Kappa Festival

[danika_in_japan]

so the past two days' evenings we spent celebrating this little guy that looks like a turtle, holds a cucumber and something else in his two hands, apparently lives at the bottom of a lake grabbing peoples toes...that goes by the name of 'kappa' (for you aussies, its pronounced the same as the word you use to request you desire tea!) ill have to really look in to what he is about, because surely that isnt enough to cause the awesome big festivals that were held for him? maybe! anyhow it was fun! mainly coz i got to wear a YU-KA-TA - not a KI-MO-NO... one large misconception on Japanese culture (i too, thought it was a kimono, one difference is about $500 and maybe another 30min of dressing, as the kimono is alot more complex.)
half the town danced up the street for 2hours, most of them old people. lots of stands, stalls, cute kids in traditional wear, the odd fellow-foreigner...
alot of spirit in the air, twas nice.













when i first found this John Lennon mural and tried to take a photo i was annoyed at the people in the way, but i kinda think they make the photo now...