Festivus for the Rest of Us

One of the first things that happened after I arrived was Tanabata. Tanabata is a festival that occurs around the beginning of Obon, and is celebrated all over Japan, but especially this region. This also marks the beginning (well, sort of) of Obon which is a Buddhist holiday where everyone goes to visit their ancestors graves and pray for a week. It also meant no kids at my school, which is something I certainly prayed for. Everyone wins! (Except maybe the ancestors of all my students who went to the beach instead). Anyway, Tanabata: two stars/lovers, Orihime and Hikoboshi, are separated by the Milky Way, and are only allowed to meet once a year. Tanabata celebrates that meeting. The meeting is also celebrated by the name of the local diner, Milky Way, which serves excellent fried chicken. Koriyama had a parade to honor Tanabata, which involved some beautiful Yukata (The summer version of a kimono), pretty dancing, a huge drum and freaking creepy cartoony things. Check it out:


My brush with greatness: SUMO!