May 8, 2007

• Kurayami Matsuri

  We went to see the Kurayami Matsuri (Black Night Festival) in Fuchu last Saturday night.  If you want to know more about this festival, check this link.  We went a bit early because we expected crowds, and crowds there were. 

  

  We are now standing in front of the Okunitama Shrine in Fuchu, and I can't see much for all the peeps.  I am holding my camera over my head and taking pictures hoping for the best.  Lots of folks in parade gear are going into the shrine.  Hub and I decide to move to a place farther down the parade route where we might be able to see more.

  

  

  Here are some fellows dancing in a circle.  It is entirely possible that they have "fortified" themselves a tad.

  

  We have taken up a position down the street to the right of the shrine entrance and have a fairly decent view of things.  Another crowd has gathered here, perhaps awaiting their turn to go into the shrine for what I am not entirely sure.

  

   

  The people upstairs have a good view!

  Now this crowd heads into the shrine! 

   

  

  What are these guys doing?  Fishing in a deep ocean from a small boat?  Bungee jumping with short cords?  Looking for a contact lens?  Waiting for Godot?

  

  We have been standing around for about an hour waiting for things to begin, and so have the rest of these folks.  Do these little ones have good seats or what?

  

  Here is the marching band, but I couldn't get a good shot from the front.

  

  Here comes the parade!  We will have four drums going by, from large to small.  These drums are carved out of the trunk of a single tree, and the one above is rumored to be the biggest of its kind in the world.  I guess they are supposed to scare all of the bad vibes out of the neighborhood, according to Mike.

   

  Here is drum #2

  

  Drums #1 and #2.  The fellows on top are tied on with safety ropes at their backs, especially the ones with the lanterns.  They let the lanterns down in front of the drum head before the percussionist on the ground does his thing. You can see this in the video below.

  

  Drum #3

  

  Cute little drum #4

  

  We have been standing around for two hours, and the first omikoshi of who knows how many comes along the route.  This is supposed to be a portable shrine in which a local god gets taken for a ride. A smart alec lady is trying to forcibly wedge her way through us sidewalk sardines to a front position for herself and her two kids.  I am unable to stand up straight and ask that the pushing cease, but the woman claims that she is being pushed from behind.  Funny, there seems to be a space behind you, lady...   She manipulatively asks her kids in a loud, obnoxious voice, "Can you see Daddy?!" when Daddy is actually nowhere in sight.

  Two hours of standing for a snail paced parade was enough to satisfy us.  To quote Herr Compukermann, "I had enough."  We wedged our way back through the sardines and away.  Maybe the kids got to see Daddy, but does mom realize that she has just taught them that it is all right to lie and shove others aside?

  It was interesting to see this once, but if I go again I will go earlier so I can stand longer in a place closer to the slow paced action.  Here are a couple of videos, one of the largest drum and the omikoshi.  These are a little dark, but hey, it was dark.  The still pictures could be Photoshopped into visibility, but I dunno how to edit video.

  • 09:53
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