It's time for something intense! It is called Omikoshi... a type of sport where you carry a family or city shrine through a festival to please the godly spirit within these shrines. This is my second year doing this and it is a lot of fun! Check out this video of me lifting one two years ago... (Click anywhere on the video to start)
So what did you think? Pretty crazy huh? Well, to me it's a lot of fun and a chance for me to learn more about my Japanese culture. You get dressed in festival clothing with ninja shoes and happi. Then you find a bunch of guys and girls who are willing to lift this incredibly heavy shrine down 8 blocks and back. It's also a type of competition but I don't understand that part. What was so funny about two years ago is that it was raining when I did it. At night when they put the lights on, you can see the steam coming from our bodies and you were just soaked with water and sweat. And to make things better, you are tightly packed together with people so it seems you are "grinding" people :P
The following pictures and videos are what I did this year. Check 'em out!
Warning: The videos are taken from my phone so the video/sound quality is horrible. Sorry about that!
The omikoshi I got to carry.
The view of the street at sun set.
Behind me. Lots of people!
Closer look at the shrine and me all ready to go!
In front of the shrine with my little sisters.
Can you spot me? Hahaha...
On the side of the streets you can enjoy traditional Japanese festival foods like:
Octopus Balls! (たこ焼き）
Apricot candy! （あんず）
Yakitori, Yakibuta, Yakisoba, so much more! （焼き鳥、焼豚、焼きそば）
At night now!
Me after lifting the omikoshi for four hours. My shoulders were beaten!
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