (like Chinese New Year festival), but I was thinking of something more traditional to the country (in this case US).
Student
http://foxkey.blog126.fc2.com/
Culture in Asian countries is always a big deal, not so much in western countries though. I hope I get to go to a matsuri when I head over! So many lovely things to do at a festival, but most of it is about foods which make you fat :(
University Student
Would be cool if an event like this is held around my area.
pwn3d by two big and a whole bunch of itty bitty dolls.
http://msgeek.insanejournal.com/
Where in CA are you at? There are several of these events in San Francisco and all up and down the Bay Area, and in SoCal there's Nisei Week. (see above post)
Kagamin's Waifu
http://moorina.deviantart.com/
"Ayu on a stick"
That made me do a double take ^^;
Pseudo-Graphic Designer, 触手 wrangler, H-Man
http://lightningsabre.blogspot.com/
LoL ditto with me. Maybe Danny'll put you up on a stick and make you draw for the rest of your life on that stick, lol XD
Dance Trooper: DCX-001 O.D.E. (Order of the Dancing Empire)
http://dannychoo.com.my
I'd just been to one on last Saturday at a college-based anime cosplay event called Taylor Asaban Fest~
Very nice & detailed walk-through of Matsuri with lots of photo, I always love to see the Japanese tranditions ;-)
Freelance Digital Production Artist
http://www.flickr.com/photos/victor_lee/sets/
All of the matsuri here in SF happen during the spring and summer months.
Time Traveller/High School Student
http://thetsundere.wordpress.com/
Ahh that looks so fun! When I visit Japan I must try to visit around this time of the year so I can go to one of these festivals ^^
When I first saw this photo ID#78805 I thought the guy with the megaphone was wearing a miniskirt o_O
part time illustrationist, doll clothing seamstress
http://puppy52art.com/
looks like fun :D I went to a matsuri in Singapore years back, that's about it ^^; I think yukatas are kinda warm to wear on hot summer days tho =_=;
browsing the nets
http://otakuposts.blogspot.com/
matsuri's always fascinate me. i want to go to one of these, specially to catch some goldfish and put them back in the water xD
the only fish i ate whole (including the bones) was some small fish about 3-4 inches long which is served fried here. dont know what its called in english. forgot the local name too. been long time since i ate that.
todays a festival here where people will burn an effigy of a 3 demons made of straw and filled with firecrackers in the evening. its called dassera. usually only the govt bodies put up these effigies and local communities are not given permission for security reasons.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vijayadashami
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvhFSd6nT2o&feature=related
Student, Performer
http://kesenaitsumi89.wordpress.com/
wow... the Matsuri there is really big!! unlike mine here is rather small and quite boring. not as many stall as yours too. ^^
Chinese/Viet restaurant waiter, no post secondary
Looks like lots of fun. I don't like the outside cause I'm allergic to bugs, do bugs swarm the area at these festivals?
And who watched that Seasame Street video? It was HILARIOUS! Oh my god, I can't remember the last time I watched the North America one, (probably like 17 years ago) but oh man, the Japanese one is so funny xD "I am Female!"
Student
Great coverage! Ant those lanterns fit perfectly with the surroundings.
student
http://listlessink.wordpress.com/
That looks like a lot of fun. Love all the people who dressed up.
銀河帝国五〇一軍团 TK/TD 8316 M.E.P.D. Police Sergeant
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i miss the polls at the end of articles. =(
Student
http://k625.blogspot.com/
^^" There's a "summer night market" which is very similar to matsuri. It's mainly a chinese thing, but it's got all sorts of stuff. It's fun to go around seeing what's out there, but it's not so fun to work there D:
Student
I'd like to one day go to a Japanese Festival, seems like so much fun.
http://thisblogissuxor.blogspot.com
"Matsuri" is a festival that will be in the city next to mine on the 3rd of October, it's being held by the Japanese Community Center and it should be a great time! My first Japanese one as well :]
Student
http://cottondream.blogspot.com/
aw~ i wan some ponyos.. > <
i love it wen there's a festival.. everyone dress up so nicely and den they hang out together~
so fun~~
pwn3d by two big and a whole bunch of itty bitty dolls.
http://msgeek.insanejournal.com/
I'm seriously considering getting a Puki or some other little BJD and doing her up as Ponyo in her human form. The transitional forms would be hard to replicate but Ponyo as a little girl should be easier. Yeah, I really loved the movie. Too bad DISNEY FRAKKIN BURIED IT HERE. Even with John Lasseter in control they don't seem to have the faintest idea how to promote Ghibli movies. I think they just count on the Otaku DVD business and see whatever theatrical butts in seats they can get as gravy.
