Misawa Fesitval

We have been in Japan for about 3 weeks now and I have been horrible about posting any pictures on here (and I have taken a few hundred already).  We have mostly been going to the beach but this last weekend we got to enjoy our first Japan festival.  This was the Misawa festival that was right outside the main gate of the base.  It was real exciting to see all the floats and the traditional clothing that some of the locals wore.  I hope you enjoy my pictures of the festival and I promise to have more pictures of our adventures to come.  Enjoy....

Since we have been here the weather has been hot and sticky, this day was no exception.  Here we found a bit of shade to enjoy some Hawaiian shaved ice to cool down the kids.  

The shrine was the kickoff of the parade.  Later when it started to sprinkle they made sure to cover it up to protect it.  It was followed by two rows of men dressed in some sort of traditional garments.  

You may find this picture unusual but I wanted to show you this.  See the man in the white shorts and black shirt pulling the rope.  He is the beginning of a LONG rope pulling the HUGE float down the road.  Unlike the states they move these floats down manually.  The entire family gets into it, along with little toddlers pulling the rope.  

Every float had drummers of some kind.  They had a specific way of hitting the drums and they all stayed together.  Most of the drummers were kids.  

I just thought this girl was adorable holding cheery blossoms.  She was the start of a new float.  

These floats were so detailed.  You will see towards the end of the pictures that these suckers open up and get to be very big.  

They even get really detailed on the back side.  The big fan on top will lift up when they open it up.

My poor little boy was not feeling really well and he had this pouty face the whole day.  But he did seem to enjoy the floats.  

If you notice the next two floats and their choice for decorating.  I found it funny that they were a little scary...

look at the arrow through the dogs eye.  Even Alyssa said "look at the poor dogs eye".  I wonder what the evil floats stand for.  Something to find out while we are here.  

Pretty girls with pretty flowers.  

The newest members of the Muhs family.  Three little goldfish Alyssa got at a booth, and yes they are still alive.  Check back with me in a couple days :)

MEAT ON A STICK!  Nothing greater than that.  Even AJ insisted  I get one.  I told him it was because he was envious I could and he wouldn't.  And I was right.  

(BTW is was delicious, I went back for seconds)

Alyssa with her new fan.  She loved keeping herself cool.  

One of the floats opened up.  It was HUGE and beautiful.  They take a year to build just for this festival.  

We even meet up with our new friends to enjoy the floats go by.  

It was enjoyed by all.  

Next weekend we are going to the Port Festival to see more gorgeous floats.  Look for my next blog post.