Wednesday, May 04, 2005
AT THE CASTLE
As I wrote several times before, Kochi is a small city on Shikoku island, far away from big cities like Tokyo or Osaka. Life is laid-back here and we residents are a bit backward and old-fashioned. You think that Tom Cruise's friend was the last samurai in Japan? No no, we still have some here.
![](//photos1.blogger.com/img/75/1425/320/photo%201722.jpg)
They need to take a break like this between their busy work shifts at the prefectural office.
Young girls get together on the street and enjoy chatting.
![](//photos1.blogger.com/img/75/1425/320/photo%201708.jpg)
Of course I’m kidding. We are not THAT backward ; )
It’s our “historical fair” being held from May 1 to May 5 at Kochi castle (opening ceremony was on April 30th). They built small shops/houses that look like those we had about 200 to 400 years ago in Edo period. Yes, those who love Japanese jidaigeki (historical dramas) may understand this: It’s the time when Abarenbo-shogun or Mito-komon were around (???).
![](//photos1.blogger.com/img/75/1425/320/photo%201712.jpg)
Set of a small town in Edo period
The volunteers recruited dress in the costumes of that time and stay at the venue from 9 to 5 for 5 days, demonstrating the way of life back then.
You see a well people used hundreds years ago, and a typical tailor's house of Edo period.
Some wanna-be ninjas were practicing throwing shuriken (ninja stars).
It was funny to see the crowd of those people in historical costumes mixed with tourists in T-shirts and jeans.
What’s funnier was seeing the tourists taking photos of those volunteers in costumes taking photos of each other. Well, I did the same, too.
![](//photos1.blogger.com/img/75/1425/320/photo%201709.jpg)
Say Cheese!
There was also a monkey showman performing on stage. It was pretty funny.
![](//photos1.blogger.com/img/75/1425/320/photo%201703.jpg)
"Hey, Are you listening?!" "........"
According to the program, they are performing twice a day throughout the fair! Must be really exhausting. I feel ashamed that the monkey is working harder than some of us Homo sapiens...
I'm going to come visit the castle again to see the concert scheduled on the 5th.
![](//photos1.blogger.com/img/75/1425/320/photo%201713.jpg)
This wig and kimono for 2 more days, 9 to 5? Give us a break...
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/img/75/1425/320/photo%201722.jpg)
They need to take a break like this between their busy work shifts at the prefectural office.
Young girls get together on the street and enjoy chatting.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/img/75/1425/320/photo%201708.jpg)
Of course I’m kidding. We are not THAT backward ; )
It’s our “historical fair” being held from May 1 to May 5 at Kochi castle (opening ceremony was on April 30th). They built small shops/houses that look like those we had about 200 to 400 years ago in Edo period. Yes, those who love Japanese jidaigeki (historical dramas) may understand this: It’s the time when Abarenbo-shogun or Mito-komon were around (???).
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/img/75/1425/320/photo%201712.jpg)
Set of a small town in Edo period
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/img/75/1425/200/photo%201715.jpg)
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/img/75/1425/200/photo%201716.jpg)
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/img/75/1425/200/photo%201702.jpg)
It was funny to see the crowd of those people in historical costumes mixed with tourists in T-shirts and jeans.
What’s funnier was seeing the tourists taking photos of those volunteers in costumes taking photos of each other. Well, I did the same, too.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/img/75/1425/320/photo%201709.jpg)
Say Cheese!
There was also a monkey showman performing on stage. It was pretty funny.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/img/75/1425/320/photo%201703.jpg)
"Hey, Are you listening?!" "........"
According to the program, they are performing twice a day throughout the fair! Must be really exhausting. I feel ashamed that the monkey is working harder than some of us Homo sapiens...
I'm going to come visit the castle again to see the concert scheduled on the 5th.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/img/75/1425/320/photo%201713.jpg)
This wig and kimono for 2 more days, 9 to 5? Give us a break...
posted by obachan, 5/04/2005 12:21:00 AM
4 Comments:
commented by
Anonymous, 5/05/2005 10:25 PM
![Anonymous](https://resources.blogblog.com/img/anon16-rounded.gif)
obachan;
This fair is similar to what we have in Massachusetts and Virginia..
I would enjoy seeing such a fair. It must be so interesting.
Your photos were great... Thank you.
Posted by carlyn
This fair is similar to what we have in Massachusetts and Virginia..
I would enjoy seeing such a fair. It must be so interesting.
Your photos were great... Thank you.
Posted by carlyn
commented by 5/06/2005 12:15 AM
,
wei ting in osaka here...stumbled onto your blog and am very impressed! particularly by your kitchen and herb garden, since i love to cook and have my own spice garden - which unfortunately all died recently when I went on vacation and my friend forgot to water it!!! am going to try to grow basil again, is may too late for the kansai climate?
p.s. i was in kochi over golden week! went down to shimanto-gawa and had absolutely no idea that there was a historical fest going on or else i would have gotten my friends to go there too!
Posted by wt
p.s. i was in kochi over golden week! went down to shimanto-gawa and had absolutely no idea that there was a historical fest going on or else i would have gotten my friends to go there too!
Posted by wt
commented by 5/07/2005 1:57 AM
,
> lemon --- Thank you so much. I'm happy with this background image that I made with the free photo retouch software. I'm glad you liked it, too.
> carlyn --- Oh really? The fair you have over there must be so interesting, too.
> wei ting --- Welcome to my site. You were here in Kochi? Oh I wish I knew that beforehand and could meet you!! Anyway, you're lucky...because I haven't visited the Shimanto river yet even though I'm a Kochi citizen. I lived in Kansai for apx. 20 years before coming back to Kochi. I don't think May is too late for growing basil again. Good luck!
Posted by obachan
> carlyn --- Oh really? The fair you have over there must be so interesting, too.
> wei ting --- Welcome to my site. You were here in Kochi? Oh I wish I knew that beforehand and could meet you!! Anyway, you're lucky...because I haven't visited the Shimanto river yet even though I'm a Kochi citizen. I lived in Kansai for apx. 20 years before coming back to Kochi. I don't think May is too late for growing basil again. Good luck!
Posted by obachan
commented by 5/07/2005 11:28 PM
,
I enjoy reading your blogs very much...stories about your daily life as well as the food!!! I love the new green leaves design on your site as well. :)
Posted by Lemon