Blue sky & ocean in Aomori pref.

Although summer must be ending by now, Akita has been really hot these days. I cannot stand staying anywhere at around 35 degrees Celsius! XP
Well, on the last weekend, my hometown Akita had annual national fireworks competition called "Omagari-no-Hanabi". I could not come to the site this time, but you may refer to my past post about this event: "Summer is coming! ~Omagari National Fireworks Competition~ " (June 9, 2012).

While people enjoyed the fireworks competition in Omagari, the southern town of Akita, me and my boyfriend were driving up to Aomori prefecture to eat Ikayaki (broiled squid)!!
*Please see my older post titled "My favorite view and Ikayaki!" dated June 11, 2012. :-)

We drove along the Japan Sea, which was very beautiful!!! So, let me share the good view...

We drove and drove for about 12hrs on that day. During the trip, we enjoyed the ocean view, specialty foods like Ikayaki (broiled squid) and Shijimi (corbicula) Ramen, Onsen (spa), etc...
The photo below is the evening sun against Mt. Iwaki.

It's good to live closer to the nature. And I hope to keep sharing the beauty of our Akita and the neighboring prefectures with you all... Thank you.

Nishimonai Bon Odori, the summer festival in Ugo!

My hometown, Ugo-machi, is well known for the traditional summer festival, "Nishimonai Bon Odori (Dance)", which is a significant, intangible folk cultural asset of Japan. It attracts many people every summer (16-18 August)!!

Because there is no written material about this festival, we can't tell exactly when it was started. But, a legend tells us that its origin dates back to 1280s when an old priest started this Bon Dance with villagers to pray for a good harvest. Then, it came to have another meaning as to mourn the lord's passing after being defeated in a battle. And today's Nishimonai Bon Odori was born at last.
You can learn more from here! -> http://www.town.ugo.lg.jp/sightseeing/detail.html?id=340

Last weekend, I went to see this old dance with my family and my boyfriend. It has been almost a decade since I saw it last time, so I was really excited to experience the atmosphere again! :)

As you can find, there are two different types of clothes and hats of the dancers. One is a set of colorful Kimono (traditional clothes) and woven hat. This colorful Kimono is called "Hanui" that is made of pieces of different clothes to make it colorful. I heard villagers in the old days were not rich, so they made such nicer clothes by collecting pieces of fabrics and created a new beautiful one by themselves. By the way, my mother is Hanui-maker and sews them by her hand before the festival. I can see the real Hanui from up close at home!

Different from Hanui, the other dancers wear darker clothes and black hood, or "Hikosa Zukin". They represent the dead people as far as I know... The origin is unknown yet.

Once you experience this event, I think you'll feel something different. And also, you can enjoy more if you understand Akita-accent of the lyrics because the classic songs during the dance includes local joke. :D That's funny!
I hope you will enjoy such a unique festival in my hometown next year! Welcome!

Akita Kanto Festival!!

On 3-6 of August 2012, we enjoyed Akita Kanto Festival which is one of the major three summer festivals in the Northern Japan.
"Kanto" is a bamboo pole mounted with lanterns to represent a rice ear. Well-trained men lift it up higher in the air to brighten the night sky of Akita city. Only men are allowed to lift the "Kanto", while women play the traditional music during their performance. It's the very Japanese summer festival!!

This festival can be found in an old document written in 1789 according to its official website (http://www.kantou.gr.jp/english/index.htm). This has been held to wash away evil spirits and to pray for the good harvest of that year.
Today, children and adults participate in the performance and entertain not only people in the city but visitors from all over Japan! I heard about 1.3 million visitors gathered here this year!! Amazing!!

I love to come to such traditional summer festivals because I can make sure that I am Japanese and enjoy the atmosphere from my heart. :-)