2015年10月26日
Island life
I spent some time out on Oshima island a while back. It was absolutely gorgeous - like a dream.
There were so many tiny towns and villages clinging to the cliffs around the island. Most of them had to be fishing or aquaculture villages. I also visited the famous shrine there which houses 75% of Japan's national military treasures. This included lots of armor and bows, and of course swords. Many of the items there wer significantly older than America, and some even predated the European discovery of the continent of North America!
It was an interesting day.
There were so many tiny towns and villages clinging to the cliffs around the island. Most of them had to be fishing or aquaculture villages. I also visited the famous shrine there which houses 75% of Japan's national military treasures. This included lots of armor and bows, and of course swords. Many of the items there wer significantly older than America, and some even predated the European discovery of the continent of North America!
It was an interesting day.
2015年10月26日
Shikokuchūō Matsuri!
Hello, all!
This Friday I got a (very brief) chance to check out the festival in Shikokuchūō. It was fantastic! I didn't have much time that day, but I saw all the taikodai and mikoshi leaving Mishima Shrine.
Not only that, I was most honored to be invited to help carry my neighborhood's, Mishima-Miyagawa's, mikoshi! It was very sudden: I found someone I knew at the festival—he asked me if I wanted to help carry a mikoshi—I said, "Yes! Of course!"—someone kindly lent me a happi—and off we went, that very second. I was giddy with delight.
Unfortunately, with no practice, I had no idea how to carry the mikoshi properly. I stepped on people's feet, couldn't find a good spot, and didn't know how much force to use or where to apply it. Other people kept on switching spots around me and I wound up in a very awkward carrying position. "These gaijin have no power!" one of my teammates scoffed at me. I don't think it was a matter of strength, though—just my total festal incompetence.
On the other hand, the experience itself was great! I'd love to try it again with proper practice. Apart from the angry man in my team, everyone felt proud of carrying the mikoshi without dropping it, and I was happy to do something with my neighbors. There were smiles all around! I even decided to look stupid enough to wear my GoPro
Click on the images to download full-size versions!
and I got a great video of the whole experience! I'll share it when it's finished uploading to YouTube in... um... "126 hours 42 minutes."
I hope that you all enjoy your local festivals, too!
—Matthew
This Friday I got a (very brief) chance to check out the festival in Shikokuchūō. It was fantastic! I didn't have much time that day, but I saw all the taikodai and mikoshi leaving Mishima Shrine.
Not only that, I was most honored to be invited to help carry my neighborhood's, Mishima-Miyagawa's, mikoshi! It was very sudden: I found someone I knew at the festival—he asked me if I wanted to help carry a mikoshi—I said, "Yes! Of course!"—someone kindly lent me a happi—and off we went, that very second. I was giddy with delight.
Unfortunately, with no practice, I had no idea how to carry the mikoshi properly. I stepped on people's feet, couldn't find a good spot, and didn't know how much force to use or where to apply it. Other people kept on switching spots around me and I wound up in a very awkward carrying position. "These gaijin have no power!" one of my teammates scoffed at me. I don't think it was a matter of strength, though—just my total festal incompetence.
On the other hand, the experience itself was great! I'd love to try it again with proper practice. Apart from the angry man in my team, everyone felt proud of carrying the mikoshi without dropping it, and I was happy to do something with my neighbors. There were smiles all around! I even decided to look stupid enough to wear my GoPro
Click on the images to download full-size versions!
and I got a great video of the whole experience! I'll share it when it's finished uploading to YouTube in... um... "126 hours 42 minutes."
I hope that you all enjoy your local festivals, too!
—Matthew
