(no subject)
Matsuri Japan!
For those who know that particular DDR song, just imagine the drums and whistle sounds from it playing throughout this entire post, because that's what I heard.
Although the Gion Festival was tonight downtown, at around noon, there was a mini-festival, mainly for children, right within with walking distance of the house. I got all dolled up in the kimono, and Yamazaki-san, Tatsuya and I went. It was in a sort of alley street, with a stage set up, carnival-like games for kids, and little booths for food. There were signs with prices, but I guess because I was all prettied up and American-looking, they kept insisted on giving me stuff for free. Free cotton candy, free shaved ice, free chicken... O.O
We went inside this little building where Yamazaki-san's bonsai trees were on display. So pretty! I just didn't know he was involved with the festivities.
When we finished eating in there, we went to the stage area to see the demonstrations. I got to see two - The first was a bunch of teenagers playing different kinds of traditional Japanese drums. It was amazing - they would do all kinds of complicated tricks with the drumsticks and not even break their rythm. Very impressive!
Then these three middle-aged ladies in matching purple kimonos went on stage and did beautiful, elegant dances with umbrellas and fans.
My feet were killing me at this point from wearing geta, traditional Japanese wooden sandels. So when we went back to the house, I decided I'd wear my own sandels later, traditional and perfectly watching the obi or not.
After changing back into normal clothes, I went out shopping with Tatsuya and Haruka. Tatsuya wanted a new fan to better match his kimono for tonight. We also went to a 100 yen shop, where I got a bunch of Japanese snacks to try. ^_^
After that, back at the house, Nobuko-san first helped Tatsuya put on his kimono, then me. Gah, is it complicated. But so pretty!
Then Haruka asked if she could do my hair. Umm.. I hate to say it, but I wasn't too crazy about it. Very very teased side ponytail with a giant sunflower. It was just a tad goofy... but everyone said it was cute, and I didn't want to be the one to say I didn't like it...
So after a little while, she gave me and Tatsuya a ride downtown for the festival. Haruka really wanted to come to, but she had to work.
So to the fun part, the festival! There were SO many people wearing kimonos. Wow. Like 1 in 4 people in the crowd it must have been. So pretty!
The Gion Matsuri apparently started in Kyoto in 869 AD (and Kyoto is still where the festival is biggest, and last the entire month of July,) but now it is celebrated in pretty much all Japanese cities. I mean, even Ueda. Ueda's pretyy small.
Here at least, people carry dozens of mikoshi, or portable shrines, through the streets as the croud watches, celebrates, and buys things.
Some shrines were made by elementary school classes, simple boxes decorated with coloured tissue and their favourite Pokemon and Power Rangers painted on. Some were beautifully complex, and really looked like miniature Shinto shrines being carried by thirty or so people. Some were made of pyramids of cylindrical lanterns with kanji painted on them in black. Jordan should be happy to know that I only saw one lantern in all the pyramids of them with Roman letters written on it, and that lantern said "GIRI".
The people carrying the mikoshi didn't seem at all burdened by them. They seemed to be having as much fun as the crowd!
Around the people carrying the mikoshi were people hitting sticks together on beat, playing drums, and whatever that whistling instrument is. I never saw it, but I could definitely hear it.
I took lots and lots of pictures, but I coubt I can really capture that atmosphere without all that awesome festival music.
All along the street, there were stands set up with games, toys, and food for sale. Lots and lots of Yakitori (chicken on a stick), Takoyaki (a ball of breading with a piece of octopus tentacle inside,) and Japanese noodles. Yamazaki-san had given us 5000 yen to spend so I tried a bit of everything until I was too full.
In front of one store, an old lady was giving out free tea. Tatsuya took a cup, and liked it. I said no thank you, but she insisted. I wish I'd noticed before finishing it all and putting the cup down that there were two struggling mosquitoes stuck to the bottom of the cup... BLECH!! Oh well... could have been worse. I could have swallowed them. @_@
At one a jewelry stand, I bought 2 pins, one with Ayumi Hamasaki, and one Hello Kitty angel. I must make my purse less boring!
Tatsuya bought us both glowstick bracelets and a bunch of firecrackers for later People really love fireworks here. You can buy them at any random grocery, conveniance, or toy store.
While looking for a bathroom, we came accross a place with a bunch of Purikura machines, and decided to go for it! Neither of us really knew what we were doing though, and kept we running out of time at various stages. >.> Oh well, it came out all right!
We were pretty much done, so we walked to a 7-11 and called Nobuko-san to come pick us up. Then we played with fireworks and firecrackers! Kazuko got home while we were doing so, so she joined in the fun.
Nobuko-san took lots and lots of pictures of that... definitely more than I needed, but that's okay! Some of them are bound to come out nice.
Anyway, then I was VERY VERY TIRED so I changed out of the kimono, came upstairs, and started typing. Wee! And soon I SLEEP.
