Azabu Juban Summer Festival 2015 / 麻布十番納涼祭り ２０１５

I had been going to the Azabu Juban for years.  But then it just became too crowded and as its always held in the middle of August, its also really hot and there is nowhere to sit.  However, what always drew me to this festival was the International Bazaar.  The surrounding embassies would have food booths set up and feature the cuisine of their country.  Last year, the International Bazaar was under construction so I elected not to go.  Actually I hadn't been going for the past few years but I thought it would be great to go to the International Bazaar again.  Unfortunately, it seems that part of the festival is no longer done.  What a bummer!  But still, we were also going to meet up with some friends.

僕にとって東京の夏祭りと言えば麻布十番納涼祭り。でも前年人数が増え、８月の同真ん中でめっちゃ暑いし、混みすぎて、座ってゆっくり食べるところがないんです。それでも毎年行ったこの祭り。僕の目当ては国際バザール周りの大使館が出した屋台。いろんな国が楽しめるが凄い好きだった。でも去年は国際バザールが工事中で大使館の屋台がやってなかった。今年何年ぶりに行こうと思って、行ったら、国際バザール自体がもうやってない！とっても残念！ま、それはおいといて、今年も現地で友達と合流。

My wife and I were early.  So while waiting for our friends, we decided to check out the Juban Shrine nearby.

私たちはちょっと早めに来たので、十番稲荷神社にお参りしました。

Chozuya (hand purification basin) / 手水舎

 

 



We spotted a large gold frog on display here.

金のカエルを発見しました。

And I just happened to be wearing my Pyonkichi (cartoon frog name) T-shirt today too!

今日は偶然でもピョン吉のTシャーツを着てました！

We came upon more of Pyonkichi's friends I think.

あれ、ピョン吉の仲間たちと遭遇。

The Seven Lucky Gods of Fortune can be found here as well.

ここに七福神も出会いました。

I also received another temple seal to add to my collection.  And as we came during the summer festival, I also received the stamp showing the festival as well (the seal on the upper right).

もちろんここの神社の御朱印を貰いましたよ。今の時期ですから、納涼祭りのシールまである！


We still had time to kill and we spotted an interesting looking shop right across from the shrine.  A specialty salt shop!  Yes, I said salt.  All kinds of salt.  I think my sister would live this place.  They even serve ice cream and you could top it with different flavors of salt!

友達が来るまでにまだ時間があったので、気になる店を発見。十番稲荷神社の向かいに塩の専門店「マー塩屋」がありました。いろん塩はもちろん。そして、いろんな料理に合う塩など。そしてアイスもあって、いろんな味の塩をトッピングして楽しめることも出来る。僕の妹もこの店は行きたがるでしょう。

Masuya / 塩屋 （まーすやー）

 

 

 

My wife and I shared an ice cream and we tried all the flavored salts above.  From left to right - cocoa salt, Javanese long pepper salt, yuzu salt, Island pepper salt, snow salt plus, maccha salt, black sesame salt, hibiscus salt, wasabi salt and dynamite salt (which is a blend of black pepper, salt and other spices).

 

妻とアイスを食べて、上記にある塩全部試してみた。左からの順番：ココア塩、ピパーチ塩、ゆず塩、島とうがらし塩、雪塩プラス、抹茶塩、くろごま塩、ハイビ塩、わさび塩とダイナマイト塩（ダイナマイト塩はブラックペッパー、塩、と他のスパイスのブレンドです）。

 

 



The Little Girl in the Red Shoes - Kimi-chan / きみちゃん像

 

Most Japanese are familiar with the story of Kimi-chan, the model for the story "The Little Girl in the Red Shoes".  Since it might be a little difficult to read the caption above, I am only writing the English part of the sign below:

 

 

THE LITTLE GIRL IN THE RED SHOES

 

The little girl in the red shoes has found a permanent home in Azabu Juban.  The little girl is the subject of a well-known children's song, "The Girl in the Red Shoes", written by Ujo Noguchi, the famous poet.  Her name was Kimi-chan.  Kimi-chan was adopted by an American missionary family and was to have gone to America with them.  Kimi-chan's mother believing that her daughter was living happily in America, told this story to Noguchi, who wrote the song.  Later it became known that in fact Kimi-chan did not go to America, but instead was sent to an orphanage in Azabu Juban because she was ill.  She died there at the age of nine.  This statue is a symbol of the strong love between mother and child.

 

 

More public art in Azabu Juban.  [Youganou's Dream] by Neculai Paduraru from Romania.

麻布十番のパブリックアート。「ユガーヌの夢」 ニコライ・パドゥラル （ルーマニア）

[Adam and Eve] by Georges Jeanclos (France).

「アダムとイヴ」 ジョルジュ・ジャンクロ （フランス）

Snack and drink before the actual festival which doesn't start until 3pm.  The booths will not sell anything before then.

納涼祭りが開始するのは午後３時。ですからその前にちょっと飲んで、軽く食べた。

3pm - let the actual festivities begin!  Let's start with a pear and grape chu-hi!

３時 ー 祭り開始！ やっぱり最初は酒ですね。和梨とピオーネチューハイ！

Pyonkichi having a drink as well!

ピョン吉も酒飲むだね！

 

 

Yakisoba（standard festival food) / 焼きそば （祭りの定番料理）

 

 

Yakitori / 焼とり

 

Chinese soup dumpling / 小龍包

 

The above is one of my favorite dishes.

 

僕は小龍包大好きです。

 

 



Hoya (sea squirt) / ホヤ

 

Okay, this tastes pretty good but if you saw what it originally looks like, you would say WTF?

 

ホヤが知らない人なら元を見たらびっくりするでしょう。それは本当に食べ物かっと疑うに違いない。

 

 



Pictured above are sea squirts.  Dang, I actually ate one of those???

上記の写真がホヤです。マジ？俺そういうの食った？？？


Way too crowded at dusk.  You could barely walk between booths.  We decided to call it a day with the promise of meeting again at the "Battle of the Udon" festival (which I already wrote about).  And I was so looking forward to eating some brique and other ethnic dishes.  If they don't bring back the International Bazaar, I don't think I will be going to this festival anymore.

夕方になったら、超混みすぎてちょっとの距離を歩くのも大変。このすぐに解散しました。またみんあでうどん天下一決定戦の祭りに会う約束した。（そのネタはもう書き下ろしましたが）。あ～あ、国際バザールがない麻布十番納涼祭りはもの足りない気分になる。国際バザールが復活しなければ、多分僕はこの祭りにはもう参加しません。