The Japanese call Kokura the "Lucky City". Apparently the pilot of the B29 with the second atomic bomb "Fat Man" was told to only drop it if he had clear skies and could see the target. Despite three runs at the target the cloud held out and the secondary target was chosen. Turned out the cloudy skies that day was lucky for here and disasterous for Nagasaki.
For the last two weeks there has been band practise in the streets and in the lanes and community halls for Kokura Gion Taiko (Kokura Summer Festival). The Kitakyushu area (northern Kyushu) celebrates this every year at the end of their rainy season. The drums are pounded in a rhythm not unlike a heartbeat over and over and over and over (getting the idea ?) and over again. The people seem to have a team, because there was judging going on on Saturday night, and they all have their own float, or small shrine, that they pull through the streets and belt the drums at each end of the float as they go.
I was impressed with the drinks cart following each one too. Some were quite elaborate, some were basic boxes on wheels, and one was a Coleman esky.
The traditional dress was all over and some of the floats and energy was impressive. A different beat would've topped it off. The video shows the style though. It wasn't just a matter of bang-bang on a drum and the drummers were changing places, dancing and chanting as well. Not a bad spectacle at all. Japan has a lot of expats and there was a fair sprinkle throughout the teams too.
I was surprised to see so much traditional clothing out as well, on young children, teenagers and adults. The guy with me from Tokyo was saying that most women in Japan would have at least one kimono, or at least one of the less formal types of kimono (the name has slipped my tiny mind). Even in amongst the high heels, designer clothes and impossible hairdos, the ladies in the kimonos and wooden slippers didn't look out of place, and I think I was close to the only one who notiiced.
Because of the heat (26-30deg) there was a lot of drink stalls and people handing out fans all over the place. The headbands, towels and bandannas were also out in force. They might enjoy their Summer Festival, but I got the feeling they enjoy the winter weather more.
