Matsuri in Iidabashi

Japanese summer is typically not the best time to visit Japan, as the weather is quite heavy and humid. However, one great thing about the summer period in Japan are the Matsuris. A matsuri  is basically a local festival associated with a shrine (quick note here, temples in Japan are buddhist, shrines are Shintoist). Typically, in a matsuri, the kami (spirit) associated with a shrines is carried around the local neighborhood in a so called Mikoshi (a heavily ornamental box with a wooden frame which allows it to be carried around).

Now, typically, local businesses pay to participate in the matsuri, which means the businesses employees can dress up in traditional dress and carry around the Mikoshi. We were lucky enough that our language school (Cote Language Academy) was participating in the Iidabashi matsuri, me and Mathilde were very curious about the whole thing so decided to sign up.

So, basically, we dressed up in Happis (a robe like vest worn by the Mikoshi teams), and joined the fun. Basically, carrying the Mikoshi is great fun, but boy it's hard work, too! The thing weighs about 1000 kg (the one for women was lighter...), so carrying it around for 2 hours is definitely hard work! Actually being tall like me kind of makes it harded, as the weight tends to be on your shoulders, unless you crouch ;) (which I did, but that's not very comfortable either). But anyway, the atmosphere is great, and boy do you feel you deserve that beer they serve afterwards ;)

The whole thing lasted about 3 hours - of course we didn't carry the Mikoshi all the time (there were about 200-300 people participating altogether - and of course a particular company's Mikoshi crew will tend to carry the Mikoshi when the circuit approaches their particular company's office). The event was a great way to get to know some of the other students, and teachers, at the academy, too. (usually it's just me and Mathilde in our course, which is great in terms of learning Japanese, but not so great for socializing).

All in all, it was very much an unforgettable experience! (my shoulders certainly still remember the event!)