Bugaku festival at Shitenno-ji
I am a bit late for the prime cherry blossom viewing season, but there are still a few about. The weather was warmer today – a nice spring day for the Bugaku festival that I went to this afternoon.
I don’t really know what Bugaku is, although it seems to be a ceremonial dance. I overheard one gentleman explaining to another Gaijin (Japanese word for foreigner) that the costumes are Korean in origin but that’s going back some.
There were masked solos and group dances, monks and priests on procession and dragons too. The pace was pretty slow but so much to look at making it enjoyable to watch. The accompanying music made it quite haunting. The stage it was all performed on was a bridge over a piece of water that contained hundreds of terrapins who surfaced to join the crowd and observe the ongoings. The performance was set in the Shitenno-ji Temple complex. There was also a flea market going on all around selling everything from carving knives to wooden shoes, sqid balls to kimonos and everything in between.
The good thing was that if you got a bit tired of the Bugaku, you could wander round the flea market…
… And if you got bored of that, there was always the colourful characters passing by…
On the way back I walked through the area where Craig, Victoria and I ate the first night. Also walked through Festival Gate, a massive department store which also happens to be a theme park… there’s a roller coaster running right through! Typical!
Tags: Japan man!
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Hi Tom
I see you are in Japan now. If you are in Osaka try to see Kyoto, especially Kyomizudera, and Tetsugaku no Michi (Philosopher’s Walk).
Where else are you going in Japan?
ATB
Alan?!
are you in Australia now?!?!
wow, you really are a Ninja aren’t you?
Well, on this computer it says that Minami is in Australia and Alan is in Japan… uh-oh, maybe you’re both ninjas!! Thanks Alan, for the recommendations… I am going to the Philosopher’s Walk this afternoon!
‘Ey op chuck, great pics! I hope you’re well as you seemed to have been through it recently, according to mum!! Is it good to have a bit of familiar company after all that time on your tod? What a fascinating looking place Japan is. Now, for my pressies – I’d like a kimono, a terrapin, some squid balls and some wooden shoes, please to compliment my chinese 9000000000″ widescreen plasma tv….and yes you can put it on the tab if you must,
Laters bro