There is something sacred and special about festivals in Japan to me. I have always enjoyed attending Japanese festivals as they are always so joyful and celebratory. They maintain a traditional flair that makes me smile and enjoy the experience that much more.
We started our day at the Ark Hills Aki Matsuri - named for the location. There were food booths featuring local and international foods, traditional game booths, several craft booths geared toward kids, and a farmer's market. We ate from several of the booths - a pork and mushroom rice bowl, hum bow, and takoyaki (octopus balls). Then my son participated in a craft where he gathered leaves in their garden, cut them into circles, and put them in a painter's palate frame. I perused the farmer's market. I immediately noticed that the produce at the farmer's market is wrapped in plastic just like at the grocery store. This country has a serious addiction to plastic and packaging that I don't think I'll ever understand!
I felt a little weepy at the farmer's market, missing my garden and my chickens. We stopped by the egg stand and had a nice chat with the farmer. He has 125 chickens that he dotes on. He grows grass just for them to enjoy and to maintain the beautiful dark yolks that we enjoy. I bought some of his eggs, which I will enjoy tomorrow morning.
We also bought some corn (that we ate tonight and it was AMAZING), salad dressing, and peaches. I could have spent a fortune there, but I held back knowing how small my kitchen is.
After the Ark Hills Aki Matsuri, we headed back to our apartment to drop everything off. In a place where you walk a lot, you don't want to carry a lot too.
The next festival was right outside our front door in Azabujuban. There were children from the area pulling around a dashi (large cart with musicians on board). There had to have been over 100 kids pulling this huge cart down the street. After some coaxing, my son joined in the fun of pulling it around by a big rope. It was so neat to see them all working together.
We then walked around to pay our respects at a couple shrines and look at the mikoshi (portable Shinto shrine) that are placed in various locations throughout the neighborhood. Hopefully we will be able to watch them carry the mikoshi around town tomorrow.
We saw a sign for a children's celebration and found our way there (even though we joked the whole time it was a trap to lure children). It was at a park that we hadn't been to before. As you entered the park they gave each child a passport of sorts that enabled them to play games and get some free food. My son enjoyed the ring toss and playing jonkenpon to get prizes. The food was a sausage and a hard boiled egg - which he gobbled up. I was impressed with the little event. My husband said they probably had it because most festivals have lots of food booths and games where the festival in this area didn't.
Finally, after dark, we watched a Bon Odori (dance festival) in a local park. We were amazed at how many dances they all seemed to know and the energy of the taiko dancers. Even though it was raining at this point, we still enjoyed ourselves and even joined in a couple dances from the side.
Now, back at the apartment, we are all utterly exhausted - similar to days that we spent harvesting our own fruit and vegetables. It was a good day, full of celebration.
No comments:
Post a Comment