May 20
May equals festival time in Japan. You could feel the energy
in the air. My friend Midori wanted to take
me to the famous Sanja Festival. Three days of people toting over a hundred miniature
Shinto shrines around Asakusa eating and drinking like crazy? Sign me up!
We rode the packed train to Asakusa to catch the last day of
the festival. I should have been prepared for the crowds, but as we were pushed
through the throngs of people, it was hard to catch our breath. We hustled
towards Asakusa Jingu Shrine. Midori and
I held hands to keep from being separated.
Then she pulled me aside and yelled, “Let’s skip the temple
and head over to the plaza. It won’t be so crowded and we can get a better view
of the shrines.”
We fought for a place along the street so I could get some
good pictures. I heard the sound of loud clapping and then a whistle blowing.
Midori pushed me closer to the street. “They’re coming. Get ready.”
I held my camera high. A golden phoenix bounced up and down
as a large group of men dressed in happi coats hoisted the shrine to the rhythm
of a whistle. I couldn’t help but notice
that men were missing an important part of their costume. I turned to Midori.
“Um… why are the men not wearing pants?”
She laughed. “Its tradition. Today the happi are longer. They used to be short enough to see the men’s
loin cloths.”
I pointed to a guy whose briefs were clearly visible. “Guess
that guy is old fashioned. Have to say his underwear certainly doesn’t leave
much to the imagination.”
Midori ignored me and motioned up the street. “Look,
geisha.”
I was happy for a pleasant distraction. The geisha were
dressed in brightly colored kimonos and wore sky-high geta, a tall platform
sandal. They had their hair piled high on their heads making them even taller. The
geisha with their white painted faces looked like beautiful ghosts as they gracefully
floated down the street.
She nodded. “They are reserved and mysterious. Yet so
beautiful.”
A team of loud Taiko drummers broke the mood. Midori steered
me past a cluster of men dressed like Samurai.
“The next one is coming.”
I could hear the whistle blowing its distinct rhythm. The next shrine had bright colored paper
streamers and was carried by women. Midori beamed. “Ladies are strong so we carry
the shrines too.”
I gave her a crooked smile. “I guess the temple is an equal
opportunity employer.”
She didn’t laugh. Instead she pointed to one of the girls in
the middle of the pack.
I couldn’t believe what I saw. “Hey, she’s on a cell phone.
What do you think she’s talking about? How heavy the damn shrine is?”
Midori stuffed back a laugh. “No. She’s probably calling in
their pizza order.”
