Oct. 26,2000 A season of Matsuri
Hi, how are you ?
As I didn't write a letter on "To My Friends" page for a long time, some of my friends wrote me if I am alive yet.
Yes, I am quite well, and I am alive yet. (^o^;
Days were passing through so fast and, here in central Japan, already it is mid of autumn, very beautiful and comfortable season. And we can hear Matsuri Bayashi (festival music) at many cities and towns. Now, it is "a season of Matsuri (an annual local festival)". Last week we also had a Matsuri festival of our town.
The left picture is the Matsuri ceremony that held at a shrine of our town. Matsuri originated from the ancient rites related to the agriculture and the spiritual well-being of local communities. It is basically a religious observation.
Since village festivals evolve around the cycle of rice growing from preparation of seedings to harvesting, they center on agricultural rites in spring and fall, celebrating an anticipated good crop or giving thanks for a rich harvest.
While the religious rite is carried out with ceremonious formalities, the festivities following it are a performance of vitality, free from strict rules.
In these days Matsuri is characterized by playful elements, stressing human comradeship.
The right picture is a children's group on Matsuri day. A little girl standing at the top is my elder granddaughter, and behind her is my younger granddaughter with her mother.
Matsuri is the day to be impatient for children. They put on a happi(a coat) for the festival and go to the shrine in a group.
In this season, not only Matsuri but many kind of festivals and events are held. Near my home there is the Komaki Air Base of the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force. Every year Air Festival is held in October at the base. And we can see various latest fighters.
The left picture is the one that I took at the Air Festival of this October. You can see the latest fighters in the picture.
If you want to know about JASDF please click following letters, then you can see more JASDF's fighters.
Go JASDF's Gallery
Well, like this my autumn is going to over, and cold winter will come soon. The next festivity is Christmas. My granddaughters are waiting a present.

Well,sayonara and see you again soon.