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!
No comments:
Post a Comment