aide | Bon Odori Taikai (Reply)

I went to Osaka last weekend for a 5 day trip and it was amazing. We got back on Thursday morning but I haven't had a chance to sit down and write up a sufficient post about it. I spent all of Thursday uploading pictures and anotating things but I need to sit down and write a proper entry... tomorrow I'm busy, so maybe on Tuesday.

Until then, you can see my pictures and Justin's pictures.

Tonight shourai & company came over and we dressed up in yukata to go to my neighbourhood bon odori taikai! Obon is one of the main holidays in Japan; its in the middle of August and people pilgrimage back to their ancestral home and pray to the ancestors and Obon dances remember and appreciate their sacrifices. Yuka's mom taught me how to tie an obi properly so it was my first attempt to wear a yukata out in public. I think it went alright, actually. Nothing came undone, so that's a good thing. They came over around 3pm and we got dressed and left around 4. It was being held at Asahi Higashi Elementary school but the school yard was empty when we got there. It's an evening event so we went and sand karaoke for a few hours. There was this bunch of grannys going to karaoke and one of them felt us all up! She tapped all our boobs... which isn't really weird for me because Asian people don't have boobs and are therefore fascinated with them... but then she was like "Sorry, I'm really drunk" and then kind of tipped over. XD I love old people sometimes. It was hilarious.

After singing we went back to the school and enjoyed the taikai! It was so fun~ They set up a tiered stage in the middle of the field, on the top level were drummers and musicians, and in the middle were dancers. There were a few more drummers on the ground and tents around the field selling food and drink and some festival games as well. There was even a fireworks display. We saw one of the grannies from karaoke there and some other lady came up to us and complimented our yukata and told us to dance. We ate and drank a bit before joining in. It was so fun! It's a bit tricky at first but you just dance in a circle around the stage and follow the ladies on stage or the person next to/in front of you. And its all repetative anyway.

It was such a great experience. I remember going to a bon odori taikai in Singapore with Yoko and some friends but this was so much better. Kids, parents and grandparents just dancing together, it was a really communal feeling. I saw a girl from my school too but she was too shy to say hi to me. And I didn't say hi to her... maybe I should have. I took some video on my phone, I wonder if it will work. Please to be sharing photos/videos when you get a chance to upload!

Fireworks

Bon Odori