{"id":2348,"date":"2012-09-26T12:00:29","date_gmt":"2012-09-26T19:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/interspacedesign.wordpress.com\/?p=2348"},"modified":"2021-06-25T10:50:13","modified_gmt":"2021-06-25T17:50:13","slug":"japan-land-of-spectacular-festivals-foods-castles-osaka-tenjin-matsuri-day-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/interspace-design.com\/blog\/japan-land-of-spectacular-festivals-foods-castles-osaka-tenjin-matsuri-day-2","title":{"rendered":"Japan – Land of Spectacular Festivals, Foods & Castles – Osaka Tenjin Matsuri, Part 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

We left for the Tenmangu\u00a0Shrine after lunch on Day 2 of the Tenjin Matsuri. It was sweltering \u2013 and we were melting.<\/p>\n

Kiyoe, our Goodwill Guide, was incredibly\u00a0well prepared – she brought us fans and frozen energy drinks that were intended to double as ice packs. We found the reusable bags so handy that we adopted the ritual of filling and freezing them daily for the rest of our trip!<\/p>\n

To escape the heat we kept dodging\u00a0into air conditioned\u00a0establishments\u00a0with\u00a0any reasonable excuse. Kiyoe took us to an ice cream shop known for serving the cold treat with homemade plum jam. The slight tartness of the jam was very refreshing \u2013 but even more so was the AC!<\/p>\n

\"Tenjin<\/a>
We arrived at the Tenmangu\u00a0shrine early and got a front row view of the taiko\u00a0drum players, called Ganji, performing on a mobile platform (taiko-dai) as the procession emerged from the temple.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We didn\u2019t quite realize being close to the action has its own hazards: tipping the platform\u00a0is part of the happenings but sometimes get out of hand.<\/p>\n

The taiko\u00a0dai bearers set off a minor stampede when they got too rambunctious and crashed into the spectators, including us…<\/p>\n

\"Tenjiin<\/a>
An impressive sight with 10 to 12 gold headed, white maned \u2018Lions\u2019 doing the lion dance (shishimai).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The lion dance\u00a0compared to the Chinese version is\u00a0much less acrobatic and colorful. As shown, the body drape is a rather simple green fabric. But that\u2019s just fine as I find most of the polychromed Chinese lion costumes too exuberant.<\/p>\n

\"Tenjin<\/a>
Kasa\u00a0odori\u00a0(umbrella dance) was my favorite event at the Tenjin Matsuri.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The young ladies\u2019 fresh voiced chanting amidst the sea of orange-yellow umbrellas make this a truly vibrant and charming dance.<\/p>\n

\"Grade<\/a>
Grade schoolers had bells hanging from the backs of their costumes.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The celebration was intended to create as much noise as possible in order to invoke the gods, so there were plenty of musical instruments, hand carried or\u00a0on costumes,\u00a0in the procession.<\/p>\n

\"Tenjin<\/a>
Portable shrine (mikoshi) on the parade route.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The mikoshi is taken out and returned each day of the festival. Considering that the floats are non-motorized, and Osaka in summer is brutal \u2013 about 90 F & 75% humidity – working the floats is no mean feat!<\/p>\n

\"Character<\/a>
Beautifully attired character in demon mask.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I was lucky to see this depiction of Sarutahiko, a god characterized by high nose, white hair, and wearing a monkey face mask. Like the Rose Bowl\u00a0Parade, anyone in the procession on horseback had someone walking right behind with a pooper scooper.<\/p>\n

\"Tenjin<\/a>
The banks of the O-kawa river are lined with stalls selling food, games, and \u2026 lots of little goldfish!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I had hoped to visit the stalls to try some Osaka street food. But we ran out of time, so I could only look at them longingly as we dashed towards the boat parade.<\/p>\n

The festival is one of the times you see ladies all decked out in yukatas (summer kimonos), some augmented with fancy obis and hair pieces.<\/p>\n

There were fireworks from 7:30 \u2013 9 pm. We went with the crowds to the river. Luckily we found a great spot on the bridge to view the fireworks and boat parade (Funatogyo). It was\u00a0so fun to see\u00a0the flotilla\u00a0of\u00a0party boats,\u00a0some with their own association shrines and drummers, plying the\u00a0river under the colorfully lit night sky!<\/p>\n