Student
http://lordofgundams.blogspot.com/
Festivals look so fun to be a part of; I would love to go to one someday.
University Student
i thought that it was interesting, and ironic, that something moe that came from America was "realistified" in Japan, when it's usually the other way around.
Internet Marketing
http://charleshamel.com
The guy in the camouflaged clothes image ID#78841 who was running the Kingyo Sukui gave my wife about 10 free goldfish. Lucky thing, because she didn't catch any herself. By the next morning 4 were already floating belly up. It was fun though. We went two days in a row. Great pictures as always.
Pseudo-Graphic Designer, 触手 wrangler, H-Man
http://lightningsabre.blogspot.com/
I really want to go to one of these... but I'll never do the goldfish scooping because I know I can't take care of the fish ^^;
Lovely Suenaga Mirai lantern! It lights up in orangey colour at night ^_^
Student, part-time slave
http://yakuri.wordpress.com/
I was thinking the same, but maybe you could just give the fish away to some kid? I'd love to try the game, but I don't like taking care of fishes.
DREAMCASTER,Nihongo no Gakusei
Yes,we have festivals,but aren't so wonderful... >_<
apprentice otaku, collector of figures, sometimes sysadmin ^_^
http://www.giusepped.com
there are very many colors, it's beautiful! I love festivals, fairs, public events, then I'd be over the moon to attend! T_T
providing temporary relief to nymphomaniacs since 1986
http://www.nihonterebi.com/blog
These pics and your description makes me want to go to one :-)
Suenaga lantern=win!
Online Shop
http://wildarms.egloos.com
There is 4th of July fireworks but I don't think it is as festive as natsu matsuri in Japan with all those vendors and all. I do remember SO MANY people came to see the fireworks in matsuri few years back, there were just too many people there that I don't dare to go back even though festival itself is fun ^^;
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29475845N08
they had one like this in London last week, but it wasn't so great as so meny people turned up and you pretty much couldn't move in most places =x i took some photos though, they are on my flickr
writer/blogger/gamer/otaku
http://popgoespj.blogspot.com
We call these types of celebrations "fiesta" in the Philippines. Cities and towns all over the country do at least one every year, usually on the feast day of their location's patron saint. There are fiestas that are dedicated to FOOD (glorious food!) And then there are the major countrywide festivals. We even have "celebrations" - quotes because they're both festive and solemn at the same time - during Maundy Thursday and Black Friday.
We celebrate a lot of holidays here and all the fiestas are noted on the calendars released by the department of national tourism because all the local color really brings the tourists in.
I'd love to come to a matsuri myself, wear yukata and stroll among the colorful sights you put in this article.
(You wouldn't happen to have gone to one of the fertility festivals? Inquiring minds. :D)
As for fish: I will eat the entire thing, head AND tail and all (plus the roe if it's a mama fish) if the fish has just been freshly deep-fried, then blotted dry and served. (No worries for guts, people clean their fish rather thoroughly here.) People at the office sometimes stare when I wolf down the head and go crunch crunch happily. In situations like that, all I leave is the central backbone.
pwn3d by two big and a whole bunch of itty bitty dolls.
http://msgeek.insanejournal.com/
Yes, the Pinoy have wonderful ways with cooking fish. I live in Panorama City, CA which has a huge Pinoy population, and you can get grilled or fried fish like Bangus several places here. The local Latino (Mexican, Central and South American) population has a lot of crossover with this, and you can see Latino people enjoying whole fried or whole grilled fish right next to Pinoy expats and immigrants. There's a local joint called Toto's Lechon which as the name suggests specializes in whole suckling pigs for parties but they do outstanding grilled fish and barbecued pork and chicken skewers. They also do an absolutely irresistible fried veggie patty with shrimp that I simply should not eat. But I wind up eating it anyway because it's so good.
Student
I wanna go there too!!
