Fukugawa Hachiman Festival

Since it's the time of year for this festival, I thought now would be a good time to share photos.

The festival is usually held around the 15th of August at Tomioka Hachimangu shrine, which is near Monzai-Nakacho station on the Tozai line. Every 3 years they hold a bigger version of the event, with over 120 large and small portable shrines, and over 50 giant palanquins. It's huge, crowded, and a lot of fun.

Another name for the Fukugawa Hachiman Festival is 水掛け祭り (water throwing festival), and the best part of the festival is that you can get soaked! When it's in the high 30s to low 40s with 80% humidity, a cold shower of water feels great!

A priest from the shrine blesses water, which is then sprayed over the teams carrying the massive portable shrines through the streets. Anyone watching from the sidelines tends to get soaked along with shrines.

高円寺阿波踊り

This past Saturday and Sunday was one of the biggest festivals of the year: Koenji's Awaodori. It's estimated that about 10,000 people participate in groups called 連 (ren) and over a million people come to watch. This year the event was held from 5 to 7 p.m. (although it ran over and ended closer to 8:10), but some years it's held in the middle of the afternoon.

Dancers preparing to start the parade

What is Awaodori?

The dance originated in Tokushima prefecture, which is in Shikoku in the far south of Japan. It's approximately 400 years old and one of the three biggest summer dances, along with Nishimonai Bon-odori (西馬音内盆踊り) from Akita prefecture and Gujou Hachiman Bon-odori (郡上八幡盆踊り) from Gifu prefecture. Bon-odori is a kind of festival dance done in summer. You often see it at various events in Japan. The Awa odori is somewhat unusual in its dance moves. It is believed to have derived from Noh theatre.

The groups of dancers are accompanied by taiko drums, shinobue flutes, shamisen, and bells. There are two types of dances: those for women and those for men. The women wear a type of dance kimono, which is very tight with distinctive hats. They dance on the tips of their geta sandals with their hands in the air. The men wear happi coats or short yukata (summer kimono), shorts, and a type of tabi sock with a thick sole. Their dance is crouched down and often performed with a fan, lantern, or uchiwa (the round fans that don't fold). Women may also perform the men's style of dance, but men do not dance the women's style.

Sounds a bit boring, but the groups don't just dance in place. The drums get rocking and the men's groups start going crazy. There was running, big jumps in the air, insane freestyle moves, etc. This event is totally worth seeing!

Here are some examples of the women and men's costumes:

Young girl wearing the traditional hat, called 鳥追笠 (torioigasa) or 編み笠 (amikasa), which is a type of sloped hat made from grass. It is sewn together and often has a lovely contrasting colour border and strap.

NY Food Fair

Okay, if you have time in the next two days, get yourselves down to Ikebukuro's Seibu (7th floor) asap and check our the NY Style Fair that's going on now! It finishes at 5 p.m. on Wednesday (Tuesday it's open until 9), so get over there quick!

I heard about this fair through a co-worker who's stationed at our Ikebukuro office. She has a predilection for red velvet cupcakes, so when she saw them at the fair, she sent me a text to tell me I'd better get my butt down there. I'm so glad I did!

I actually went twice. lol Once on Saturday night, where I just bought stuff I wanted to take home, and then again on Sunday to have lunch with GEG. Mochi will show you what you could be missing if you don't go.

Christmas Is On The Way!

Just a few pictures of illuminations around Tokyo for you today. No major ones, I'm afraid, but I'm planning to go shoot some pictures in the next two weeks of some bigger ones.

Sadly, some of the largest and most beautiful light displays in Tokyo will not be held this year. Both Takashimaya Times Square and Ebisu (both famous for Christmas lights) have decided not to do them. I didn't find out why, but I assume it's either because of the earthquake, power saving or money issues. Too bad. Those were two I always look forward to.

Times Square may be out of the running, lights wise, but the Southern Terrace still has some lights on display. I shot this one the other day.

The theme seems to be Tanabata and...penguins. Perfect fit. Um, yes. There's also this lighted up archway near Krispy Kreme where you and your significant other can embarass yourselves in front of strangers by holding hands under the arch and touching these two sensors (one on each side of the couple). If you're meant to be together and get married, it starts to glow white or pink and you hear wedding bells. If you aren't, well a red light shines and you hear "wahh wahh wahhhhhh" music. Romantic, innit?

2011 Tokyo Ramen Show

It was a gray, rainy, miserable day, but people still lined up around the block to get into the Tokyo Ramen Show. The ramen otaku were out in full force with their impressive cameras, polished ramen spoons hanging from a chain around their necks, their "No Ramen, No Life" t-shirts straining over their large bellies... It was a sight to move the soul and bring one to tears.

Behold the hordes of ramen faithful:

Prepare to burst!

Yours truly is heading on down to the 2011 Tokyo Ramen Show! I don't think I've ever documented my love of ramen on the blog before, so now you get to hear about it in detail. I'll be going this weekend and I've already got a list of ramen I can't wait to try!

1) 潤×東横×なおじ～新潟麺魂伝承会～
I read over at Ramen Adventures that the ginger is quite strong in this one, but that's fine because I LOVE ginger. Vay, vay excited.

2) 次郎長 × 大心 × えん楽
I'm a fan of shio ramen. My first love will always be miso, but shio comes in second place. A traditional looking shio ramen is just what I'm craving in shoyu-overload Tokyo.

3) 麺屋こうじグループ
I'm curious about all the toppings and the chicken stock base. Not too impressed that the toppings are sold separately, because I believe those wontons will be pricey.

4) 秋田成ト会
A lot of talk about using 100% special ingredients only. Wondering if those fancy ingredients taste any different from those of the three ramen places on my street. Yes, three ramen shops on my street. I do indeed live in paradise. They do fresh, handmade gyoza, too. I like to twist the knife a little. =P

5) 五福星
If it's good enough for ANA first class, it's good enough for me! And I support a Tohoku ramen shop! I'd support the "Fukushima Syndicate" ramen shops as well, if their entry looked better.

6) 鳥取牛骨ラーメン応麺団
I've never had ramen made from beef bones rather than pork. Plus any extra コラーゲン to make my skin look younger would be an added bonus.

We'll see if my eyes are bigger than my stomach! Going with friends ensures that between us we can sample pretty much all of them.

The full list of collaborations for this year is available on the Tokyo Ramen Show's website here. Japanese only, but you can see the pictures of all the ramen. Some look a little radioactive...no cruel jokes at Tohoku's expense intended.

Will be posting pictures and reviews next Monday!