Gion Matsuri

"The taiko drumists"

Well, today was Oyama's Gion Matsuri. I wasn't too entirely sure what it was about, so I searched for it online. Apparently, there's a bigger one that is in Kyoto that lasts most of the month of July.

Here's what the wikipedia article said about the Kyoto festival:

"This festival originated as part of a purification ritual (goryo-e) to appease the gods thought to cause fire, floods and earthquakes. In 869, the people were suffering from plague and pestilence which was attributed to the rampaging deity Gozu Tennō (牛頭天王, Gozu Tennō?). Emperor Seiwa ordered that the people pray to the god of the Yasaka Shrine, Susanoo-no-mikoto"

Interesting that it seems a "former" emperor (Tennō in Japanese) would be causing havoc to the people. But, the word Tennō makes more sense with that is what the people call out that carry the portable shrines (mikoshi).

Anyway, I went and arrived. Hiro always likes to make the point that I need friends or a girlfriend or something because I am always going places by myself. And, that is usually true. I had NO idea where everyone else was at the time except for Keleih whom was at Shingo's funeral and Beth whom was performing dancing in the matsuri. I later met Satomi and her boyfriend, so we went around the matsuri looking at things at the festival.

The taiko drumists were awesome. I hope I get to see more of that at Oyama's next matsuri in two weeks from now. It's definitely something to stay in town for. You begin to realize how many people you've seen in the city participate in the festival. I probably would have but 1) I saw the sign up sheet once, and never saw it again and 2) I am somewhat borderline sick, so I don't think that would have helped me much. But, there were other gaijin in the matsuri along with the strong showing of Brazilian Japanese.

This week.....looks like to be boring. Nothing to really do or go any places. I confused the last entry and thought it was the last week in July, but it's not. I need to find something to starve off boredom....