Small Matsuri In Shibuya (2005-09-25)
Although we missed the Matsuri in Omotesando, we didn't miss a Matsuri that Saturday. Fate wanted us to see one, and we got one.
When we walked to Shibuya (
) from Omotesando, we stumbled across a
group of Aomori University students and staff in costumes idling beside
a float near Shibuya Center Street. They were chatting and just
hanging around waiting for their parade to start.
I took a few pictures of them and KL and I continued on with our
window shopping. We didn't know when the parade was to start and
there was no point waiting around for it. Just after 5 o'clock in
the evening, we decided to leave the department store we were in and
have an early dinner. While we were walking on Shibuya Center
Street
heading toward our favorite restaurant, we heard this thunderous
drumming noise, Japanese flute playing and chanting. The Matsuri
by the university students had started and coming right in our
direction! The sound grew even louder as the parade people came
closer and before I knew it, I was smack bang in the middle of it!
The Omikoshi (portable shrine), which looked like an angry person in
this case, was
bopping up and down as it was hoisted on the shoulders of strong men
who led the parade. They were followed by dancers who were
pumping their fists and shaking their feet deliriously. Police
wearing flak jackets helped to open the way for the parade to march
through very busy Center Street. I took some pictures of the
whole thing and KL recorded
a little of the drummers banging on huge
drums. But be warned: those drums are loud!
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