Matsuri Photos from Sept 11th

Day 2 and I was free and able to join the fun. I was given the responsibility of being one of the drivers of the Dashi (kind of float). Usually this is reserved to special families with a long history with the shrine and community, so it was a real honour. This was the third year I had been given the opportunity. Guiding the Dashi through some of the narrow back streets can be challenging at best. Fortunately, the day passed without a hitch. The kids (and adults) playing the 'taiko' drums did fantastically as did the veteran flutists keeping the music flowing right through the day with a great showing in front of the station. Well done and otsukaresamadeshita to all those involved!

 Tabi, traditional Japanese footwear is a must!

 Friends

 Kumano Shrine Torii

 Local kids dressed in Matsuri attire.

 Aiko and I

 Starting out with Hirota-san and I at the helm.

 Break time in the shade with support vehicle and drinks!

 Kawana-san and I

 Keiko lending a hand. ARIGATOU!!

 Friends

 Koa and me @ Kamogawa Station

 Nakashima Family

 Kokomo

 Momoko

 Me

 Good fun times

 Tanaka Family

 Kumano and Sanno meet

 Nao, Misato and Aiko

 Aiko and I

 K-chan and Ai-chan

 J and K-chan

 Takashi-kun, Nima-chan and me

Full Moon on a beautiful night!

Matsuri Photos from Sept 10th

After work I was able to catch the last of the proceedings down by the Marina where all of the portable shrines (Omikoshi) gathered. Respect to all these local guys and girls as they have been parading them through the streets of their neighborhoods in sunny, 30 degree plus weather all day and these things weigh a ton!

 The crowd gathers...

 Leading the way...

 Women ONLY!! Kayo GANBATTA!

 Friends

 Break time...

 Fishing @ the carnival stall.

 Kumano Omikoshi.

 Me

 Daisuke (R) and his buddy with the PINK hair!!

Kamogawa Matsuri

Big weekend coming up. The Rugby World Cup kicks off in NZ this Friday and hosts New Zealand are in the same pool as Japan and will play each other in my hometown, Hamilton Sept 16th, 8pm (NZT)

Kamogawa (Chiba Pref) Matsuri 2010. Photo: James Gibson.

  

There is also a Matsuri Festival in Kamogawa this Saturday and Sunday. This year the portable shrines will gather on the grassy area in front of the condo where I live on the Saturday night. It's always a good time and a great chance to get to know all the locals in your neighborhood. Unfortunately, I'll miss Saturday due to work commitments, but I'm looking forward to Sunday!

Kanpei-san in Kamogawa Event

Kanpei san is a Japanese comedian in his early 60s that circumnavigated the globe, sailing and running. It took him a fair while and right in the middle of it all he was diagnosed with cancer. He took a little time out, had treatment for it and then continued with his quest. When he completed the Earth Race it was extra special given the ordeal he had been through.
Anyway, when Kanpei left Japan, sailing for USA, he cast off from the Kamogawa Marina in front of the condominium where I live. He returned recently, giving a presentation as well as unveiling a sign to remember his feat. The city threw a party of sorts and had tents selling beer, food and more beer, as well as a stage where the girls entertained us with their Hula and Tahitian dancing. They then had a special fireworks display with hand held fireworks that was pretty impressive and must have singed some eyebrows to wrap the day up. Good times had by all!

 Sunrise from my living room with the marina in the foreground.

 Tents going up in the morning in preparation for the big event.

 Saori dancing Tahitian.

 Aiko getting set up.

 Luana Hula

 Luana Hula Keiki (kids)

 Aiko

 Luana Hula

A young woman holding her fireworks fearlessly with style.

The Coromandel: Hot Water Beach!

Surf wise, this was THE DAY! We got up super early and hit the road again. Driving past the iconic L&P bottle in Paeroa it was still almost dark. Having heard there was a pumping bank at the north of Hot Water Beach on the low tide from a local up that way, we decided to skip Whangamata and the crowds and head to the more secluded northern Coromandel beaches.
Stopping only in Tairua at the bakery for a custard square, a pie and an ice coffee, we made good time. Half way up Pumpkin Hill is the Twin Kauri Reserve where we stopped briefly for a quick history lesson and photo then down to Sailor's Grave to check what swell was on offer. The sun was just rising and the sky was perfect clear blue with a light off shore breeze feathering the lips of a nice consistent clean ground swell. Perfect!!

It was hard to leave, but with the promised land just around the corner we all jumped back in the car and drove the remaining 25 minutes or so to our destination. There were already about half a dozen cars in the car park and a bunch of campers with there spades heading down the beach to dig out their own little hot pool. Wetsuits on, sunscreen on, fins in and boards waxed, we hit the beach running!

 The overview of Hot Water Beach looking to the northern corner where we surfed a really good left.

 Campers and tourists digging their hot pools at low tide which fill with natural hot spring water from springs right beneath.

 Ken putting in his fins and enjoying the grassy car park.

 Shinya getting set and about to farewell his jandal, R.I.P. wherever you may be.

 The beautiful walk up the secluded beach.

 Shinya post surf and grinning ear to ear.

 Me, knackered, but stoked after surfing cranking waves non-stop all morning.

 Ken caught so many lefts he ended up halfway down the beach. Hahaha.

The swim area at the southern end of Hot Water Beach patrolled by the lifeguards over the summer months has a little store with ice creams, snacks and drinks for the hungry and parched.

This photo was one taken 2 weeks later and the banks were still perfect!

Obon Vacation

Usually at this time of year I'm packing up the car with camping gear and surfboards and heading off on a mission to find waves either in Fukushima, Miyagi or Iwate in the north of Japan. However, following the disaster in March and the nuclear fallout that has affected much of the area we decided to stay closer to home.

A picture of a semi secret river mouth up north that can get super super good on it's day taken in the summer of 2009.

Early on there was a low pressure system forming that looked as though it may develop into a tropical depression or even a typhoon which would've brought us plenty of swell and homegrown entertainment. It wasn't to be though, and instead it's been pretty small right throughout the week meaning the old single fin long board got dusted off and paddled around. The weather was pretty good though, so at least the BBQs got a good workout.

 Synchronized BBQing above and below with Shinya @ Hokuto and Tomoko's captured by Dave Yamaya.

A fun little peeler at Seaside in Kamogawa (photo: Dave Yamaya)