Here
are a few scenes of traditional summer fun. In plain words that means these time-honored
Japanese cultural activities have become July rituals for the Rising Family™. And
they are fun for all of us.
(Ed. note:
there’s a little something just for me at the end, a time capsule of sorts…)
At
Marina’s kindergarden, every year they hold the summer festival for the kids
and parents amid the sweltering July humidity. The students put on a cute show
of quasi-Obon dancing on a stage pulsing with the bom-bom taiko drums; these toddlers to six-year-olds gamely try to contort their
bodies properly to the traditional summer songs. Mostly it’s for parents like me
to capture it on video for the ages. They also hoist the omikoshi (portable Shinto shrine) going around the school joyously squeaking
“washoi”—which nobody really knows what it means, but it’s a good thing!
Next
was the neighborhood Obon summer festival, always a huge hit with our kids and
the neighborhood. The community association astutely plans it before the actual
Obon holidays in mid-August because so many people from Tokyo and Yokohama are
from other parts of Japan, and will probably go home at that time. So it’s well
attended in July, and I think a charming public event for people of all ages.
Elena
was quite excited. All the students at her school make the lantern shades for
the lights that criss-cross the festival grounds, which is held at the biggest
local public park. She proudly showed us hers. Also, she is old enough to want
hang with her friends. Here she is with her best friend, H.F.
Here
is our mini Annie Oakley, M., knocking down two of three dixie cups thanks to
her sharpshooting skills.
Full
moon…
…and
dancing groups of older folks who really know how to do the Obon dances
properly.
Finally,
this is just for me. The 2016 Blue Jays are in first place for the first time
since April.
Of course I am pulling for them. I have no idea how the season
will turn out, but yeah I am hoping they will go to the fall classic. It’s a
joy to watch and follow the team, even from half the world away.
So I am just
posting this to show a righteous belief that..they…can..go...all…the..way.
Go
Jays!