We finally got back into doing some fun things and seeing some new sites. The latest new site to behold was that of a Mikoshi parade, which was actually held right on Yokosuka base. Occurring annually for the last 33 years, it is one of the several open base events held throughout the year when the base is opened up to Japanese nationals without clearance. We have previously avoided any of these events and the crowds of people. But this year, not knowing what time the festivities began, we slid right onto base to desolate streets and the faint bussling spound of food stands gearing up for business. We took a spot on the curb. When the time came, the crowd of Japanese visitor (some participants and some just spectating) turned the corner and came shuffling down the empty boulevard, a somewhat bizarre sight. In the distance, we could see the first mikoshi.A mikoshi is a portable shrine, usually made of intricately carved and decorated wood, which is used to transport deities in the shinto religion. For this matsuri (Japanese festival), the shrine is placed on long wooden beams. Willing participants, dressed in traditional outfits (which for the bravest, involves short robes and a bottom bearing thong type thing, for the men that is), carry the heavy weight on their shoulders in a long processional. But, don't expect solemn faces bearing a burden. Instead, the carriers are quite lively chanting and bouncing the mikoshi up and down in an attempt to delight the passenger onboard.
Also involved in the handling of the shrine are people who guide it along and people who keep it from crashing into the crowd (one of whom came in very handy as a mikoshi got very close to us). There are also replacement carriers on hand in case someone needs to take a break, or falls. See the guy in this photo on his way down? These people not only bounced their mikoshi, but spun it around, and this poor guy just couldn't hang. Floats carrying taiko drummers proceed the mikoshi, meant to awaken the deity, and wooden carts follow behind the mikoshi in case it needs to be set down and also carries provisions for the handlers (we saw carts containing jugs of sake and a cart loaded down with tons of McDonald's bags).It was a major party with a ton of activity and fun. Another one of a kind Japanese experience, which was made even cooler by the mutual exchange; while they shared another one of their traditions, we shared some of our delicacies, like American style pizza, burgers, hotdogs, doughnuts, and yards of fountain soda.
More pictures on photo journal site.
