Shoin Jinja Market Street Festival / 松陰神社商店街祭り

Did I mention that I love summers in Tokyo (except for the heat and humidity!)? Why? Because I love the neighborhood festivals that are held all over the place. Last Sunday, it was the Shoin Jinja Market Street - a 10 to 15 minute walk from our apartment. The festivities started at one in the afternoon. Once again, we went with our friend Mari-chan and her almost three year old son Shoei. We were later joined by our friend Aki and her daughter Rino-chan. Their significant others were at another drinking engagement. As to why do I like these festivals - the food of course! And a beer or two. Along with scooping for goldfish and superballs for the kiddies. Today's featured goodies are stir-fried noodles, octopus on a stick, scallops on a stick, chicken nuggets, chicken skewers, corn on the cob, okonomiyaki (Japanese-style pancakes), and isobe-yaki (grilled rice cake wrapped with seaweed). And a couple of items from a shop called Saboten - rice balls filled with fried pork cutlets or deep-fried prawns, and some cheese-filled croquettes. Mikako and Shoei enjoyed some ice cream as well.

前に言ってなかったけ？僕は東京の夏大好き（蒸し暑さ以外は）。なぜ？それはいろんな近所の祭りがあるからだ。先週の日曜日は松陰神社商店街祭りでした。うちから歩いて１０分か１５分位の距離かな。今回も友達のマリちゃんともうすぐ３歳になる息子、ショー君。あとから参加したのは私たちの友達のアキちゃんと娘の梨乃ちゃん。旦那たちは別の飲み会に行って。なぜこうゆう近所祭りが好きと聞かれると、もちろん食べ物だよ。冷えたビールも最高だね。子供たちの為は金魚すくいとかスーパーボールすくいもある。今回食べた料理は定番の焼きそば、ホタテ串、串にささったたこ焼き、磯辺焼き、ともろこしとお好み焼き。サボテンとうゆう店からカツとエビ入りのおにぎりとチーズ入りのコロッケ。美香子とショー君がアイスも食べてました。

Shoei with his bag of goldfish (which Mari-chan actually scooped) and a free balloon (which popped unexpectedly!)

ショー君が貰った金魚（本当はマリちゃんがすくったけど）と風船（風船もいきなりパン！と割れた）。

Cheers! / 乾杯

Beer and corn - what a combination / ビールとともろこし‐良いコラボだ。

Now for a parade of the rest of the food:

さて、他の主人個達：Festival standard - yakisoba / 祭りの定番‐焼きそば

A cup full of chicken-skewers / 焼き鳥

Octopus stick / 串にささったたこ焼き

Okonomiyaki (Japanese style pancake) / お好み焼き（結構翔民的な味がした）

Scallop skewers / ホタテの串焼き

Chicken nuggets / チキンナゲッツ

Isobe yaki (rice cake wrapped with seaweed) / 磯辺焼き

Snack foods from Saboten (rice balls with fried pork cutlets and fried prawns) and cheese-filled croquettes.

さぼてんからのおつまみ（カツとエビ入りおにぎりとチーズ入りコロッケ）

Rino-chan gets bigger every time we see her.

梨乃ちゃんを会うたんびに成長してる。

Kids love their ice cream (so does Mikako by the way)

子供はやっぱりアイスが好きだね（美香子もアイス好きやな）

Sorry, no video clips this time around. I did take some but they didn't turn out as well as I hoped they would. We then went to Mari's place and continued to eat and drink until late in the evening (actually, the others did - I spent most of the time playing with Shoei). It was a great day!

申し訳ございませんが、今回の祭りに動画はないです。撮りましたが、できばいが良くなかったので、載せるのを断念しました。このあとはマリちゃんの家に行って夜遅くまで飲んで、食べた。でも僕はほとんどショー君と遊んでた。楽しい一日でした。