Today, our neighborhood was celebrating the Tanabata or Star Festival. The actual date of the festival is July 7 though. The Tanabata Festival was inspired by a Chinese folktale called "The Princess and the Cowherd". To save myself a little time, I will provide you the origins of the story as explained on Wikipedia:
「Orihime (織姫, Weaving Princess?) the daughter of the Tentei (天帝, Sky King, or the universe itself?) wove beautiful clothes by the bank of the Milky Way (天の川 Amanogawa). Her father loved the cloth that she wove and so she worked very hard every day to weave it. However, she was sad that because of her hard work she could never meet and fall in love with anyone. Concerned about his daughter, Tentei arranged for her to meet Hikoboshi (彦星, Cow Herder Star?) sometimes called Kengyuu (牽牛, Chinese name of Hikoboshi?) who lived and worked on the other side of the Amanogawa River (Milky Way). When the two met, they fell instantly in love with each other and were shortly married. However, once married, Orihime no longer would weave cloth for Tentei and Hikoboshi allowed his cows to stray all over Heaven. In anger, Tentei separated the two lovers across the Amanogawa River and forbade them to meet. Orihime became despondent at the loss of her husband and asked her father to let them meet again. Tentei was moved by his daughter’s tears and allowed the two to meet on the 7th day of the 7th month if Orihime worked hard and finished her weaving. The first time they tried to meet, however, they found that they could not cross the river because there was no bridge. Orihime cried so much that a flock of magpies came and promised to make a bridge with their wings so that she could cross the river. If it rains, the magpies cannot come and the two lovers must wait till next year.」 今日うちの近所で七夕祭りが開催されてました。近所の祭りなので、超しょぼい。日本人は誰でも七夕の話が知ってると思うので、説明はいりませんでしょう。
The festival started at noon. We were joined by our friend Mari and her little boy Shoei. Since we were one of the first people there, we were able to sit a table underneath a parasol. Good thing too, as it was really hot hoday. There was a very small stage set up where we listened to quite a few local musicians and a harp ensemble. We also watched a performance by group of junior high students as we drank beer and ate festival snacks -
yakisoba (stir-fried noodles),
yakitori (chicken skewers), and franfurters on a stick. And for kids, there was a little pool full of superballs that they would try to scoop us using a thin paper spatula.
祭りは昼から始まりました。私達の友達のマリちゃんとマリちゃんの息子ショウエイ君が合流しました。時間がまだ早いので、パラソルの下の良い席をとりました。今日は凄く暑かったので、ラッキと思いした。小さなステージもあり、ビールを飲みながらいろんなロカルミュージシャンを聞きました。中学生の生徒達のパフォーマンスもあり、しょぼいと言いながら結構面白かった。つまみは祭りの定番の焼きそばやたこ焼き、焼き鳥、とフランクを食べました。子供の為にスーパボールすくいもやってました。
Harp Ensemble
After enjoying the tanabata festival, we went to Mari's place and continued to eat and drink and play with Shoei until late at night.
七夕祭りを満喫した後、マリちゃんの家に行って飲んで、食べて、ショウ君と夜まで遊びつづいた。マリちゃん
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