Gujo Bon Odori Matsuri

Just got back from a 3 day 'English World' summer camp up Mt. Norikura. There were 11 ALTs, 5 of us newly arrived last week, 65 elementary school kids, and a huge amount of energy and excitement (mostly on behalf of the students). No other parents or teachers were present. This is not something that could have happened back at home! It could have been a total disaster, but I'm happy to say that things went smoothly. We taught them names of bugs, how to make lemonade stands, and how to play capture the flag; we had a 'crazy olympics' tournament, a world passport game where they had to run around the Norikura compound and complete tasks for stamps, and at the end we introduced them to pinatas. The kids had a blast and the ALTs also had a great time (especially after they went to bed). The lack of supervision wasn't a problem at all. The kids woke up on time, bathed themselves and put themselves to bed, were always in the right places at the right times -- which was more than could be said for us ALTs -- and were darlings at meal time. They took reasonable portions and ate more salad and rice than french fries! What sort of kids do that??? Maybe the Japanese put something in the water... That being said, it was bloody exhausting. Having to be genki all the time really takes it out of you. However, I was also introduced to Japanese public baths. Yes, you get to get soapy with a room full of other naked women, but then you get to slip into a pool of blissfully hot water and soak the day away. (and afterwards pay a visit to the beer/chuhai vending machine down the hall).

I don't have any pictures, but I do have pictures of my visit last weekend to the Bon Matsuri at the town of Gujo Hachiman. Obon (or just Bon) is a holiday that celebrates the spirits of one's ancestors. People take time off from work and return to their home towns. Bon Odori is the dancing that takes place during the matsuri (festival); it is slow and repetative, and people take part in great numbers. Everyone comes out to dance, from the very young to the very old, and people wear their yukata (summer kimono) and wooden sandals. Last Sunday, several of us ALTs from Takayama met up with some ALTs from Gero and went to Gujo. The Gujo festival is famous because they celebrate for 31 nights, and for four nights in August the dancing goes on until dawn. We joined in and after a bit of practice and a lot of stumbling managed to catch on. You wouldn't think that slow, repetative dancing in large circles would be very interesting, but it becomes quite medetative. We had a great time, sampled some delicious festival food, and afterwards found a lovely little stream to cool our feet in. Gujo is a beautiful little town and I would love to go back one day.

The busy food vendor strip

The musicians were in the middle of four main streets and people formed enormous circles in each of the four streets

The musicians again

Dancers

More dancers

Festival food includes anything and everything deep fried, beer and roasted fish on a stick

And here's mine! It was quite salty and tasty, but they don't clean the fish they just shove a stick down it's throat and throw it over the coals. That means it is better to simply munch away and not look inside...

In addition to food there are the games and contests. And what's a matsuri without the perennial favourite "Hook an eel and then take it home in a platic bag" game. Fun times.

And finally, the perfect way to relax after a hard night of dancing.