Awaodori Festival (2004-08-30)
Matsuri (Festival) is plentiful in summer. There was one held two nights in a row in our neighborhood last Friday and Saturday. The matsuri is called Awaodori (Awa Dance), it is held every year and people in the parade do a special dance with their arms up while making small little steps on their traditional wooden sandals and split-toe shoes.
KL took some pictures of it on Friday night before he came
home. After we attended the Samba Carnival (more on that later)
in Asakusa (
) and had a lovely meal in Ginza (
) Saturday, we went back to
the matsuri so I could snap a few more pictures. When we got to
the shopping street close to our train station down which the matsuri
dancers paraded, there were already a lot of spectators. Many
food shop owners put out a stand outside their shops to sell typical
festival snacks such as grilled chicken and squid, stir-fried noodles
and barbecued sausages. Even McDonald's joined in the festivity
and its staff sold cookies and fries outside the restaurant.
Music was loud, dancers pounded on their drums, the aroma of grilled
food filled the air and many Japanese, including women and children in
yugata, watched the parade with a big smile on their faces.
It is the ultimate summer time fun in Japan.
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