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Setsubun 2009 – Japanese Devils, Celebs, Samurai, and Sumo

Tuesday, April 14th, 2009

Setsubun is an old Japanese tradition going back to the Heian Period (794-1192) where Japanese drive bad luck or evil out of their homes by throwing beans.

The evil is represented by devils called Oni and often fathers will don an oni costume so their kids can pelt them with beans – ouch! In America, dads dress up like Santa Claus and get milk&cookies for their troubles!

At temples and shrines, they do a mame-maki where they throw beans and other things to gathering crowds. People go crazy trying to catch these beans.

Setsubun is one of my favorite Japanese traditional events and for the last 4-5 years I have always gone somewhere to celebrate it. This year I started Setsubun a few days earlier by going to the small neighborhood of Shimokitazawa where they had the Tengu Matsuri. Tengu is a long nose goblin who protects the area.

On Setsubun I went to 4 places in and around Tokyo – Narita, Kanda Myojin Shrine, Hosen-ji Temple in Nakano, and Ashikaga in Tochigi. I saw sumo champions, Japanese celebrities, samurai, J-Pop stars, and fighting Buddhist monks.

I recorded the vlog part of the video around 3 in the morning because I had to catch a really early flight from Haneda to Hokkaido so I’m speaking low so as not to wake my neighbors. Plus I was tired!

For photos check here:

Setsubun 2009

Samurai Dave’s 2008 In Review – Travels, Events, and Festivals

Tuesday, January 13th, 2009

2008 was a busy year for this wayward wanderer though I didn’t travel much abroad due to the high fuel surcharge. I did however travel a fair bit around Japan going to a number of festivals. This is a photo montage of my experiences.

http://samuraidave.wordpress.com/2009/01/13/samurai-daves-2008-in-review-travels-events-and-festivals/

Roving Ronin Report Montage

Thursday, July 24th, 2008
This is a montage trailer for the Roving Ronin Report. In a number of videos I use part of the music as an introduction piece with rotating scenes. This video is "currently" on Current TV: http://www.current.tv/ And is up ... [Continue reading this entry]

Sumo Action set to Heavy Metal

Friday, January 25th, 2008
If you thought sumo a sport of slow moving fat guys in thongs engaged in an aggressive shoving match, guess again. As any follower of Sumo knows, Sumo wrestlers are fast, strong, and agile. They also know how to take ... [Continue reading this entry]