2015-10-12, This and That

It's the last day of a 3 day weekend (Culture Day) and I've been sick so I haven't done as much as I wanted to.  I think it's a sinus infection but the doctor's office was closed and it's not bad enough to warrant a trip to the hospital so I just pared down my outings.

On Saturday, before Japanese class I went over to a little 'human rights' fair.  I didn't really know what they meant by 'human rights' (Japanese English is often misleading) but the flyer said there would be Brazilian grilled beef so that was enough to get me there!  And the fall weather is nice as well.  The fair was held at the Culture Plaza and turned out to be exhibits of equipment and crafts done by disabled people.

Brazilian food.

This was billed as 'caramel corn' but was more like kettle corn.  Good though.

Cute bucket huh?

I was talked into buying some Halloween cookies by a young woman in a wheelchair who spoke English to me and was quite the saleswoman.  I enjoyed a strange but good steak sandwich from the Brazilian table. They gave out a sub roll in a plastic bag, then gave you a small steak in a plastic container.  You were supposed to put it together yourself, but there were no utensils...  no toppings, veggies etc (although the picture looked like there was lettuce and tomato).  The meat was tough but tasty and it made a good lunch.  Then I got some kettle corn, tasted it and went back to pick up some more to take to Japanese class.  I also bought a piece of what was billed as carrot cake at the Brazilian booth.  Although good, it wasn't carrot cake...

During Japanese class the teachers told me about a small festival that was taking place in the butsudan (Buddist alter) area that night and the next day.  They drew me a map and I said I might go, but I was not feeling great and I was tired so I didn't really think I'd go since I'd have to ride my bike there and back. But on the way out one of the teachers said she was going to go and she'd pick me up. Yeah!  We parked at the other teacher's house and the 3 of us walked the few blocks together.  There wasn't too much going on, there would be much more during the next day but it was a nice evening. We met a woman from an alter making family and she invited us to her store on the way home.

Hikone is famous for making these alters which are pretty much a set fixture in everyone's home.  I'm not sure about young people or apartment dwellers, but every home I've been in has one.  They used to be made to fit exactly in a Japanese style room - the houses were much bigger in the old days - but there are now many scaled down versions that would fit on a stand or shelf in an apartment as well.  They seem to range in price from a couple of hundred dollars to tens of thousands of dollars.  The higher end ones are made of beautifully laquered wood and gold leaf of varying quality.  I'm sorry I didn't get any good pictures - we went at night so the stores were closed.

One would put pictures of deceased family members inside the alter and then put fruit, mochi, sake, and
flowers or leaves as offerings.  One or more family members would pray there each day.

For the festival the streets were lined with red candles which was very nice.

A little samurai armor exhibit

This was interesting.  Those figures on the wall were being projected and they 

moved across the walls.  The kids would follow them.

And of course there festival foods.  One this night there was chai (unusual and served in tiny cups), curry rice, a potato and konyaku light broth stew, yakitori (grilled chicken on sticks) and takoyaki (octopus balls).  There was also a candle display of Hikonyan, the Hikone mascot.

We did stop at the store - although I didn't take pictures - and got a tour and explanation of different aspects of the alters.  They're very beautiful.  

I thought about going back on Sunday but knew I wouldn't have the energy for both that and the koto and shamisen concert.  I opted for the later.  It was a very nice, free concert and even included my favorite Japanese instrument, the shakuhachi (a recorder like instrument made from bamboo). Listening to the shakuhachi with my eyes closed it was easy to imagine I was sitting in a bamboo grove with little fairies dancing around me.  It has a deep, beautiful relaxing sound.  As much as I enjoyed it I found myself dozing off (there was so much time between each number because each song was performed by a different group and they had to take off and bring out their own instruments).  So I didn't stay for the whole thing but I did enjoy it.

The shaukachi.

koto

Koto, shamisen and shakuhaci.

I slept for 11 hours Sunday night and still woke up tired!  But I am feeling a little better.  Today I was just going to go to the flea market and to see the chrysanthemum display.  When I arrived at the spot that usually holds the flea market it was just being used for a parking lot. There were lots of tourists around.  The attendant pointed me in the right direction and I continued on.  I stopped at the shrine that holds the chrysanthemum display and was disappointed to find that although they are out under tents they are not open yet.  Probably next weekend.  Riding on, I had to cross a busy street and this was the way to do it:

Those little ramps in the middle are for your bike!  Not easy as the bike tended to want to go faster than I was walking!

I found the market, bought things I shouldn't have, and found a way to cross the street without going back down the ramp.

Sword practice.

The flea market.

I decided to drop off my purchases and then head out to look at cameras and go to the supermarket. In the end I was too tired, and I just went to the nearby supermarket.  Came home and put up some soup and finished off the piece of Brazilian cake with some tea.