Festival: Hamura Water and Flower Festival 2010

11 Apr 2010 - Went to Hamura's Water and Flowers Festival (はむら花と水のまつり)。

Water Festival

These 2 groups of kids, a group of boys and a group of girls, will attempt to carry the mikoshi and cross the river.


The river they are going to cross


Girls power

Girls are strong!


Here come the boys

They are enjoying themselves.

Teacher behind ensuring safety.


Spectators

After the kids, the adult men team will attempt the same feat. While waiting for them to come, I went around to take some misc shots.


View of Hamura City


Kids were throwing stones into the water.
My "artistic" attempt in capturing the ripples.


Festival Musicians

After more than 30mins of long wait, the adult men team finally appeared


Still dry

Getting in

Almost Drowned

Save me!

Getting back up on higher ground

One side each

Sakura Festival

Sakura and Sky


Sakura Macro



Sakura and Bicycle




Sakura and Lantern


Monkey God??

Real Monkey (Actually she is a street performer). Enjoying her fave orange during a break.

She is still a baby, with diapers


Contrast

Tulip Festival

Land of Tulips


Field of reds


In the wrong place



Showered with lights




シネダキング, special type of Tulip. I can't find the english name of it.



American Dream


Fancy Frills


Another special tulip, forgot to take down the name


Non tulip, but tulip fields in the background


Walking among tulips


Camouflage


Thanks for viewing

More at Flickr

Festival: Kanamara Matsuri 2010

4 Apr 2010 - Went to Kanamara Festival.

The festival is also known as "Big Penis Festival". It is held annually at Kawasaki City. This traditional event is a celebration of fertility.
More information at www.seekjapan.jp/article-1/572/Fun+at+the+Big+Iron+Penis+...

Went there 2 years ago and the old photos can be found here. Even though this was my 2nd time attending the event, I was still very amused by it. I brought EF-S10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM and EF70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM for this event.

2 years ago, I went there late and the popular penis/pussy candies were sold out. So this year, I decided to reach there early, not only for the candies but also to avoid the crowd at the temple, so that I could take some photos of the procession. I headed straight to the temple once I reached at 11am, but darn... it was as crowded!!


The candy I wanted to get, but...

one for 600yen!! What a daylight robbery! Who cares if they are handmade or not?! Penis is penis, pussy is pussy, machine made or handmade, I wouldn't pay more than 200yen for it. so in the end, I didn't get one.
By the way, Japanese Language lesson..
Penis = Chinko
Pussy = Manko

Other interesting souvenirs

Penis Candles

Carrot, among radishes


It's Sakura season. Gate to the temple

The temple was simply too crowded for a shortie like me to catch any air, so I left..

The parade was going to start at 12noon. Visitors were all waiting at the road junction outside the temple for the parade to begin



This weirdly dressed Ojisan was standing at the road junction.
He was no ordinary man; he was a ...

Cosplay Traffic Policeman!!

At 12noon, the parade started..


Start of the parade

Huge Flag

Monk?


This guy was leading the parade. I am not sure who he was, but I guess he was wearing the mask of the penis god.

Ancient high heels
The clogs that he was wearing...great balancing skills

Right behind the "penis god" were these 4 girls. Even kids participate..
Mind you guys that this is not an adult event, and to Flickr...please don't block my account again! This is nothing obscene



Parade of the 3 penis statues


Close up of the 1st statue. Exquisite!

Carrying the statue, looks heavy


The main highlight was the 2nd statue, a pink penis carried by transvestite.

Nice dance



The 3rd statue

The 3rd statue seems to be the heaviest.


Rocking the statue was part of the parade.

This was how aggressive they rock.


This joker made his own version of the 4th statue out of cardboard. Oh god, put on some clothes!

It was a great event...We should have one in Singapore too! Thanks for viewing