图文英文版：http://tinyurl.com/p64a6p4
We returned our rental car this morning. The gas station we went
to had a brilliant way of saving space in a crowded city.
The gas tanks were *above us*!
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9014.jpg
The staff was amused when I explained to him that this does not
happen in the US.
We walked to 生国魂神社 (Ikutama Jinja) which is beginning its 2-day
summer festival today. Called いくたま 夏祭り (Ikutama natsu matsuri),
it is one of the three major festivals in Osaka. Participants of
the festival include many local school kids and volunteers, and
the event is highly enjoyed by locals, as it will become apparent
later in the evening.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9022.jpg
During the morning, things were still in preparation and the shrine
was relatively quiet. But outside you could already see tons of
food and game stands setting up.
We passed by kids from the nearby Ikutama Kindergarten. They're a
cute bunch! >///<
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9025.jpg
We briefly left Ikutama to go to Osaka's equivalent of 秋叶原 (Akihabara).
Here it is the main strip of 日本桥 (Nipponbashi) that has all the
video games, manga/anime, and electronics.
A PS Vita here seems to be cheaper. I got a brand new one (Wifi-only)
for 19800 Yen (~198 USD). On Amazon it's 247 USD right now. I also
got some second-handed PS Vita games. This place is a second-hand
game heaven!
Of course, a visit to the manga store is inevitable. I'm more of an
anime than manga fan these days though, probably because I like
listening to seiyuus >///<
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9033.jpg
Around 5PM, the festivities return to the shrine.
First are the kid's taiko (子供太鼓）:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9043.jpg
They were first carried on trucks (as they have toured around the city
earlier in the day), then, as they approach the shrine, the taiko cart
is pushed by men.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9061.jpg
The procession is succeeded by other returning marches.
Here is the kid's lion dance (狮子舞/Shishimai):
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9145.jpg
The dancing lions are accompanied by fan wielding dancers:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9151.jpg
In the center stage, there is constant drumming of the
makura taiko (枕太鼓):
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9106.jpg
So far, I have been trying to write this blog using as few pictures
as possible. Yet today the only the way to convey the atmosphere
is by showing what the locals look like on this day.
Little kids were dressed up in bright colored kimonos and yukatas:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9049.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9078.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9087.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9120.jpg
While participants of the festival are clad in bright colored uniforms:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9080.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9102.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9147.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9129.jpg
Around 6PM, the place was bustling with activity.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9178.jpg
This only got more so as people got off school and work and are now at
the festival with their friends and family:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9184.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9190.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9191.jpg
The highlight of the evening is 枕太鼓お练り (makura taiko oneri).
The taiko is fixed to the cart with three drummers *standing* on either
side. As such, people can push and pull the cart around while the
drummers continue to play the taiko.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9227.jpg
At first the men only pulled the cart around the shrine. But then they
started to *attack* the cart! They jump on one end to force it to tilt,
then violently pull it down from the other end like a see saw.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9247.jpg
Yet the drumming continued as if they had never left the center stage.
In a few instances, the men spun it around and around:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9256.jpg
Again the drumming remains constant.
Now the men topple the cart and it falls to the ground! The drummers
hold on to the rope behind their standing seat while drumming with
their other hand. They never missed a beat and continued to chant
at the top of their lungs.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9252.jpg
Finally, after what seemed like a lot of cart torture, the taiko
returns to the center stage. Now they can drum some more without
falling on top of each other :)
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9276.jpg
A lot of the drummers look really young. Some of the local folks
behind me were saying that they were high school students.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9278.jpg
This was my first time experiencing a summer shrine festival, and it
was definitely an eye opener. I loved that a lot of kids and young
folks performed. It just showed how the locals were contributing
to keeping a local tradition. And then there's all that delicious
food outside that I stuffed myself with!
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9301.jpg