So it all started when I got the dates for an English camp mixed up. I thought the camp was today, the 27th. So I made a hair appointment in the same city so I could go right after the camp was over. WHELP, turns out I was a few weeks off on the date. Which isn't so bad, except for the fact that the camp is in Arao, which is an hour away.
Okay guys, this is going to be a boring post about my day today, you've been warned.
So it all started when I got the dates for an English camp mixed up. I thought the camp was today, the 27th. So I made a hair appointment in the same city so I could go right after the camp was over. WHELP, turns out I was a few weeks off on the date. Which isn't so bad, except for the fact that the camp is in Arao, which is an hour away.
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NOTE: I know this post does not have the correct formatting when viewed on mobile devices. I'll try to keep the layout simple in the future so it displays well both on web and on mobile.
If you go into any Asian grocery store in America and find the candy isle, you will often find some really interesting things. Specifically, some really unique flavors of potato chips. Well, of course in Japan they have a lot more interesting flavors. So, I went to my local drug store and had a grand ol' time documenting the various kinds of potato chips I could find. Every year on August 15th and 16th is the Yamaga Lantern Festival, or Yamaga Toro Matsuri (山鹿吐露祭). The origin of the festival comes from an ancient story in Yamaga when the legendary Emperor Keiko (71 to 130 CE) became lost in the middle of a fog. The villagers of Yamaga led the Emperor and his followers out of the forest by holding pine torches.
The highlight of the festival is the thousand lantern dance. Hundreds of women in yukata wear lanterns on their heads and dance in a circle. Before the festival, large paper models of famous Japanese buildings are displayed around the town. And at the end of the festival, both the paper lanterns and models are presented to Omiya Shrine. Throughout the event, you can see many performers dancing to Yoheho-bush, a traditional song from Yamaga. There is also a fireworks display, an impressive number of food and game booths, and various other attractions. So, on to the pictures! Paper Models For the festival, they spread out the paper models of buildings throughout Yamaga. And I really do mean throughout Yamaga. To go from the furthest two points is about an hour walking. And they had a contest where you had to get stamps at the different stops. If you got a certain number of stamps, you were entered to win a prize. Of course, I entered myself and got 21 out of 30 stamps. It took many hours to get them! So here are some pictures of some of those paper models. Before applying for the JET program, I had never heard of the rural town in Kyushu. And I'm sure none of you have either. Coming from living in Boston for six years, I was in for a big shock. But before we get into Yamaga, let's talk a little about Japanese geography. Islands Japan has four main islands: Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu.
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AuthorAra is a kimono enthusiast and student of Japanese culture and history. Currently they're working as an English ALT in Yamaga City, Japan. Follow along for a window into daily life in a small rural town in Kyushu. Archives
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