I'm such a nerd...
I went to the town's historical re-enactment festival today... and had FUN.
I'm a nerd.
They had a bunch of people dressed up in old warrior armour with weapons and fighting and gun power and noise and and and... hehe it was super cool! There were even a bunch of 'gaijin' (foreigners) from Tateyama's sister city in the 'States, Bellingham (not sure which state though) - they were dressed up in costume too! hehe
But the most super duper part of the day was ... having solid sweet rice balls the size of hockey pucks thrown at my head!!!! haha They throw mochi out to the crowds at the end of the festival (bit like a bride throws the bouquet at the end of the wedding) and everyone... children, teenagers and old grannies alike... tackles each other to catch this gooey sweet. I thought I did well to catch one, but I then turned around to see a boy, about 8 years old, with a shopping bag full of the pink and white lumps. No fair. Hope he gets a rotten stomach ache!
So yeh, the nerd in me is satisfied for another weekend.
Ohhhh I can hear the taiko drums again...the floats must be heading home to their respective shrines. There were around 15 of them today, as well as 10 or so hand-held ones covered in gold.
I have been to more festivals in the short time I've lived in Tateyama than I did the entire time I lived in Saitama! This town has a party for everything!!!
My boss is coming down to obeserve me teaching on Tuesday, and then is taking the 4 of us out to dinner AND paying. I guess Frances' rant about being dumped out here in the middle of nowhere and forgotten about was heard!
Anyways I need a shower and a hot cup of coffee... the evenings are really getting cool now!
Keep watching for pics from the festival...when I get sorted!
owari.
I'm a nerd.
They had a bunch of people dressed up in old warrior armour with weapons and fighting and gun power and noise and and and... hehe it was super cool! There were even a bunch of 'gaijin' (foreigners) from Tateyama's sister city in the 'States, Bellingham (not sure which state though) - they were dressed up in costume too! hehe
But the most super duper part of the day was ... having solid sweet rice balls the size of hockey pucks thrown at my head!!!! haha They throw mochi out to the crowds at the end of the festival (bit like a bride throws the bouquet at the end of the wedding) and everyone... children, teenagers and old grannies alike... tackles each other to catch this gooey sweet. I thought I did well to catch one, but I then turned around to see a boy, about 8 years old, with a shopping bag full of the pink and white lumps. No fair. Hope he gets a rotten stomach ache!
So yeh, the nerd in me is satisfied for another weekend.
Ohhhh I can hear the taiko drums again...the floats must be heading home to their respective shrines. There were around 15 of them today, as well as 10 or so hand-held ones covered in gold.
I have been to more festivals in the short time I've lived in Tateyama than I did the entire time I lived in Saitama! This town has a party for everything!!!
My boss is coming down to obeserve me teaching on Tuesday, and then is taking the 4 of us out to dinner AND paying. I guess Frances' rant about being dumped out here in the middle of nowhere and forgotten about was heard!
Anyways I need a shower and a hot cup of coffee... the evenings are really getting cool now!
Keep watching for pics from the festival...when I get sorted!
owari.