November 3, 2008

• 11/3/2008 Karatsu Kunchi

  Hey, folks, it's that time of year in Karatsu!  Get your fishy hats on!!

  

  It ain't the Macy's Parade, but it's almost as good.

  

  What's that everyone is pulling?

  

  It's a bird, it's a plane, it's Superturtle!!

  

  These floats are being pulled all through the town, so let's pick a good spot to watch the show!  Here comes the local shrine priest.

  

  First is the Akajishi Red Lion, hailing from 1819.  This has been going on a looooong time!  All of these floats are over 100 years old, and are designated as Important Cultural Properties.  A couple of them are repaired and repainted every year to keep them in top condition.

  

  

  These kiddos are at the front of the line to pull in the Aojishi Green Lion, from 1824.

  

  Enter Green Lion.

  

  Hang on, guys, it's a long way down.  They lead the cheers of "ENYA! ENYA!!"

  

  The band is below.  The hair of these lions is from Himalayan Yaks and is no longer so easily obtained.  The other floats throw around salt for purification, but as the hair will be damaged, the lion floats don't do the salt thing.

  

  Here comes that turtle again.  The fellow riding in the front is Urashima Taro, the Japanese Rip Van Winkel.

  

  Urashima Taro and his Band - 1841

   

  This Yoshitsune Minamoto helmet is from 1844.

  

  This animated Tai Sea Bream float from 1845 seems to be a favorite as it swims down the street.  All hands go up cheering "ENYA ENYA!!"

  

  Two men on either side rock the fish up and down.

  

  The Pheonix Boat from 1846

  

  The pheonix band

  

  Here is another float from 1846, a flying dragon!

  

  This one rocks, too.

  

  This isn't as easy as it looks.

  

  The band emerges and submerges as the float rocks.

  

  This Kinjishi Golden Lion also has yak hair.

  

  ENYA 1847 ENYA

  

  This is a helmet modeled after the historical figure Takeda Shingen - 1864

  

  Festival Feet

  

  This is from 1869 and is modeled after the helmet of Uesugi Kenshin.

  

  Here is another helmet from 1869.

  

  Maybe it makes a face like that because it has a headache.

  

  the band below

  

  The next float is a Tamatori Jishi - a lion riding on a ball from 1875.

  

  Flailing the batons and leading the Enya cheer!

  

  Hey, does this Shachi "killer whale" look dangerous to you?

  

  Another rocker from 1876.

  

  Last is the Shichihoumaru Treasure Ship - 1876

  

  This one looks scary, too!

  

  The fellow balancing on top rocks the roof right and left with his legs.

  

  The floats are all lined up and are put on display in a nearby schoolyard.  there are so many people that it is hard to get decent pictures, so I didn't try to fight the crowds.

  

  I remembered standing on the same gaurd rail to get the same picture last year.

  

  Hang on!!

  

  I wonder if the jaw of this lion moves.

  

  At a souvenir shop.  Aren't these just the cutest things?  Had hub not been there to stop me, one surely would have followed me home, but to what purpose?  They are ash trays, but I don't smoke.

  

  The festivities continue.  We had to go through this crowded street filled with vendors to get back to Karatsu Station.  I would to have liked to take some more pictures of the sales booths, but hub does not appreciate thronging masses, so I thought it best not to attempt it.  He was probably right.

  • 08:44
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