This past weekend we participated in our community, Honmoku Wada, summer festival. The festival started at 7:00pm Friday evening with dancing, food, and games in the park. Saturday morning there was a ceremony of taking out the "horses" to sea. Legend is, the community leaders take the handmade "horses" to the ocean to float out to sea. If none of the horses come back to shore then that means good luck. If any of them come back to shore...bad luck. The last time a horse came back to shore was in 1923 and, for you history buffs, that was the year of the "Great Konto Plain" earthquake. The Konto Plain is the plain that Tokyo is located on.
The picture above is of a "horse" that is going to go out to sea...lets hope we don't see that again, huh?!? Not looking too good since we have had 2 earthquakes in the past 3 days!
Starting a 1:00pm on Saturday, people in the community help carry a portable shrine, that had to weigh at least 400 pounds, throughout the streets of the area. Tradition and legend is that a god of sort would come out of the temple into the mini shrine and the shrine was carried to the homes of elderly people that could no longer travel to the temple to worship. LET ME PREFACE, that we did not take part in any religious ceremonies. Curtis was asked to help carry the shrine through the streets as part of the festival, but there was no worship involved. They marched with the shrine for 3 1/2 hours through the streets of the community as a way to keep a tradition, not worship. So, for 2 days (Saturday & Sunday) starting at 1:00 they did this for 3 1/2 hours. Curtis was HURTING!!!!! (click here to see him in action) The kids got involved also! They had a mini mini shrine on wheels for the kids to "help" pull. Avery did a great job! (Click here to play) The whole "parade" was lead by a moving cart that had drums on it that were played by kids. I was impressed that the kids could keep time as the cart was moving. (click here to play)
Not sure what this man's title is, but he seems to be an "officiant" at the temple behind our house. I thought he looked cool!
Avery is in her yukata ready for the evening's party in the park. She LOVES her yukata and she was READY to try some traditional Japanese dances.
Ok....so let me explain the next picture! The man in the picture, Kan, is one of the community leaders that seemed to really like us. He was the "DJ" for the night and loved the fact that we were American and seemed to be really involved in their festivities. He came up to me and asked me "can you sing?" and of course I told him "not really". Next question "do you know Staying Alive?" My response "of course"....what was I THINKING! Next thing I know, I hear the music and he is pulling me to the stage in the middle of the park!!!!! YES YES...you see right...me and Kan in our "Travolta Stance". I not only had to do this one time, not two times, but three times during the night!!! By the third time everyone was joining in.
Your eyes are not deceiving you....I am back on stage the next night performing my famous "Travolta" moves on stage. This time EVERYONE was participating and loving it!
This is Avery and a Japanese boy dancing along with us...too cute huh?!?!?
Last but certainly not least, I had to post these last two pictures because Curtis is making me. They have NOTHING to do with the festival. Last night the three of us went for a bike ride to a grocery store called Saty to get some essentials. We had parked under the huge trees that line the outside of the store. We were waiting on Avery to get her protective gear on when all of a sudden.....PLOP!!!!! Something hit my head and arm!!! Did you think CROWS!!!! You guessed right!!! A nasty crow decided to use my head as its personal toilet!!!!! After living here for almost a year, they choose now to orchestrate a personal attack on me! Needless to say...I went straight home to the shower, but not before getting some wonderful photos! Enjoy!
5 comments:
Deana!! What a trooper you are! That's hilarious that Curtis made you pose for pics while covered with poo HAHA! And getting up on stage 2 nights in a row, you should have video tapped that, I bet that was great to watch.
Curtis- Nice legs!
Deana, you wrote a very vivid blog. I could imagine you on that stage singing and dancing. That's a long way from hanging on to your mothers leg when strangers came around. Curtis has done a great job getting you to open up over the past 10+ years. Curtis did a wonderful job with the video of the train and train station activity. Even though it was crowded, it seemed very organized. But, needless to say, "THAT'S NOT SOMETHING I COULD DEAL WITH"!
Can't wait for you three to be back home. Be safe until then!!!!
Love ya!
DAD
Have I said wish we could be there again? That all looks like so much fun...and I agree with Amy - nice legs Curtis! Avery is absolutely adorable in her "garb". And, Deana, Phil can identify with you - just ask him about his Basic Training in San Antonio, Texas, in an area where he did not want to be, did not know where he was, and then to get pooped on!! Not sure if it was the same type bird....
It's hard to believe the year is almost over. We will be so glad to have all three of you home again. It will probably take y'all a couple of months to get back in the swing of being in the U.S.! Have fun and as Tony said - be careful and stay safe! Love you! Mom/Nana
Goodness, your time is almost over and yet y'all just keep on having so much fun - what memories you have. I wish there was a video of your Travolta moves Deana...hehehe! Thanx for taking us all to the festival with you...
Love U3!
I am ready to come back! The festival looked like so much fun. You guys are going to be bored to death when you get home. Curtis you are a trooper for carrying that thing for 7 hours - did you have bruises on your shoulders? Avery is experiencing life like 98% of children never get to do! Amazing...but I am ready for you guys to come home!
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