Whenever I mention going to the Ishioka Festival to friends in Tsukuba, they strongly warn me off with-its too dangerous-you had better be careful- etc...
As you might expect I pay no attention, as the 3-day festival is my favorite in all of Japan. Yes, there are fights and drunken brawls, and it certainly seems a tad precarious for all of the kids, not to mention the infants who have to be snapped up suddenly out of the paths of oncoming floats with its stampeding frenzy of revelers.
The festival is a reflection of of Japans volcanic and highly seismic nature. Throughout the year Ishioka is a sleepy backwater, rusting away as its glory days slip further into the past. The people are as reserved and polite as any Kanto Japanese and surely would not usually show much passion.
When the middle of September rolls around all the primeval energies erupt,especially on the second day of the 3-day bacchanalian bonanza.
Ive been there for the first 2 days and plan to be back tomorrow. Ive been doing the lion dance and am starting to get the hang of it, though pracing rythmically with a very heavy wooden shi-shi mask still leaves me out of breath. I have always tried to put the same kind of passion into gigs, that i find at this festival.
I think that TenGooz saxman michael Frei has also been inspired(though he certainly needs no inspiration!). Hopefully we can put up some more pics soon!
As you might expect I pay no attention, as the 3-day festival is my favorite in all of Japan. Yes, there are fights and drunken brawls, and it certainly seems a tad precarious for all of the kids, not to mention the infants who have to be snapped up suddenly out of the paths of oncoming floats with its stampeding frenzy of revelers.
The festival is a reflection of of Japans volcanic and highly seismic nature. Throughout the year Ishioka is a sleepy backwater, rusting away as its glory days slip further into the past. The people are as reserved and polite as any Kanto Japanese and surely would not usually show much passion.
When the middle of September rolls around all the primeval energies erupt,especially on the second day of the 3-day bacchanalian bonanza.
Ive been there for the first 2 days and plan to be back tomorrow. Ive been doing the lion dance and am starting to get the hang of it, though pracing rythmically with a very heavy wooden shi-shi mask still leaves me out of breath. I have always tried to put the same kind of passion into gigs, that i find at this festival.
I think that TenGooz saxman michael Frei has also been inspired(though he certainly needs no inspiration!). Hopefully we can put up some more pics soon!
Avi Landau
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