Otsu Suwa Jinja Summer Festival

Just past our train station is a shrine that holds a summer matsuri in late August.  They gather the different mikoshi at the train station.  Just before dark, they start going towards the temple.  Mikoshi hold spirits.  The guys will bob and sway, or push it up and down to amuse the deity inside.

There will be flutes and drums going on, as well.  These are usually pulled along.

It's far more personable than the big matsuris.  

We brought our own 'mikoshi.'  It's a 'vehicle to transport spirits!'  (Tim's joke)  The lines for alcohol can be long, and pricey...  hence, the need for our own mikoshi!  It was nice, because Dwayne was the gaijin gathering spot for the evening!

Everyone was so friendly!  You can buy these little wooden charms, or tenengui (cotton headbands) to support the event.  Little different than buttons, and I like it!

Same girls, different view... of their tabi.

There's something festive about lit lanterns and drums.

This isn't a local custom, but elsewhere I have seen these hats decked out in wild flowers as part of the festivities.  He might be wearing such an outfit.  Hallie and I had our Aomori Nebuta outfits on!

This guy was pantomiming playing a flute.  Love the red muwashi!

Everyone gets into it.  The different floats were from all the cho-me or 'blocks' of Mabori and Otsu.

Some would wear happy coats of similar fabric.

Lots of the drummers are kids.  I guess that's one way to get them involved and keep the traditions going.

I believe this says Otsu.

Here's the locals living it up, their way!

Once they get to the gate of the shrine's precincts, they gather the drums around and play, while the mikoshi go inside, and each takes its turn to go to the top of the steps, to the temple itself.

This lantern says I-cho me.  We live in i-cho-me.

The street food here in Japan!  Yaki-soba.

Grilled corn-on-the-cob.

Gavin is on Chris' shoulders (Ian's birthday party hat on), while one of the mikoshi comes down from the shrine.  They are waiting for karage (fried chicken).

Here's one of the lit shrines, just waiting to be taken up.

Jillian with William and Alexandra.  Kaki-gori (shaved ice)

Yes, it's a guy with a happy coat and muwashi on this shrine... just waiting to go up the hill.

Once all of these portable shrines go up to the main shrine and down, it's time to go home.

 I got to help carry one!

William is watching how to do it...

Now, William gets to help carry it home!

You can see in this picture that they let kids ride on the mikoshi (you can see their fans in the dark) and Alexandra and William are helping to carry it.

Now Jillian gets in the act!

Posing with the mikoshi we helped carry (I should have been helping Dwayne)...

William and Alexandra.  The guys gave them their wooden chips.  How nice of them!

Ian's Birthday

Hallie made this incredible edible Thomas the Tank Engine cake.  

She brought the table cloth, everything, and it was party on with the neighbors!

Gavin and Ian... so cute!  They are both 3, and go to Japanese yochien together.

And here goes the blow... (love seeing Stefan 'helping/coaching'):

Peep, peep!  Now who's coaching?!?  :)  

Sung to Thomas the Tank engine music:

Round the corner, round the bend,

Are our neighbors, co-workers, friends,

Birthdays, dinner dates, don't you see?

It's the Anthony family!

Bill's Going Away

Bill McDonald was the first detachment director.  Then, they had trouble filling the spot.  2 of our friends got it, then declined it!  Finally, Bill's replacement arrived, and we got to have a going away BBQ with cake!

Skip put this together, and did most of the work.  At some point I was teasing him and Tim about not having mayonnaise for the burgers (I had wanted to bring some, because Tim likes it, and Tim said that there should be some there).  Skip said, and I've taken this to heart for parties and such, 

that he used to try to have everything, but now he just keeps it simple.

The next folks to go will be us (Tim), Strands, (Liesl and Erin in the back) and Kasey (right).  All about the same time!  Keepin' it simple!

It was a great potluck, where Bill spoke a few words.

Here's my cuties, Ian and Dougie!  Stefan is also listening to what Bill had to say.

But then, Mr. 'Keep it Simple' got out the arsenal:

Yep, the kids got to gear up to say their own 'get the heck outta here before someone else decides not to take the job and come!'

All the big action shots were blurry, but the end result was...

a wet T-shirt.  Good-bye, Mr. Bill!

Solo Beach trip 8-25-12

Sometimes, there's nobody available to go to the beach with.  That's when you go anyway, and enjoy the day!  There's my little hole digger!

Mabori beach is a bit rocky.  It's protected from waves because it is on Tokyo bay.

Before we leave, I am going to swim out to this pontoon.  I doubt I could climb on, though!

Since they've made the parking expensive, hardly anyone comes here!  Nice!

The light is near the end of the day, and it might look cool, but trust me, it isn't!

It is very close to base, too.  http://diddlefinger.com/?ll=35.263236,139.723188&z=19&t=h

I endure it by bringing my own 'shade' and something to drink.  I read, or take pics.  Ah, we'll never live this close to a 'sandy' beach again!  Gotta enjoy it while we can.  Like I told Tim, the parking might be expensive, but it beats the cost of gas to a Washinton state beach, anytime!  :)

Kamakura Beach with the Martins

I love going to the beach with friends.  Daniel, standing in the middle, is William's age.  He also beats William's record for youngest American to climb Mt. Fuji (Gavin Odem is internet-claimed so at 6 years, 17 days).  Regardless, William loves to dig at the beach, and any time he can do it with friends is great.

The parking is underground, under sea level, and expensive.  But, it has easy access to the beach here.  That puff of clouds to the left is where Fuji should be.  BTW, we parked next to a Maserati.  'Be careful opening the door kids, we don't want to give it any door dings!'

You can rent an umbrella.  The guys come out with a little auger and drill a hole and put it in for you.

We had our own 'shade.'  Doin' it 'white trash' style!  :)  Hey, the kids weren't going to stay under it, anyway!  Juli's got the baby protected!

William and his 'holes' that he likes to protect from the encroaching surf.

In a few years, he might make a reverse 'hole' like these teenaged Japanese boys did to their friend.  Love the nips!  :)

In the summer, the beach shacks get put up.  Most are alcohol, but the umbrella guys do just fine.  Across the street is a convenience store, so it is easy to get non-alcoholic drinks for a reasonable price.

There is some surf, but not great sets.  It is amazing what Japanese people can get up and surf on!

We were near the river where it comes into the ocean.  This became a favorite fishing spot.  This fish didn't make it to the fry pan...

These tiny fish might have been shirasu, a very small fish they eat here, and harvest nearby!  We didn't eat them, either!

It was a fun day with the 9 of us.  Yes, we put us all in one 8-passenger car.  Hey, at these parking prices, it was worth it!  :)