Festival Season

With August here, it means festival season in Tokyo (matsuri). They are everywhere and there is a spirit of festivity in the air. This weekend our neighborhood was having a huge festival that they only have every 3 years. I was a bit hesitant to try to see it because Miss M does not like the loud drums, but we ventured out this morning and had a good time taking in the sights, colors, smells, and noise. We even went back this evening and enjoyed a snow cone, kids' games, and more drums. Miss M said at dinner she really enjoyed the festival. It is rather amazing - the history behind them, the atmosphere, and all the people that come out for them. I guess in the US we have county fairs, but they do not even come close. We saw a drum today they have been using for 60 years. The shrine that was honored at our neighborhood festival was built in the 1600s. Our neighborhood is divided into sections and each section had a shrine that they carried to the main shrine. Adults carried one, high school students carried a smaller one, and elementary students carried even a smaller one. We enjoyed the experience of it and the snow cones!