This post starts from last weekend and finishes this weekend, so it is actually a little over a week. To start the post, last weekend we went to the Eco center to make bamboo water guns and eat nagashi somen. First was the bamboo water gun. A large piece of bamboo with a hole drilled in the end is used as the main gun portion. A smaller inner piece of bamboo is used for the plunger. It has a piece of sponge with cloth wrapped around the outside to seal tightly to the outer layer. Then the water is drawn in from a bucket like a syringe.
Liam's first try resulted in him getting wet because the plunger did not seal well enough. All his water shot out the back toward him.
The main leader was very tolerant as the children ganged up on him to soak him. I am not sure I would have been so patient. There was a hose nearby and over the years I have learned that garden hose always trumps water gun.
To finish off the event we got to eat nagashi somen. I have shown this before on the blog, but it is basically soba served by sliding it down a bamboo shoot. Everyone has to catch as much as they can using chopsticks. The parents also got to join in, and Kate and I were able to get our fill of noodles.
Next was the Takanezawa (Koyodai) matsuri. Takanezawa is split into two sections by the main road, Koyodai (ours) and Hosekidai (the other). This festival was for Koyodai. The community asked for volunteers to carry the Omikoshi (a kind of portable Shinto shrine) around the festival so I decided to volunteer. The participants were loaned a Happi (Festival shirt), but had to wear their own shorts and shoes. As a result there was a big variety of clothing worn by the carriers. Since I was carrying I got to watch the set up of the Omikoshi. This shrine is only set up once a year, and by volunteers. At one point a picture from previous festivals was used to help with the assembly.
I ended up carrying the Omikoshi a number of times around the festival grounds, but Kate and the children were also able to join in, as there was a children's round and women's round. Here Kate and Chizuko san posed with me and the Omikoshi.
The route for the Omikoshi was basically a short loop around the tent at the center of the park. At the time I thought this was hard and my shoulder was a bit sore at the end. I now realize that this was a short route and a light Omikoshi as Kate and I had the opportunity to carry an Omikoshi in the Utsunomiya matsuri the following weekend.
Here is a short video of the children's carry. Adults were assigned to carry as well because it would be a bit heavy for children alone.
This past weekend, Kate and I attended a fair well party for Dinorah. She came at the same time we did, but is now heading back to the US. The party was on Saturday, so we went down early to enjoy the festival a little and then hit the restaurant. The Utsunomiya (Miya) matsuri happens once a year in August. The main street leading from the station is shut down and the crowds swarm the area. It's difficult to explain the atmosphere with a photo. I took this video to give some insight into the sounds and feel of this matsuri.
This also gave me an idea of what was in store for me the following day when we carried the Omikoshi. I saw a man wearing a fundoshi, it's basically a man thong worn by men at some of the festivals.
After that we went to Dinorah's party. It was 9 floors up in a pretty nice restaurant. We were able to get one of the restaurant employees to take a picture of everyone. I 'm still working on my awesome hand heart, and I believe it is starting to catch on...
Since there was no fair well cake, someone ordered a cake for her and it came out with the "Happy Birthday" song.
When dinner was finished we hit the town for some karaoke. In Japan it is popular to rent a small room that you and your friends can enjoy without being forced to sing in front of stranger. Kate and Dinorah said that they wished there were places like that in the US. This particular place also had all you could eat soft serve ice cream, and a chocolate fountain. I was able to take advantage of that offering. There were a number of good singers in this crowd. Sadly I was not one of them. Kate said she wasn't either. Everyone had a good time and we didn't finish until after 4 am.
The next day we got up late hung out at the Loza's apartment and then prepared to go to the festival and carry the Omikoshi. There are not that many Omikoshi in the festival to carry, and not just anyone can join in. By chance Dinorah and Kate were talking with their yoga teacher, Hiromi sensei, about carrying an Omikoshi. Hiromi sensei informed them that she did it every year with her old community, and if they wanted to do it she could set it up. Me, Kate, Dinorah, and Makiko san all decided to participate. This activity is taken very seriously in the festival and so we were required to purchase specific matsuri clothing. This consisted of a Happi (kind of jacket), tabi (toed shoes), for the women white shorts, for men there was a choice. The choice was white shorts, or a fundoshi. I told Kate before she went to the store that I would wear whatever she picked. As a result she selected the fundoshi. It's basically a man thong made out of a long piece of fabric. When it arrived I realized two things: 1. I did not know how to put it on, 2. how little coverage there actually was. To resolve the 1st problem I had to research it on the internet. Here is a link to the video I used to learn how to do it.
When we arrived at the festival we walked to a location close to the Utsunomiya temple. There our Omikoshi waited. When it was time to go a whistle was blown, the Omikoshi was lifted and it was off.
The Omikoshi is bounced up and down as it is carried to a chant. "Soya-Soya". There is a leader keeping beat, and children standing on the end bounce and swing fans to the rhythm. It was amazing to be a part of this event.
Here I am in the middle of a heap of men. It is actually a bit painful and the Omikoshi is very heavy. This one is nothing like the previous week, and requires many more people to keep it going, in fact it is not possible to carry it the entire route. There is a procession of people following it that step in one someone starts to weaken.
On occasion there are people that push against the forward movement. I felt like it was almost a test to force everyone to fight back and push through them. I can say it made it that much more painful.
There were 2 points along the route where the Omikoshi came to a short rest. During one of those stops we were able to get a photo with the entire family in front of it.
Kate, Dinorah, Makiko, and of course Hiromi sensei took turns carrying the Omikoshi. During one of Kates turns Chiharu san told me that she was carrying and I was able to grab the camera for some pictures. Here Kate and Makiko are carrying.
This one, from left to right is Hiromi sensei, Dinorah, and Kate.
This video gives more insight into the procession from a street view. The music is coming from the side as we passed.
At the back for a time people were rotating on and off the beam as they were on the front, but in this case all members up to the Omikoshi were cleared off. This made for a very heavy turn, and was considered to be a sign of toughness. I took a turn at that position, but I can say it was extremely rough. I am only smiling because I knew my picture was being taken. It was pretty painful.
This image is of one of the girls riding. It does a great job of showing the motion and lights of the event. I have to give Dinorah credit for it as she had our camera at the time.
When the Omikoshi came to a end, there was a finishing ceremony. Everyone removed their headbands and clapped. We were able to get a picture of our entire group.
This was such a great experience and I am so glad that we were able to participate. We really owe Hiromi sensei for allowing us to be a part of it. The perspective of being in it was much different then our experience the night before when we stood on the sidelines and watched.
On the way home we stopped to shake hands with the Kernel as he was also dressed for the matsuri. It also gave me the opportunity to get photographical evidence that I did in fact wear the fundoshi.
This group took the Omikoshi quite seriously and we were requested not to put a towel under our Happi when carrying. It was very rewarding to have participated in the event, but also punishing. Both right and left shoulders and my neck are a bit sore after participating. Kate is also a bit bruised. Regardless, given the opportunity to do it again next year I would not hesitate.
That wraps up this post. The next post will be a week late.
Have a great week.
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