Danjiri Matsuri - the end of the vacation

It's been a while since the last entry, I will try to increase the frequency of new posts.

During my last trip to Japan one day before returning back home I visited Kishiwada going to the Castle and the Danjiri Matsuri. It was a little tricky to find the festival grounds, but just because I took the wrong railway, instead of using the JR I used the Nankai Railway ending up quite far from the matsuri. I just visited a shrine nearby the Kishiwada station before starting off to the JR station area passing the castle before arriving at the Danjiri Matsuri.

The castle's structure shares a few similarities with the Osaka castle like the golden ornaments of the frame right under the roof. I already went there in spring at the Hanami high season seeing all the cherry trees blossoming.

In the Danjiri Matsuri wooden carts called Danjiri are pulled around the whole town, it looks very dangerous when they turn, especially the guys on top jump and motivate the audiance like crazy almost falling off.

The atmosphere is really awesome, hearing the taiko drums and flutes, you can actually feel the energy. A few times I have already been able to participate in some of the festivals, but sadly not this time, but there will always be the next festival and so far the next chance to be part of it.

Here are the impressions, enjoy!

Sanja Matsuri - Picture of the Day #8

In May on the 3rd FR-SU at the Asakusa Jinja in Tokyo you can enjoy the Sanja Matsuri. The Asakusa Jinja is directly next to the Buddhist Senso-Ji Temple. Today's Picture of the Day has been taken at the Evening of the first day.

Here are further Pictures of the Day and INSTAGRAM

Enjoy:

Japan-Sunday: Matsuri

Hello again!

From now on I'll present something typically Japanese to you on every Japan-Sunday, let's start with Japan's traditional festivals: MATSURIs

There are several matsuris during the year, also many differnt kinds. Some of them are unique for the region they are held in, e.g. the Gion Matsuri of Kyoto in July, others are of the same kind and more regional. Mostly they are held to pray for things such as good harvest, luck and other purposes and for sure these festivals are done to please the Kami.

Almost every festival starts at a shrine with a certain ceremony to honor the Kami (Shinto God). After that normally a second "ceremony" starts, depending on the matsuri, carrying a Mikoshi (portable shrine with a Kami in it) is very often a part of it. Other parts can be Yabusame (horseback archery), during this part arrows are hallowed and then used in this archery to honor the Kami.

These festivals are events of the region / commune and very often Sake and beer is consumed to celebrate and also to honor the God, also music (e.g. on Taiko drums) or dances are common.

Even for me as Gaijin / Gaikokujin (Non-Japanese) it was possible to be part of one Matsuri in Nakano. To do so someone lent me his tradional festival robe and bandana and "packed" me. After being prepared I could join in carrying the Mikoshi around the Nakano station. I don't know how easy it is to be part of it in general, but I will find out, I promise.

That's all for Matsuris overall, sure the best way to understand a Japanese festival is to see or to be involved in a matsuri by yourself, but I hope I could help you to understand Japanese festivals a bit better.

See you again - Bye!!

Expect the unexpected... and join in!

Today we went to Nakano for Nakano Broadway, after that Shinjuku was planned, at the beginning we wanted to go to Shinjuku first, great we didn't.

We bought a 1-Day-Metro-Ticket for 710Yen.

We used the Hanzomon Line until Kudanshita and from there we went on by the Tozai Subway Line to get to Nakano to see the Nakano Broadway, where many hobby and figure shops are located, e.g. Mandarake, there's one in Akiba and Shibuya, too.

When we entered the passage before the broadway, I noticed, that I forgot my SD-card in my laptop back in the hotel..., so I bought one directly in the first shop.

After a few meters we noticed a crowd of people and a portable shrine - MATSURI - they were preparing for a matsuri, it's a festival where very often portable shrines are carried through the area for the whole day - the shrine symbolizes a God / Kami. There are different reasons for this festivals, luck, a good harvest and others things.

The group we saw was preparing to start at 12:15, I asked some of them to explain what was going on there, I also asked 3 kids, who didn't know any english, I felt bad about asking them. One man that I asked was screaming around, who can talk english to me.



After going on, we reached the Nakano Broadway mall and saw and heard one already carried shrine, they matsuri had already started. When they made a short stop at the center and I made some pictured, one guy came over to me, told me a bit about the matsuri and so on, they also gave us beer, it was a great feeling, like talking to an old friend. He then introduced me a French girl, who also participated in the Matsuri. When I asked her how easy it is to be part of the matsuri, carriing the shrine, and everything else, they asked me, if I wanted to be part of it and join in, I DID! They lended me one of their cloths so I could join in.

The shrine is around 600kg and carried by 12 and more people, so it was my time to show my guts, when their break was over - I was part of the matsuri, we carried the shrine around the passage up to the station and into the passage again - pretty hard work but funny, I enjoyed the team spririt and adrenalin that was in the air. In the middle of the way, they gave a break, but got me again into the front part until I was in the first row, shocking but awesome.

When they stopped they gave me a miso soup and an onigiri and Ocha tea. It felt so great to be part of it. We've been talking a bit, the French girl told me, that she was doing an internship and working in a bar - I guess Royal Bar or so, we will get there within the next days. They also gave the headband as a present of the matsuri. Later some taiko drums played and all were in a good mood. An elderly lady asked me, if I took part, too and I was proud to say yes, she was happy about so as I.

After giving back the cloths We went to our planned target of the day, the Nakano broadway. Many small shops with everything hobby, figures, manga, anime, old film posters (we saw an old German Monster movie Poster), toys, games and many other things. After a while my cameras battery pack was empty - making all the photos and videos was exhausting for my cam. As we had a 1-day-ticket, we went back to the hotel to get the other battery pack and went to Shinjuku afterwards.

There we went to the Metropolitan Government Office by passing Shinjukus underground plaza.
Too bad that it was Sunday, so we were unable to use the observatory. We went to the hilton hotel, made some pictures and went back to the station, we saw some street artists there, also a magician.

After reaching the East part of Shinjuku we visited a Book Off - bought Dragon Quest Monster 2(?) for 3DS - and had diner afterwards. We enjoyed Udon - Wheat noodles. I also asked, weather the restaurant workers can recommend a bar, which offers nomihodai (all-you-can-drink) - they didn't have a favorite, but said, that in the area of Kabukicho some bars offer nomihodai.

After walking around we finally headed back to the hotel.

So, they second is over and as it is 9:58 AM we will head to Ikebukuro now.

Trophies earned:

Eat Udon
Discover LOVE - the sign next to the Hilton hotel
Eat Onigiri

Bonus: Find and join in a Matsuri