I want Harry Potter 6. *pout*
For those who know that particular DDR song, just imagine the drums and whistle sounds from it playing throughout this entire post, because that's what I heard.
Although the Gion Festival was tonight downtown, at around noon, there was a mini-festival, mainly for children, right within with walking distance of the house. I got all dolled up in the kimono, and Yamazaki-san, Tatsuya and I went. It was in a sort of alley street, with a stage set up, carnival-like games for kids, and little booths for food. There were signs with prices, but I guess because I was all prettied up and American-looking, they kept insisted on giving me stuff for free. Free cotton candy, free shaved ice, free chicken... O.O
We went inside this little building where Yamazaki-san's bonsai trees were on display. So pretty! I just didn't know he was involved with the festivities.
When we finished eating in there, we went to the stage area to see the demonstrations. I got to see two - The first was a bunch of teenagers playing different kinds of traditional Japanese drums. It was amazing - they would do all kinds of complicated tricks with the drumsticks and not even break their rythm. Very impressive!
Then these three middle-aged ladies in matching purple kimonos went on stage and did beautiful, elegant dances with umbrellas and fans.
My feet were killing me at this point from wearing geta, traditional Japanese wooden sandels. So when we went back to the house, I decided I'd wear my own sandels later, traditional and perfectly watching the obi or not.
After changing back into normal clothes, I went out shopping with Tatsuya and Haruka. Tatsuya wanted a new fan to better match his kimono for tonight. We also went to a 100 yen shop, where I got a bunch of Japanese snacks to try. ^_^
After that, back at the house, Nobuko-san first helped Tatsuya put on his kimono, then me. Gah, is it complicated. But so pretty!
Then Haruka asked if she could do my hair. Umm.. I hate to say it, but I wasn't too crazy about it. Very very teased side ponytail with a giant sunflower. It was just a tad goofy... but everyone said it was cute, and I didn't want to be the one to say I didn't like it...
So after a little while, she gave me and Tatsuya a ride downtown for the festival. Haruka really wanted to come to, but she had to work.
So to the fun part, the festival! There were SO many people wearing kimonos. Wow. Like 1 in 4 people in the crowd it must have been. So pretty!
The Gion Matsuri apparently started in Kyoto in 869 AD (and Kyoto is still where the festival is biggest, and last the entire month of July,) but now it is celebrated in pretty much all Japanese cities. I mean, even Ueda. Ueda's pretyy small.
Here at least, people carry dozens of mikoshi, or portable shrines, through the streets as the croud watches, celebrates, and buys things.
Some shrines were made by elementary school classes, simple boxes decorated with coloured tissue and their favourite Pokemon and Power Rangers painted on. Some were beautifully complex, and really looked like miniature Shinto shrines being carried by thirty or so people. Some were made of pyramids of cylindrical lanterns with kanji painted on them in black. Jordan should be happy to know that I only saw one lantern in all the pyramids of them with Roman letters written on it, and that lantern said "GIRI".
The people carrying the mikoshi didn't seem at all burdened by them. They seemed to be having as much fun as the crowd!
Around the people carrying the mikoshi were people hitting sticks together on beat, playing drums, and whatever that whistling instrument is. I never saw it, but I could definitely hear it.
I took lots and lots of pictures, but I coubt I can really capture that atmosphere without all that awesome festival music.
All along the street, there were stands set up with games, toys, and food for sale. Lots and lots of Yakitori (chicken on a stick), Takoyaki (a ball of breading with a piece of octopus tentacle inside,) and Japanese noodles. Yamazaki-san had given us 5000 yen to spend so I tried a bit of everything until I was too full.
In front of one store, an old lady was giving out free tea. Tatsuya took a cup, and liked it. I said no thank you, but she insisted. I wish I'd noticed before finishing it all and putting the cup down that there were two struggling mosquitoes stuck to the bottom of the cup... BLECH!! Oh well... could have been worse. I could have swallowed them. @_@
At one a jewelry stand, I bought 2 pins, one with Ayumi Hamasaki, and one Hello Kitty angel. I must make my purse less boring!
Tatsuya bought us both glowstick bracelets and a bunch of firecrackers for later People really love fireworks here. You can buy them at any random grocery, conveniance, or toy store.
While looking for a bathroom, we came accross a place with a bunch of Purikura machines, and decided to go for it! Neither of us really knew what we were doing though, and kept we running out of time at various stages. >.> Oh well, it came out all right!
We were pretty much done, so we walked to a 7-11 and called Nobuko-san to come pick us up. Then we played with fireworks and firecrackers! Kazuko got home while we were doing so, so she joined in the fun.
Nobuko-san took lots and lots of pictures of that... definitely more than I needed, but that's okay! Some of them are bound to come out nice.
Anyway, then I was VERY VERY TIRED so I changed out of the kimono, came upstairs, and started typing. Wee! And soon I SLEEP.
I want Harry Potter 6. *pout*