i stumbled on the festival for the Yasaka Shrine in my neighbourhood yesterday.
i saw it last year too, actually, but happened to have my camera with me this time. these danjiri make their way around the neighbourhood (or at least the immediate area around the shrine) and attract lots of attention.
the previous post is actually a very lengthy preface to an activity we did with the JHS 3rd years yesterday – my very last class with the loveliest bunch of students. they asked me a variety of questions using superlatives and got me thinking a little about some things i just wanna note down or share:
1. What food did you eat the most in Japan? – It has to be tuna mayo onigiri, perfect for a snack or when you’re in a rush. i prefer the ebi mayo (prawn) version but it’s not as common. Next will have to be kare raisu (Japanese curry rice) and omurice I think.
2. What was the most delicious food in Japan? – The students are actually only referring to Japanese food, which is hard because i like most Japanese food and what i choose to eat depends only on what i’m in the mood for. I’ve really enjoyed the food i had at previous school enkais (at a hotel near USJ and another at the Imperial), the meal that a Japanese teacher’s Kyoto-wife prepared for us, kani cream pasta and this amazing Italian restaurant near Momodani station on the JR loop line.
3. Which place did you visit the most in Japan? – It’s probably the Umeda Sky Building, which is also my favourite place in Osaka. For non-tourist attractions, it’s a fight between the Toho Cinema in Umeda, the izakaya Za-watami at Nodahanshin and another izakaya behind El Panchos. actually, El Panchos (Mexican restaurant) and the Dutch restaurant on Nakanoshima might be in the running too, although i havent been to either in the longest time.
4. Which was the most beautiful place in Japan? – I don’t know the answer to this, but i recall being really fascinated by the mist that formed in the valley below the highway while travelling back from Takayama. i’m only thinking about the places i’ve been to while on JET, otherwise i’m sure Hokkaido will make this list – i will soon find out if my first impressions are correct! *excited* I also think everywhere in autumn is gorgeous when the leaves change colour.
5. Where in Japan do you want to return to the most? – Since i’m going back to Hokkaido it’ll have to be Okinawa. i want to spend more time driving (i.e. being driven) along the coast and to visit Iriomote too. I think Yakushima is considered part of Kyushu, but i’d like to go there too. Okinawa food is amazing!
6. What was the most interesting/surprising thing about Japan? – The most interesting thing I think has to be the host boys along the Dotonbori bridge. As for most surprising, perhaps that people queue to get on the trains, or that women use Otohime** in the toilets. However, many of the female students don’t know what Otohime is (the boys definitely dont know cos male toilets arent equipped with them), which i find even more surprising.
and here are a few which i thought of:
7. What are some of the best places to visit? – I love Nara Park; now that I think of it, it’s most probably the place i’ve been to the most. Asuka in Nara Prefecture is great too, especially nearing autumn. I also especially recommend Taketomi island in Okinawa and Kamakura in spring. other nice places to visit would be Miyajima, Koya-san (wakayama), Arashiyama in Kyoto and Hida-no-Sato in Takayama.
8. What are some of the most overrated places/events in Japan? – oooh. Yoshino for sakura wins hands down; others include Dogo Onsen in Matsuyama (too crowded) and Matsushima Bay near Sendai (pretty but definitely not top 3 most scenic material). I’d include Harajuku too, though perhaps not for the first timer to Japan. As for events, Kyoto’s Daimonji is rubbish, and there’s this other fire festival in Nara (a side of the mountain is set alight) that i heard was a huge letdown too. i’m personally not a fan of festivals at all – too crowded, too hot and generally not all that enjoyable. Go once or twice and that’s enough!
9. What are the best things to do in Japan? – Go around the temples in autumn! it’s the most beautiful season in Japan, and temples often open till late for night illuminations. That said, go to all the illumination events there are: Kobe’s Illuminarie, Kyoto’s Higashimaya Hanatouro, Osaka’s Nakanoshima Christmas Light up, Nara-to-kae, etc. Try also to spend a night in a proper Japanese ryokan with a full kaiseki meal – you won’t regret the cost one bit. Sakura viewing is a must too, of course.
