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Has anyone been to a festival?
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by night_link
on 2005-07-29 19:04:02
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| I wanted to know from a persons point of view what kinds of festivals are there in Japan and what are they like? I know if I asked what are they, I'd get something like "Look it up on a search engine" or something like that. I jsut want to know what its like. |
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Re: Has anyone been to a festival?
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Depends on the festival. I went to the Firework festival in October (Ibaraki Prefecture) I saw some festivals in Tokyo with people riding floats down the street wearing nothing but robes or loin cloths. On febuary 27th-ish there is the O-hime (or was it Oojou) festival where they have dolls and such. on newyears they goto temple (on the first) and eat very discusting foods, such as deap-fried minnows, and roe-mochi. They also give money to kids on newyears. On the 7th of july there is a fireworks/stargazing festival. If you have every played Harvest Moon, that has ALOT of the Japanese festivals in it. |
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Re: Has anyone been to a festival?
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The only festival I've ever been to is the Natsu Matsuri, or the Summer Festival. I don't think there's an exact date to it, but seems to be usually held in August/September period over at the Japanese schools here in Singapore. Basically you just wear yukatas, bring along a lil' summer fan thingy, and enjoy the food(yakitori, yakisoba, takoyaki, etc) and games(goldfish catching, ring throwing...). Kinda like a funfair actually. There's also some group folkdance thing called the bon-odori. Anyone is allowed to join in as long as you know how to do it. Seems simple enough, but I have crappy psycho-motor coordination, so I just skip that part... s(*.*;) If I'm not mistaken, in Japan, these are usually held at the Shintos shrine areas? With fireworks sometime later in the festival, I think. Well, if you watch anime, there should be quite a fair bit of them with summer festival scenarios. ^^ |
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Re: Has anyone been to a festival?
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This is not quite the festival you are looking for, but it is a festival. It's the Japanese Culture Festival at St. Louis Botannical Garden. It's held Labor Day weekend every year, and it's got awsome stuff. There are tons of vendors selling everything from candy, kimonos, recorded tv shows on vhs, to art, koi, and anime! There are food stands, and different martial art and dance demonstrations. They have flower arranging classes and contests, bonsai contests, and an anime screening. Oh yeah, there's also tea ceremonies in the garden's traditional teahouse! This year they are doing approved sumo demonstrations! I try to go ever year! My favorites are:
food demonstration....FREE SUSHI!
Where do those mallets come from anyways?
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Re: Has anyone been to a festival?
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| Well In Japan there are quite a few festivals...I've been to the Tanbata festival...which is the story of 2 lovers crossing the milky way ....you can get these paper fortunes, wish for luck etc |
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Re: Has anyone been to a festival?
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| I live near D.C. and they have the Sakura Matsuri (Cherry Blossom Festival) there during April. I hear it is very similar to the one in Japan. |
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Re: Has anyone been to a festival?
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Sakura Matsuri is the only one I remember. It is held during April but it's like a one hour drive on the other side of this island. (I live in Hawaii) ^o^ It was fun and worth it. And also we have many Bon Dances here. I must get a Yukata, though.
Hoyeah.
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Re: Has anyone been to a festival?
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before july i goback home to japan cause i love the tanabata festival which is in july 7. the best one is at Hiratsuka |