Taiko - Saturday

So, this weekend was pretty much the coolest weekend ever. I was involved in the Kokura Taiko Gion festival, which is this festival in Kokura which involves HEAPS of people playing the traditionl japanese drum (Taiko). I cant even begin to descibe how much fun it was or how cool it felt to actually be a part of such a big community thing (my groups basically comprised of families from the neighbourhood around our clubhouse), i really felt like part of japan, not just a foreigner living in japan. hopefully you can get an idea about it from the photos and videos.....
(hey if you clcik on the photos u can see a bigger version)

First was Saturday, I took a day off work, Saturday was the official traditional day, we pulled the dashi (cart that holds the drums) into Kokura, about 30mins, and started drummng as we pulled it thru the arcade

(1. The Dashi ready to go. 2. And we're off!!!! [note the drinks cart pulling up the back])

(3. And the drinks that went into the drinks cart [Sake and Shochu not pictured]!!! 4. Kids first up in the arcade)

After that we headed out on the road and joined a huge line up of dashi wating to go into the castle, we pulled the cart infront of the station and our best drummers drummed and the kids sung their chant thingy and we ended up coming 6th!!!

(5. Pulling the dashi, the little kid at the front has the cutest expression on her face. 6. Another teams Dashi, its a "Tengu" on top)

after a much needed beer [or 3] and some onegiri and karage and stuff, we headed off down the road and into the arcade again and then to the station where a whole lotta groups were drumming, check this group out, they were badass

After that we headed back to the clubhouse for some more food and beer and then we grabbed one drum, chucked it in the drinks cart, and all the older (or drunker!) members headed off into kokura again to drum some more! we even took the drum into a VERY small bar and got some free beers! then we set up on a corner and guess what we did? drummed!!!! ayasayasayasayasa!!!!!

(6. The Samurai Rapper Kengo! 7. Chillin in the clubhouse.)

(8. nankai desuka? 9. we drum in your bar, you give us free beer, yey!)

(10. otsukaresamadesu! happy people at the end of the day/night)