ICT Technician
http://www.youtube.com/user/Lorfarius
The goldfish lifespan is a funny old thing. It seems the world over that fairground prize ones tend to die quickly however my folks had one that lived for 15 years!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29475845N08
maybe its got to do with how the fish is introduced to new water and its stress levels, being around other fish and then being alone.
NEET part-time - Technical Support Officer - Network security engineer
http://burugureibi.blogspot.com/
We have chinese new year celebrations in the asian suburbs... THATS IT.
Nothing local to celebrate about.
We don't really have anything quite like this either. There's may 1st which is kind of a political working class holiday, but it's pretty much just a bunch of people getting drunk and politicians giving speeches and not much fun at all.
Thankfully, the man who started the Andersen chain of bakeries in Japan gave the city of Copenhagen some 200 japanese cherry trees, and now there's sort of a Hanami/festival for Japanese culture every spring. It's pretty small, but lots of fun.
http://moemoekyun.wordpress.com
Yummy yummy FOOD ^^;
3D artist
http://andyh.cgsociety.org
Looks great - i love those stalls - i always eat til i explode! So many tasty goodies.
neet/single parasite
this called fiesta here in the philippines this is to thank the saints for the good harvest
there will be lots of food and dont forget beverages
at day lots of peaple will try to bargain at street stall for the lowest price possible
and at night expect lots of puking shouting and maybe fighting because of the alcohol lol
http://personal.babelred.com
Great photos!
Mad scientist
http://yazor-san.daportfolio.com/
Looks like so much fun! Definitely want to go to one of these one time!
unemployed machinist.. yeah
Only thing like that is.. the County Fair. Where the food isn't grlled a lot.. but deep fried.. everything!!!
Pre-U Student
http://wakuwakusuru.zeroclipse.net
Nice pictures there Danny!
There always seems like an endless stream of festivals in Japan ^^
Japanese Language Student
Wow, thanks for the great photos. We do have something similar during the Cherry Blossom and Obon festivals in Nihonmachi (San Francisco), but yours looks much more fun.
Student
http://johndiew0107.wordpress.com/
This is why I love Japan... These cultures must not fade.
Mecha Student
I want to go there too!
It sure beats German Christmas markets.
Student
That looks amazing, I've always wanted to go to one of those festivals.
It looks much better than the boat show that happens near my house once a year which entails a few canal boats, some sweet stalls and a fair. They do however have the best pork sandwiches ever ^^
College Student
Stuff like this is why I want to live in japan. I wholeheartedly hope you had a absolutely magical evening danny, even if I am jealous as hell.
Student and full-time otaku
Nice, I'd definetely wanna see a matsuri when in Japan. Strange your summer was cold...our was the best we've had in years. We still sat on the terrace yesterday afternoon ^^
大学生
Think it would be interesting to attend such a Matsuri but would prefer a really traditional one in Kyoto where all the ancient arts are preserved.
Nonetheless, would want to experience the modern Matsuri too (:
Btw here's the actual meaning of Matsuri
http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Matsuri.html
High school student
http://www.animeraku.com
Nice photos, as usual! Thanks for that kingyou-sukui tip. I will have a chance to try it out next weekend, because there will be a small japanese-style festival in my town and kingyo-sukui will be there.
Teacher of English
http://www.freewebs.com/superrobots/
JAPAN is unique! Never change your traditions. The more photos I see the more I wanna be there. Thanks Danny for sharing.
In Malta we do have festivals but nothing like this. The best time of the year to be here is definitely summer.
Student
http://cream77.deviantart.com/
Where I live we have harvest festival with alot of stuff you see here.We even have a stand with a guy who sells those water balloon's you can bounce(I always seem to pop mine in the car ;_;) and a couple of goldfish stands where you can either catch one or throw a ping pong ball in a bowl.And lastly theirs always a ton of shaved ice stands.Its coming up soon now that I think of it.
Student, Uncle & hopfully a good husband..
Wow...i wish we had festivals like those around here...the only know of one though...
Student
Looks like so much fun!
Will definitely try to attend one!
http://twitter.com/phossil
http://www.animoe.net
I have seen the balloons filled with water in anime shows. I think its a popular game for kids.
