Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Mikoshi Parade

In Japan, fall is marked by mikoshi parades. They are religious processions featuring colorful costumes and elaborate mikoshi. The mikoshi is a sacred shrine carried by men on their shoulders or pulled. Anyways, tons of fun to watch. While Granny and Gramps were here, the city of Yokosuka had their annual mikoshi parade. It starts out in town and then comes on to base where it finishes. It is tons of fun to watch--here are some of the pictures.

The guys that carry the mikoshi wear these short coats, oftentimes with nothing underneath!!

Carrying a mikoshi
Kailey and Cade and I helped pull this mikoshi--there is Kailey in the bottom corner--we had so much fun!!
With the really heavy mikoshi, there are tons of men carrying them and they occasionally will stop and do a little dance to give them a break--you have to see it, but they kind of shuffle their feet and it looks like the mikoshi is going to fall, but it gives everyone a break.

Tons of colorful and unique outfits!

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