The festival coordinators set up a couple yurts for people to tour. The yurts were unique with beautifully painted wood supports. The doorframe was also interesting as it was a full framed out door and painted to match the other supports. Since I know these are mobile homes of sorts, it made me wonder how Mongolians transport these huge doors.
We made sure to hit the food stalls. The offerings were very meat heavy. There was beef, chicken, and lamb on several menus. We picked up several items, none of which we could name! A couple different meat filled pastries, marinated lamb skewers, steamed dumplings, and a gyro-type wrap.
There were a few booths that were selling wool goods, like socks. There was also entertainment with traditional instruments. The morin khuur, a fiddle with a horse head carved into the fingerboard, was being played on the stage. The music was entrancing as traditional music tends to be.
The highlight of the festival was when my son saw a sumo wrestler for the first time. Many Mongolian athletes come to Japan to compete in sumo. When I lived in Japan 15 years ago, there was a new yokozuna (highest ranked sumo wrestler) earning his grand champion status. It was a very exciting time for someone who was just getting into the sport. (His name was Asashōryū.) Since my son has been so excited to learn about sumo, he was over the moon to see a real sumo wrestler at the festival. My son shyly approached him to say hello and the guy swept him up onto his lap for a quick photo. It was over in an instant, but my son was elated. After a little bit of research, my husband learned he is Chiyoshoma, a maegashira (professional) ranked wrestler from Mongolia.
Although I enjoy immersing myself in Japanese culture, it is nice to see and experience another culture once in a while. Even if it is for just a tiny glimpse, the peek is always fun.
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