"Hey Teacha, COM-MON!"
But I'm getting ahead of myself, it actually started with this: At 7 in the morning I was woken up by restless sounds of drums, shouts and whistles...
Not one cart, but at least 4 coming from all directions.
This is Momotaro, a boy born from a peach found floating down a river. He went on to expel a hoard of monsters from a castle, not bad for a kid born from a peach.
This is a wani, a sort of monster. I thought it was a tengu (a goblin), because of the nose, but I was told that wasn't so.
A Shishi, a dragon dog (I think). The Oni and the Wani's job was to keep the shishi distracted and not let it into the shrine. That's the best explaination I could get with my busted Japanese. They would do this by hitting their spears with these stick things...keepding the Shishi focused at the earth, but as soon as the Shishi broke free and found the heavens it was free.
The Oni. Both the oni and the wani were throwing candies up in the air for the kids. I even got a little piece. Seems like being bonked ont he head is good luck maybe?
I'm happy to be home, it's the next day, I didn't have much of a hangover despite what should have been huge. Lesson learned, when you hear, "Teacha, Com-mon..." run, don't walk the other way.
ps. Happy Birthday to me.. getting so old :P