Our first Japanese festival

We went to Toyohama on Saturday night when we got off of work to go to the Chosas festival because we were told that it was huge and that it was really cool. It turns out that they were done by the time that we got there that night and so Kira made us Amercan hambugers and french fries. It was good! We then went to ice cream and played the Totally Insane Card Game for a while. It was fun. Then the next day we got up late heard drums outside. She ran out to the street where they were and that was our first look at the Chosas. They were huge and cool looking. Jessica (Kira's housemate) and I ran back inside to get our cameras. While we were gone Robert had a nice encounter with quite a few drunk guys. When we returned they were all over him and tried to speak the little English that they knew to all of us. Robert then told me this story of what happened to him while we were gone. They were all trying to shake his hand or even give him a handshake and one guy was asked him where he was from and Robert told him America, and then Oregon State. His guy then grabbed Robert's chest and said BIG. Robert wasn't quite sure what to do and then the Japanese guy reached down and grabbed his package and said big too. Robert quicky slaped the guys hand away and said "No man I don't hang on that side of the stree!" Japanese people have no concept of a personal bubble or personal boundries. Thankfully I have never been touched or grabbed! I hope it stays that way for a whole year!
We went to a Chosas festival yesterday and it was great! Chosas (I think that that might be how you spell it) are these giantic things that look like something that carry Gods in or royal people inside of a large carriage and you carry it on your shoulders. HOwever, there were more than 50 people carrying these things and they weighted over 2 tons! They all had REAL gold tassels on them and they were mostly red and gold. They all had ornate wood work and dragons and other very Japanesey looking decorations! They looked very cool but I would describe them as gaudy as well. They would usually have 2 or 3 people standing in this little box type thing on top that had no covering and then there would be like 2 or 3 people inside under that open box playing drums. Then there would be about 4 people who were standing on the wood poles that were used for carrying who were leading chants and directing those holding it what to do. I guess that we found out that they were on wheels as they more of drug them through town, but still those things are like 2 tons! Jessica found one of her former students from GEM school and she took us around and got us a great view of the thing as well as had us get pictures ON the Chosa. She told us alittle bit about what was going on and that made it so much cooler. She is the one who told us that it was all real gold. Also so told us a little about what it was for. Basically all of the neighborhoods in Toyohama have a Chosa and yesterday was the day that they all came together and celebrated for the rice harvest. So, they walk they the streets of the town and then meet at this big dirt area and there are 25 of them. We followed Akio around (Jessica's student) to her neighborhood and hung out there. All of the Chosas took turns going into the center of the area and then showing off what they could do. There was an old lady who passed out at one time. But what they would do is they would hoist it onto their shoulders and then hold it up with nothing but there hand fully extended. It was way cool!! They would rock it like a ship on the waves would rock and then maybe throw conffetti or balloons. It was awesome!!
It was a bit weird though because I felt like I was a this centry old festival and then I would see the guys there up on top on their cell phones. Stange. There was a childerns Chosa there as well and we took picture with them. One kid pointed to Robert large bicep like he was afraid to give him five because it was big, I got a kick out of that. Yeah, my husband still got great muscles!!! :)
When they were done preforming they all were putting paper lanterns on to the Chosas. It was so cool to see them lit up at night. Then they carried/polled/pushed them back to the main shrine in town and did something there. We didnt go to the shrine because all of us Amercicans/Canadians got to talking and then were pooped and had already seen them lit up that we decided we wanted to get something to eat at Kira's house so we did. We then saw them at about 10:00 PM take the Chosas from the shrine back to there keeping place, so we saw them one last time. It was so cool to see that festival!!!
The first few weeks that we were here in Japan we weren't able to do much because there wasn't much going on and we were busy teaching and training so it didn't really feel like we were in Japan. However as we started to go to the shrines and temples it is beginning to feel like we are in another country! HEE HEE!!!! :) Well I guess that that is it for now. Talk to you all later. Till next time.