Some of the best Japanese bboys, streetdancers, breakdancers gather in front of the OCAT building of JR Namba station in Osaka.
In October, an international competition called B1 Saikyo Tag (B1最強タッグ) was held there. It gathered contestants from all around the world as well as the best Japanese dancers.
Here is a little long, but worth watching video of a battle held on the evening before the main contest. Recorded on Oct. 8th, 2011. Enjoy!
Taking opportunity of this weekend’s typhoon, I am importing my old photos to Aperture and struggling to sort them. I have found something with a definitely better weather.
Risshiri and Rebun are two small islands close to northernmost cape of Hokkaido. Shinto shrines there have appearance somewhat different to those in other parts of Japan.
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And let it be my contribution to this week’s Show Me Japan.
Kurumazaki Shrine in Kyoto holds Mifune Matsuri every year is also famous for a smaller shrine in its precincts.
It is dedicated to artists and attracts many actors, musicians, comedians, and geisha. They either buy an official offering from a shrine (like a fence pale) or just glue a tag (fuda) with their name or photo directly to the shrine building.
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A ceremony commemorating pious Princess Chujo was held today in Taimadera, Nara Pref.
In addition to Buddhist rites, a procession of Boddhisatvas took place on a narrow catwalk inside the temple grounds.
The masks severely limited vision of the performers, and amateur saints were accompanied by seeing-eye helpers. But two “professional” saints performed a unique dance all the way on an elevated walkway.
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Long time no see, but straight to Show Me Japan by BudgetTrouble blog.
On February 3rd, when Japanese people were celebrating the last day of traditional “old year” with Setsubun holiday, Chinese people were celebrating a New Year’s Day.
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Nankin Machi is the name for a famous China Town in Kobe. At the time of Chinese New Year huge celebrations are held in the neighborhood.
Lion dance, dragon dance, acrobatic and martial arts shows take place in the central square.
And let it be a Show Me Japan entry for this week BudgetTrouble blog.
Charms in shrines and temples have their “best before” date. And much like cheese or meat, if charms pass that mark, they might start to stink. Not literally, but they might turn into the source of bad luck.
So you have to dispose them somehow. Both, shrines and temples collect them and claim to burn. Seeing piles of wood, paper, and plastic charms left by followers at the beginning of a new year, I was wondering if, maybe even hoped, they are utilized in a more ecological way.
But it seems not, and here is a proof…
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On the day of Setsubun in Todaiji Temple in Nara, monks chanting Buddhist sutras set fire to a pile of “used” charms brought by visitors to the temple. The ceremony called “Kosatsu Hatsuken” (古札揆遣) takes place behind Nigatsu-do Pavillon.
There is a hill in Nara, where a nice grove could grow. It might give shelter to the deers, birds, and human beings in hot summer days.
It might… if not some crazy Buddhist monks and Shinto priests burning it to the ground every year in January.
As a result, only grass grows on the hill, and that’s why it is called Wakakusa-yama (若草山) – a Young Grass Mountain.
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This is how you prepare rice cakes in Nara. You take the rice and beat it until it gets green…
This post is my first contribution to Show Me Japan meme by renowned BudgetTrouble blog.
Recipe: take some beauties and celebrities, promise good revenue this year, and you have crowds of people gathering from morning until the late night.
Such is Imamiya Toka Ebisu in Osaka—a festival of patron deity of merchants. Festival lasts few days around January 10th (“tooka” means actually “the tenth day”) and attracts huge crowds of people. They buy lucky charms for a new year and dispose last year’s charms for burning.
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