MATSURI

週末　下町のお祭りの写真。

We had a fun at the matsuri of my home town this weekend. "matsuri"  is the Japanese word for traditional local Festival In Japan which is usually held early summer or early autumn. Originally it was done as an event for harvest thanksgiving and praying the happiness and good health at the shrines just like the other countries hold the festivals for the same purpose.

In the parade children pulles ropes tied to the floats called "Dashi" with beautiful decorations. 

Our grand kids Yuina & Ryura joined the parade.  

The parade takes long through the town and sometimes makes stop-and-go for taking a rest and giving kids a lot of candies and snacks from the sponsors. That's why every kid wants to join the parade. However, Yuina looks totally fed up with it.

Since it was a little bit hot outside Yuina took some water to refrain from heat stroke.

They wore the traditional Matsuri outfit. 

She got her hair and makeup done by her grandaunt.

During the festival there are many food and game stalls around the shrine and a lot of people have fun there. Yuina and Ryuta stopped by the goldfish scooping.

Looking into the water to see goldfish swimming Yuina told Ryuta how to catch it.

But for him the most interesting thing of the day was a firetruck at the fire department next to the shrine.

Kids love to try cheap sweets at the stalls. though mom doesn't want them to have those because of the hygiene.

Yuina, good girl ! She look after her li'l brother so well.

She tried to pick him up in her arms to helps him put small change into the contribustion box at the shrine.

The big gold "Mikoshi" has a place of honor in the shrine. Mikoshi is carried by young men on their sholder at the best part of the festival events.  I heard the one in the photo was a special Mikoshi and it is not showed up every time.  They carry it every for or five years just for the grand festival.

 Matsuri is special for kids all time.!