Saturday, October 22nd: Jidai Matsuri
October 22nd is an extremely important and festive date for Japan, particularly Kyoto. Each year on this day, the Jidai Matsuri is held, which is the Festival of the Ages. This is a glamorous city-wide parade that proudly presents Japan’s rich heritage of millennia old history and traditional couture. From white-faced geishas to ornamented horses, regal shoguns and katana, or sword, exhibitions, the parade holds everything you think of when it comes to Japan and concludes at the massive Heian shrine which towers over Kyoto proper.
Amidst the havoc of thousands of people, I met my friend Kavitha, and two of my now favorite people in Japan. Yotei, a tall, skinny, economics major led us throughout the city complete with official tour guide map and a running commentary on local folklore. Wataru, a history major, gave us all the dirty details on each part of the parade with his keen wit and laid-back attitude. He could have fit in America any day of the week with his mechanic shirt, ski-cap and baggy pants, except for the fact that he was a perfect gentleman, holding doors and umbrellas for us ladies. They also happen to be Japanese tutors, which makes them patient when we ask, “so what’s that mean” every two minues and have the greatest senses of humor in the world (i.e. they laugh at my ridiculous jokes and think I'm hilarious).
Before watching the end of this illustrious celebration, however, Wataru and Yohei insisted that the group head to one of Kyoto’s most fantastic temples, Kyou Mizudera. We booked it across town sharing stories of our time here in Japan with two other students that were with us, Koe, a Taiwanese citizen who just so happens to be the most adorable 5 foot person in the world, and Heather, a New Yorker who absorbs Japanese culture like a sponge. The six of us were huffing and puffing as we climbed the hill to the summit of the temple, which has a dramatically breathtaking panorama of Kyoto. It is so difficult to describe the feeling that such a beautiful thing imparts with its visitors, but when viewing something so profound on a sunlit, clear day with new friends, laughing and enjoying oneself, I have to say it was some of the most fun I have had in Japan yet!
After viewing the parade, Yohei and Wataru escorted us ladies to a traditional soba restaurant, where the noodles are made are extremely thick and very fun to slurp, which is what one does to signify the dish is delicious. Of course, watching four foreigners learn how to slurp with the assistance of two very patient Japanese men providing us with the instructions is one thing that I would personally laugh at if I were to see it, but luckily the shopkeeper and his adorable son who had just finished baseball practice enjoyed serving us.
As we parted ways for the day, I told Yohei and Wataru in choppy Japanese that they are in fact my favorite Japanese guys, and they laughed at the silly foreigner exclaiming that we must get together soon! Every day in Japan is a fresh adventure and meeting new people is only just around the corner!
October 22nd is an extremely important and festive date for Japan, particularly Kyoto. Each year on this day, the Jidai Matsuri is held, which is the Festival of the Ages. This is a glamorous city-wide parade that proudly presents Japan’s rich heritage of millennia old history and traditional couture. From white-faced geishas to ornamented horses, regal shoguns and katana, or sword, exhibitions, the parade holds everything you think of when it comes to Japan and concludes at the massive Heian shrine which towers over Kyoto proper.
Amidst the havoc of thousands of people, I met my friend Kavitha, and two of my now favorite people in Japan. Yotei, a tall, skinny, economics major led us throughout the city complete with official tour guide map and a running commentary on local folklore. Wataru, a history major, gave us all the dirty details on each part of the parade with his keen wit and laid-back attitude. He could have fit in America any day of the week with his mechanic shirt, ski-cap and baggy pants, except for the fact that he was a perfect gentleman, holding doors and umbrellas for us ladies. They also happen to be Japanese tutors, which makes them patient when we ask, “so what’s that mean” every two minues and have the greatest senses of humor in the world (i.e. they laugh at my ridiculous jokes and think I'm hilarious).
Before watching the end of this illustrious celebration, however, Wataru and Yohei insisted that the group head to one of Kyoto’s most fantastic temples, Kyou Mizudera. We booked it across town sharing stories of our time here in Japan with two other students that were with us, Koe, a Taiwanese citizen who just so happens to be the most adorable 5 foot person in the world, and Heather, a New Yorker who absorbs Japanese culture like a sponge. The six of us were huffing and puffing as we climbed the hill to the summit of the temple, which has a dramatically breathtaking panorama of Kyoto. It is so difficult to describe the feeling that such a beautiful thing imparts with its visitors, but when viewing something so profound on a sunlit, clear day with new friends, laughing and enjoying oneself, I have to say it was some of the most fun I have had in Japan yet!
After viewing the parade, Yohei and Wataru escorted us ladies to a traditional soba restaurant, where the noodles are made are extremely thick and very fun to slurp, which is what one does to signify the dish is delicious. Of course, watching four foreigners learn how to slurp with the assistance of two very patient Japanese men providing us with the instructions is one thing that I would personally laugh at if I were to see it, but luckily the shopkeeper and his adorable son who had just finished baseball practice enjoyed serving us.
As we parted ways for the day, I told Yohei and Wataru in choppy Japanese that they are in fact my favorite Japanese guys, and they laughed at the silly foreigner exclaiming that we must get together soon! Every day in Japan is a fresh adventure and meeting new people is only just around the corner!
posted by Kristin at 3:47 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home