[遊記] 大阪:生國魂神社夏祭

作者: hemels (甲賀弦之介)   2013-07-15 21:50:08
圖文英文版:http://tinyurl.com/p64a6p4
We returned our rental car this morning. The gas station we went
to had a brilliant way of saving space in a crowded city.
The gas tanks were *above us*!
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9014.jpg
The staff was amused when I explained to him that this does not
happen in the US.
We walked to 生国魂神社 (Ikutama Jinja) which is beginning its 2-day
summer festival today. Called いくたま 夏祭り (Ikutama natsu matsuri),
it is one of the three major festivals in Osaka. Participants of
the festival include many local school kids and volunteers, and
the event is highly enjoyed by locals, as it will become apparent
later in the evening.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9022.jpg
During the morning, things were still in preparation and the shrine
was relatively quiet. But outside you could already see tons of
food and game stands setting up.
We passed by kids from the nearby Ikutama Kindergarten. They're a
cute bunch! >///<
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9025.jpg
We briefly left Ikutama to go to Osaka's equivalent of 秋葉原 (Akihabara).
Here it is the main strip of 日本橋 (Nipponbashi) that has all the
video games, manga/anime, and electronics.
A PS Vita here seems to be cheaper. I got a brand new one (Wifi-only)
for 19800 Yen (~198 USD). On Amazon it's 247 USD right now. I also
got some second-handed PS Vita games. This place is a second-hand
game heaven!
Of course, a visit to the manga store is inevitable. I'm more of an
anime than manga fan these days though, probably because I like
listening to seiyuus >///<
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9033.jpg
Around 5PM, the festivities return to the shrine.
First are the kid's taiko (子供太鼓):
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9043.jpg
They were first carried on trucks (as they have toured around the city
earlier in the day), then, as they approach the shrine, the taiko cart
is pushed by men.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9061.jpg
The procession is succeeded by other returning marches.
Here is the kid's lion dance (獅子舞/Shishimai):
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9145.jpg
The dancing lions are accompanied by fan wielding dancers:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9151.jpg
In the center stage, there is constant drumming of the
makura taiko (枕太鼓):
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9106.jpg
So far, I have been trying to write this blog using as few pictures
as possible. Yet today the only the way to convey the atmosphere
is by showing what the locals look like on this day.
Little kids were dressed up in bright colored kimonos and yukatas:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9049.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9078.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9087.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9120.jpg
While participants of the festival are clad in bright colored uniforms:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9080.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9102.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9147.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9129.jpg
Around 6PM, the place was bustling with activity.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9178.jpg
This only got more so as people got off school and work and are now at
the festival with their friends and family:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9184.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9190.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9191.jpg
The highlight of the evening is 枕太鼓お練り (makura taiko oneri).
The taiko is fixed to the cart with three drummers *standing* on either
side. As such, people can push and pull the cart around while the
drummers continue to play the taiko.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9227.jpg
At first the men only pulled the cart around the shrine. But then they
started to *attack* the cart! They jump on one end to force it to tilt,
then violently pull it down from the other end like a see saw.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9247.jpg
Yet the drumming continued as if they had never left the center stage.
In a few instances, the men spun it around and around:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9256.jpg
Again the drumming remains constant.
Now the men topple the cart and it falls to the ground! The drummers
hold on to the rope behind their standing seat while drumming with
their other hand. They never missed a beat and continued to chant
at the top of their lungs.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9252.jpg
Finally, after what seemed like a lot of cart torture, the taiko
returns to the center stage. Now they can drum some more without
falling on top of each other :)
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9276.jpg
A lot of the drummers look really young. Some of the local folks
behind me were saying that they were high school students.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9278.jpg
This was my first time experiencing a summer shrine festival, and it
was definitely an eye opener. I loved that a lot of kids and young
folks performed. It just showed how the locals were contributing
to keeping a local tradition. And then there's all that delicious
food outside that I stuffed myself with!
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47842021/2013%20Japan/IMG_9301.jpg
作者: yoyo830917   2013-07-15 21:57:00
看不懂啦!
作者: neilan (No More)   2013-07-15 23:05:00
你看不懂也用不著噓人家吧?
作者: yellma510 (yana)   2013-07-15 23:05:00
補推~不要因為寫英文就噓人家吧 雖然我也看不太懂而且他的照片拍的不錯阿~ 看不懂字看圖也不錯阿!
作者: potent (波坦兒)   2013-07-15 23:14:00
一樓好兇.... XDDDD
作者: zomb12 (笑看一切是是非非)   2013-07-15 23:30:00
照片拍很棒+1
作者: zomb12 (笑看一切是是非非)   2013-07-15 23:31:00
不過PO英文版應該是有什麼理由才對,這點說明一下也許可以避掉一些莫名的誤會,(另外其實英文不難懂~~)
作者: jerrylin (嘴砲無視)   2013-07-16 01:07:00
1F英文爛有必要這麼心虛嗎
作者: hemels (甲賀弦之介)   2013-07-16 06:12:00
這寫英文是因為我大部分朋友現在都是美國人 我貼在臉書上寫中文沒人看得懂....
作者: hemels (甲賀弦之介)   2013-07-16 06:13:00
哈但是還是想要分享一下圖 畢竟我去的行程很多版上遊記已有
作者: SoFluffy (超級軟綿綿ˇ)   2013-07-16 09:42:00
應該是說 PTT上實在很難閱讀英文= = 就算看得懂我也END..

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