Hola. It’s the morning of my second last day of college in Japan. Today we’ll be watching a Studio Ghibli film in one class and then giving speeches in the other. Mine is predictably about Rock action. It’s my last vaguely important thing to do, since tomorrow’s classes look like being fairly slack affairs. Then, Monday is our graduation ceremony, where I’ll have to mumble a few words into a mic. We had our final tests last week, so it was nice to get those out of the way. As a result, last week contained few adventures. I did play a gig in town with Rune (youtube) and Kujira (youtube), which was fun. Rune presented me with a fake wedding cake onstage, since it was my last proper time playing with them.

Also, last week there was rain every single day, which was fairly restricting. We went out to see Moke Moke on Saturday night despite the rain and they were great. Free gig, all performers and about half of the audience were wearing yukatas (light kimono things) what with it being Gion Matsuri week. Then off to an okinomiyaki (delicious fried omelettey thing) place for food and boozes until about 3am for catching up with old pals. Before the gig we went to town to get the last few bits for our own yukatas. Giita’s pal Asuka came over on Monday and helped Giita get herself ready before we went into town yukata’d up to meet her friends. I found it incredibly embarrassing, but there were a fair few people about wearing them and we had to give it one go. So here’s the evidence…

Asuka reckoned that my yukata and seta shoes looked a little mobster-ish (although it really needed a white belt) and she thought the same of her pal Rika, so we took a photo trying to look tough. She does it better than me though.

Then we wandered to see the Hoko (wooden carriage things) from the festival.

The Gion Matsuri began in the 1200s as they brought wooden Hoko from the Yasaka Shrine in Gion around the city to help get rid of the plague. By 1600 or so, the hoko had gained an extra level and become very elaborate. The ones they use now are several hundred years old and weigh about 12 tons. Then there are loads of people put into them and the head hoko (the yamahoko) contains the Sacred Child who cuts a rope to start the festival. The hoko have no steering, so men (no women allowed) stick bits of wood underneath the wheels to steer. Turning the hoko is even tougher. Planks of bamboo hidden under the wheels are laid out, water poured on them, then the whole thing is dragged around, as can be seen in my wee 16 second clip here. And here are some photos, including one of the Sacred Child being carried about shoulder-high since he can’t touch the impure streets.

Giita probably has better ones, but you get the idea. Anyway, I have to be in school in 40 minutes, so I’m away to have a shower. Cheerio!

Update: got speaking and listening back. 92.5%. Pleased!

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 18th, 2007 at 8:50 pm and was written when Joss was feeling jumblings, sleepy.