Matsuri!
Yesterday, Sachi and I took a few hours off to walk down to the local Matsuri. These happen pretty often in Japan, sometimes sponsored by the city, but usually taking place at a neighborhood shrine. This one was at Tanashi Jinja:
There was the central shrine area, where people came to pray:
Quite a few young parents came to bless their newborn children:
There was even what looked to be a Sumo ring around the side, though I think it was used more for traditional music and dancing, which we missed out on:
These are “Ema,” wooden tokens marking the prayers of shrine-goers:
Now, on one side of the matsuri, there was the traditional…
…And on the other side, just as traditional… and for many, the real reason to go:
Vendor stalls!!
Right in the gate, Sachi found some dried plums and tomatoes she couldn’t resist–and you can tell from the vendor’s face that he knows he’s got a sale.
Samples of grilled mushroom and garlic, anyone?
And what says “traditional Japanese festival” better than candied apples? Okay, maybe not–but I have been seeing these more and more.
With the tree-lined setting, it was actually quite nice, kind of a faux-touristy taste of an Edo Japan market street.
Potatoes on sale, with vats of butter at your disposal–help yourself! And add some more salt if you feel like it.
Step right up, three darts for three dollars, hit the target and get some Lilo and Stitch crap!
We’re having fun!
And who wouldn’t have fun, what with this traditional–and now, it is traditional in Japan–treat of candy-coated bananas:
Also with sprinkles!
Fried chicken in a cup…
…and pork (theoretically) on a stick! Sachi lives for the Frankfurters.
Of course, no matsuri would be complete without Takoyaki, grilled octopus in a veggie batter.
These are also common, Ooban-yaki cakes–bean paste and custard grilled fresh:
Too much fun for some…
Here’s another matsuri staple: Kingyo sukui, fishing for Goldfish. You always know there’s a local festival when you see a family coming home, the parents guarding the packaged cotton candy while the kids grasp plastic baggies with their new pets.
Sachi just loves the Takuan tsukemono, yellow pickled radish. I can’t stand the smell myself, but I have cinnamon incense for that purpose.
After the chicken and the franks, we got some pretty good yakitori, including a stick of buta bara (pork ribs), seen here in after-and-before stages.
And, we call it a day.
Looks great! My favorite matsuri is in ikebukuro/kishibojin oct 15-17
十月の上旬 . . . best time in Japan, along with about 2 weeks in April that the weather is identical to N California.
Why is Japan so much more fun that California?
My wife and I went to the Obon Festival here in the Bay Area this past August. Kind of a dud in comparison.
It’s just not fair…
–kensensei