Programmer
http://px-2.deviantart.com/
man, not even Haruhi in all the years of Endless Eight had caught so many fishes as in image ID#78841.
lol
I would so want to experience even just one festival like this one. Great photos as usual. As for summer, our Midwest summer was cooler than normal, which was a good thing. :)
IT Support
all this looks so fun... i so wanna go japan!!
studying comp studies, planning to look for part time job
http://bruneian-otaku.blogspot.com
Festival looks great and fun, hope it'll never fade away.
teacher
Some of my fonder memories of Japan are at Matsuri in japan :) My favorite was a small one in a town called Hashimoto just outside of Tokyo somewhere in Kanagawa. Some of my fonder memories are from the allnighters that went on after the matsuri :D
Student, Martial Artist, Asian
I went to the Tennoh river matsuri in Tsushima, which is close to Nagoya, a couple months back. I had an awesome time there and I'm planning on going to it again when I get back to Japan this summer.
Lazy Gamer at home
http://www.espadakiller.wordpress.com
Wish i have the chance to experience something like that!
なんか子供の頃、好きな女の子の浴衣姿見ただけでドキドキしたなぁ・・
So in a sense,Yukata is kind of cosplay now.
Alchemist in training
Ah yes , Japanese Matsuris they are the enjoyment of a festival full of Tradition and all Japanese .
it seems "Koon" is no different to our "Ice kacang" which is also shaved Ice with syrup .
I remember seeing one of those child mikoshi being used in an episode of Yotsuba& a while back - despite the weight must be still fun to do. other than that definatly joining the "want to go" crowd.
Any chance of giving your lantern away as a prize?
broke college student
http://www.shoutlife.com/bloodboughtsamurai
That looks like a lot of fun. Over here we just finished a festival of our own. Paducah BBQ on the river. Some 65 different venders line the streets near the river and sell food from BBQ, to Gumbo, to Fried Corn, to Deep Fried just about anything (Oreo's, Twinkies, ice cream, you name it chances are they've deep fried it). I would've taken pictures to post sometime, but my mom had the camera and she was out state at the time.
Graphic Designer
I loved visiting the festivals when I was in Japan! So much cheap food that I didn't know what to eat first. Our street food here is rather limited and crappy. Also a heightened danger of ingesting something that will upset your entire system and week.
Summer was abnormally cool this year for us as well. Was waiting for the heat to come forever and when it arrive, it fizzed out within a week or two.
Undergraduate student.
http://quantum-force.deviantart.com
I only have tried the Kingyo Sukui ^^;
It seems to be so fun~
I wish the Japanese matsuri around here will become that big~
Otaku Student
i always wanted to join those kind of festivals, i know one day i will though
maintenence
http://joey1058.wordpress.com
Bizzare Sesame Street indeed! Where's the Muppets? It's hard to believe that Hensen Associates would licence that! As for festivals in "my neck of the woods", we have the <a href="http://upstatefair.org/">Upper Peninsula State Fair</a>. It was released from the MI state government into the hands of Delta county, where I live.
maintenence
http://joey1058.wordpress.com
Oops, the link didn't come out right. Here is is withhout trying to be all HTML correct:
http://upstatefair.org/
Dental Technician, i make teeth!
http://antsizedman.blogspot.com/
Looks like good community sprited fun.
Hehe, Occupation, really?
Man, Japanese festivals are the best. Sadly, there's only about five festivals in my country, and people just don't seem all that committed, you know? They just drink a couple of beers and listen to some music. Japan has "ZA SPIRITU"
Student
I've always wanted to see a festival and try catching the fish! (^_^)
callboy (quite literally)/future student, again
so cool how the japanese can be still in touch w/ their culture while being so f*cking modern. booyaa!
wow those festivals look amazing. not much going on where i live >:(
It's great to see the omatsuri of my home town!!
I am so glad to see the show still on at the Hachimansama, and kid's omikoshi there.
I like to see your photos of Palm shotengai, because my parents still live there,
and I visit them once in a while with my children.
Student
The summer was pretty hot here, but the winter has started early :/ There's already snow on the ground...
Mechanical Engineer
http://www.docbreger.com
I always looked forward to Matsuri season every year. I was a regular member of the Mikoshi carrying team. Probably my favorite activity was working in either Yakitori or Yakisoba stands in the park for the neighborhood association. I lived in Fujimi Dai, Hamura-Shi, Tokyo, I return to Japan at least annually on business, always making a point of visiting the old neighborhood.