August, 2009

I received a call today from Hide Hirasawa suggesting that I might be interested to visit this evening's matsuri in Wakatochi.

Wakatochi is a small village that's part of Ojiya City, about 15km from my apartment.  For anyone who has visited Hosokai, that's in Wakatochi.

I arrived around 6.30pm just as things were getting underway, this was in fact the first time I'd visited the main village of Wakatochi myself, never having visited Hosokai.  I've been most of the way there on many occassions, Isa's breeding 'station' is on route - http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/413.

Soon after I arrived, rather by luck than judgement, the matsuri got underway with some dancing.  These dancers were all part of the Ojiya Matsuri last weekend.

Around the area of open ground on which the matsuri took place there were various stalls selling food and drink. The lady below preparing yakisoba, stir fry noodles, like chow mein.

The 'fire dancers' made the visit worthwhile alone, if only for the photo opportunities they offered.  I'm not sure where they came from or whether they are local.  It was impressive though!

The firework display was due to start at 8.10pm and just before it did Hide and his girlfriend arrived, she looked resplendent in her yutaka, a light cotton summer kimono.  They are commonly worn at the maturi, by both men and women, and it was only on driving home that I've never taken photographs of people wearing them.

I mentioned previously that my INPC colleague Hiroshi is presently working at Isa, which of course is where Hide works.  Hiroshi has been giving Hide English lessons.  We always managed to communicate in a mix of English and Japanese but today Hide's English was at a new level, shamefully for me given my Japanese is still woeful!

Hide explained that the festival is organised by one of the sons of Shoichi Hosokai, founder of Hosokai Koi Farm. He also introduced me to Masaru Hosokai, the eldest son.  It transpired that we'd actually been in the same bar the previous evening!  He wasn't the only person that came and said 'hello' having met me in Ojiya previously.

Without a tripod I wasn't really geared up for firework pics but here are a few.  In total 130 fireworks were released over around 90 minutes.

Hide was absolutely right, it was a fun night and well worth the visit.

No, he's not emigrating nor going on holiday to the UK, but tonight around 1000 Shintaro Koi were packed for shipment to the UK.

It was way back in April that the guys from UKNishikigoi purchased the whole Koi house of tateshita at Shintaro, a couple of thousand of them.  Half of them were shipped a few months ago, the others have stayed in the Koi house continuing to grow, and some have grown significantly.

Saito san, assisted by his cousin Masaki Aoki from Takezawa - http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/82 - started packing the Koi at 6.30pm, the truck due to arrive and take them on their journey to Narita at 9pm.

Even in the half light in which the Koi were being packed, and in a bowl containing 100's of Koi, one caught my attention immediately.  The Showa below was one of my favourites way back in November 2008 when the 1st picture was taken, you can read more here - http://yamakoshi.blogspot.com/2008/11/good-headache.html.  Maybe Tim will keep it and grow it on for me!

As always it's a family affair at Shintaro, as it is at almost all breeders across Niigata, Hiromi-san taking care of completing the packing, adding dry ice packs to the boxes before sealing them.  Whilst the plane and lorry may be temperature controlled the boxes are likely to spend time sat on the tarmac at both Narita and Heathrow.

There were also 5 boxes of larger Koi being shipped, Kensuke Saito helping with the bagging of them.

In just 90 minutes 40 boxes of Koi were packed and ready awaiting the lorry which rolled into Mushigame exactly at 9pm.

In no time at all we had the boxes labelled and loaded on the truck to start the 330km or so journey to Narita airport.

Tomorrow morning the boxes will depart on a Virgin Atlantic plane for Heathrow, it will probably be 36 hours before they reach their final destination of UKNishikigoi's premises in St Helens.

Hopefully Tim will send us some pics of their arrival in the UK to complete the story of their journey.

Sunday, the 3rd day, of last year's matsuri was a complete washout due to the weather.  This year the weather was truly glorious, bright, sunny but not to hot, and most importantly dry.

Throughout the day stalls had served food and various things were laid on for children.  Occasionaly 'floats' would drive around the town playing music.  During the afternoon the dancers from Friday also performed again, although I didn't see them.

My first 'event' of the day was the fighting bull parade.  It always amazes me how much attention the bulls draw when at events in the town.  Why it doesn't encourage more to the bullfights just a few KM up the road I've no idea.

Sitting on the back of the bulls seemed the order of the day, I asked if I could but my request was declined!

Takuto Hirasawa, son of Toshihiro from Marudo, on a much safer form of transport!

As the sun fell it was time for the main event to start.  First up some of the large illuminated paper models.  This bird's wingspan was wider than the main road through Ojiya, going above the canopy where it could.

Sometimes you need someone to help make a good picture.  This guy game running at me from 40 foot away before jumping straight in front of me.  All i could do was push the shutter and hope!

These larger hand pushed floats give way to a procession of other floats on the back of trucks representing various businesses and groups, some playing instruments, others with paper figures.  I recall when we used to have a carnival like this in my home town, sadly now somewhat defunct.

On the left Suzuki san, secretary of Ojiya Fan Club.  You can find their products on sale in Sun Plaza.

The highlight however is undoubtedly the carrying of the portable shrines along the street.  As hard as I tried I couldn't capture this in a still picture.  Some video will be available in the next couple of days.

A parade of all the floats followed and with them all parked along the street yet again a bon odori dance.

Last year everything went out with a puff around 9pm.  This year the party continued and continued until 11pm.

A great end to a great weekend of maturi here in Ojiya, I really love being part of it, next year I really want to get more involved.

Keep an eye out for some more video in the next day or so.

You can now view a video giving a taste of the sights and sounds of day 1 of the Ojiya Matsuri.

The video is also available for subscribers to NTV 2009 in much higher high definition here http://www.nishikigoi.tv/2009/index.html

If you would like to subscribe to, or find out more about, NTV 2009 content then please visit http://www.nishikigoi.tv/ntv_2009.html.