Wakatochi Matsuri

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.