10. What will you miss the most about Japan? – The four seasons with their accompanying hype (eg crabs in winter, mango and pineapples in summer), seasonal Kit Kat, omurice, bukkake udon, delicious fried tofu, cheap and fresh sushi and widely available cocktails. For non-food related aspects (i’m making an effort here!) – buses and trains that’re usually on time, buses telling you what stop is coming up next and the convenience of combinis/vending machines. Maybe also the presence of strange/interesting people on the street.
What are some of your best ofs~?
*: i dont watch TV, but if I did, the show “The Best House, 1,2,3” would be top on my list of must-watch shows. each week, about 4 tv personalities present the Best (or most amazing, unbelievable, beautiful, etc) 3 things in a theme of their choice. Past themes include mosaics, transvestites, weight loss stories and inventions.
**: Otohime translates to ‘sound princess’. For some reason women in japan are uncomfortable having their toilet sounds overheard by other toilet users, and used to flush in order to cover those sounds. it was declared a waste of water and all toilets (except those in schools, train stations and Osaka City Hall) are now equipped with Otohime – you press a button (sometimes it’s automatic and hence really annoying) and a loud flushing sound will be played for about 25seconds.
there was this festival today along midosuji avenue, and unfortunately it wasnt quite what i expected it to be.. it wasnt much like any of the japanese festivals that i've been to, and it seems like the highlights were stands by every prefecture in japan showcasing their local products and tourism brochures, some performers on the side and a mini flea market/busker section. it was extremely crowded - and osakan aunties are super rude and push you like anything! - and we didnt get to check out the prefecture booths as it was simply too crowded.
here are some pictures though:
the balloons that were released into the air, signalling the start of the procession/parade
american-style cheerleaders doing their thing - it was rather bizarre to be seeing american-style stuff at a japanese festival. then again, chingay is somewhat like that i guess?
they closed off a normally busy road, and policemen (at least that's what i think they are - there're lots of uniformed pple in japan) were trying to get us to clear the area so that the members of the procession could pass
the cheerleaders led the procession
then came a band.. who were playing "stars and stripes", which made the americans whom i was with feel extremely weird.. haha.
then came the media pple, who ran in front so that they could turn backwards and catch a glimpse of.......
the mayor and celebrity twins (whom i've never seen, but that's what my friend told me). i met the mayor - the guy next to the one of the twins who's in orange - with the other ALTs from my batch not long after i came to osaka. he was formerly a newscaster, if i remember correctly.
there were also people from the queensland police playing bagpipes.. i have no idea why they're there, and why they're playing bagpipes and wearing kilts when they're from australia. then again, foreigners in singapore probably wonder why we have people from other countries participating in our chingay parade. which is a good question since i dont know the answer to that either!
apart from the procession, there were also some other performers, such as this band:
as well as a bevy of beautiful women clad in gorgeous kimonos.. they're past winners of kimono-wearing contests. i'm not quite sure whether the kimono or the person wearing it is the focus of the competition, but they're all rather pretty..
there were also some people doing performance "art", like this bunch of people who were having some "pick up your own trash" campaign..
it was all very weird with men in garbage bags
and even one posing as a dustbin..
and what they did was that some of the "uniformed" people passed audience and passers-by little scraps of paper which you feed to the garbage-bag men, who'll take the rubbish from you with tongs and dump that scrap into a bin behind..
(the girl above is one of the JETs.. a korean-american/american-korean)
there were also saner stuff like this 'graffiti' artist
and a display featuring miniature old houses
very exquisitely made..
i think being singaporean makes me far more skilled at moving through a crowd than the others.. i dont even have to push, and i made my way through the throng of people a lot faster then the rest.. heh.
