6 posts tagged “砺波”
Video from the Yotaka Festival a while back. Best part of June in Tonami.
Toyama has a problem with people being attacked by bears. Now, my town specifically apparently has a problem with bears climbing buildings, making a hole in the wall, climbing into the attic, falling through the ceiling, and then escaping.
City officials on the hunt for honey-loving bear in Tonami
"Bears are not that uncommon, but I never thought it would come in twice. There's got to be a limit to liking honey," the 78-year-old said.
Residents are being asked to refrain from going outside.
While sitting in the office this afternoon, the guy from the bookstore, who makes several visits to the school each week, appeared. But instead of his normal green coat and khakis, he was dressed in a rather formal kimono. "Why, Bookstore Man!" one of the teachers exclaimed, "Whatever are you up to?"
And then there was a conversation I didn't pay too much attention to, beyond the fact that something was going on near his store today and tomorrow, and he was involved handing out information and generally helping out. I didn't think much more of it.
As I walked to the supermarket after work this evening, though, I noticed quite a crowd of people near the bookstore, and stilted Japanese, as spoken by someone trying to speak with a lower voice than they possessed, over a loud speaker. "Why, it's not really out of my way," I mused, "and it's a beautiful warm day... maah, let's go take a look!"
Turns out that this week is Children's Kabuki week in my city. It's an event with a very long history. On the 16th and 17th of April every year, children perform kabuki at a variety of outdoor stages in the centre of town (or rather, the same outdoor stage that just moves up and down the street between performances). Bookstore Man saw me and gave me a pamphlet. I realized that I taught some of the kids performing this year (and recalled that many of my current and former students had been involved at one point). It was very interesting, but I was a little dismayed that I hadn't known about it -- I only had my cell phone with me, and couldn't take good pictures. Took a skippy video though.
When the performance had finished, and the shamisen group took the stage (again, I knew most of the performers because I had taught or am currently teaching them), I skedaddled off to the store to finish what I'd set out to do when I was sidetracked. Now, don't get me wrong -- I like the sound of the shamisen. One shamisen. Several shamisens together, playing slightly out of sync, and all slightly out of tune with one another, piped through dodgy microphones into even dodgier speakers? I'll pass, I'm sorry.
Looking at my pamphlet again when I got home, I realized that there was another performance at 7pm that I could catch, and decided to do just that. There are performances tomorrow, as well, but it's supposed to rain, so they may be inside a not-well-lit local temple. I was told that I should definitely attend the final performance tomorrow if it's raining, so I can throw mochi at the actors...? Yeah I don't understand, I think I missed something important in that conversation.
I left really early (i mean, 40 minutes before the performance, despite the stage being, I kid you not, a 90 second walk from my apartment), so took some random pictures.
Tonami is famous for tulips. It's our gig. The Tulip Festival starts soon. I got my free tickets from the city earlier in the week. Maybe I'll actually go this year?!?!
Soon, the stage was moved to in front of the Shimakura Sweet Shop, and I claimed a stool for myself.
Anyway, it was a good time, and I definitely plan on checking it out again tomorrow.
... happens in early June. Light up floats are rammed into each other, and it's all good fun. Only 4 months to go!
