The Numata Matsuri 2009

One of the “Big Three” events on my calendar has come and passed again for another year: The Numata Matsuri.

BIG THREE

Numata Matsuri

Kinder Olympics / When Was The Last Time?

Dance Recital Madness / Dance Recital Madness: Day 2

 

This was my 10th year of roaming the streets of Numata for 3 days in August … with a purpose.

It’s basically the exact same thing every year, but somehow that’s a good thing. It’s comfort food for the senses: like an old song, holiday decorations, or finding a few slices of yesterday’s pizza still in the fridge.

It ties the year together in a way nothing else can: not even a belt comes close! … or even a really strong belt.

I can’t explain it; it just is … like the word “is“.

 

Things I have learned over the years:

1. These 4 girls have not grown a centimetre since my first Numata Matsuri in 1998.

2. I can always find a place to pee within 50 meters of my current position.

3. I know which float represents my neighbourhood. It’s the one with the “funny wingy hat” thing.

4. I don’t let the “funny wingy hat” thing fool me. This is serious business.

5. Every year, the distance between where I am and where I want to go is populated with more people who want to talk with me … and slow down my progress.

If I’m with Mr. Badger  or Mr. Pettit, we don’t seem to move at all!

6. One toy will prove most popular and by the 3rd day of the festival every kid will have one. This year it was “The Frog“.

7. Beer has no affect on me at the Numata Matsuri.

8. The “Tengu Drummers” are amazing.

9. I take less photos and drink more beer each year … which has no affect on me.

10. The guy that cuts the ceremonial twine to open up Suga Shrine to the Dashi (floats) and Omikoshi (portable shrine things) is not a high Shinto Priest: he’s as official from the Suga Shrine neighbourhood that does a lot of planning for the Numata Matsuri. This year it was the guy that does the sound boards and mixing at the local auditorium. (I think he calls himself “Shigibom”)

11. If there are 2 nice women who want to talk to me, they will approach me at the same time from different directions … and I’ll always have a big mouthful of food in my mouth … and be standing by my girlfriend.

12. I’ll be standing under the big tree in the Suga Shrine grounds about 10 pm on August 5th next year seeing this … and holding my beer cup in my mouth while I do the tradition final clap with all the other lovers of the Numata Matsuri.

don don don … don don don … don don don … don
don don don … don don don … don don don … don
don don don… don don don … don don don … DON!

 

Maybe those girls in the great outfits (at the top of the post)  do grow up … but they probably never grow out of the Numata Matsuri.

I hope not; that would be a shame.

 

note: you are all welcome to come next year … but you are buying my beer.

 

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When Was The Last Time?

I went to another “Kindergarten Sports Day” on Saturday.
Call it an occupational hazard; call it what you will, but it was fun.

I was cheering, encouraging, and laughing at/with all the little kids doing their best.

And then I started thinking about how I would fair, if I had to do what they were doing.
Sure it looks easy and comical from the sidelines with a “been there done that” attitude;

but … what if I had to go out and do that now? Could I do it? 

It definitely wouldn’t be fun.

I’d most likely be seriously uncoordinated and rhythmically challenged; or sweaty, breathing hard, and very embarrassed; or both. Probably both.

So … when was the last time you …  

did a bit of drumming and marching? 

 carried around a keyboard and made some great music?

 wore pompoms on your wrists and did intricate dance routines?

saw a guy with a gun and were semi-happy?

 did a bit of climbing with a crowd watching?

did some somersaulting?

or did some competitive crawling like you meant it?

I guess performers, military personnel, and athletes do this kind of stuff regularly; but why do most people stop doing these things?

Is it just a natural part of growing up? does it cease to be fun at some point? or is it something else?

I don’t have any answers; I’m just wondering.

 

note: the man with the starter’s pistol is actually a buddhist monk.

 

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