The Ogaki Omikoshi Parade

Yesterday was one of the best days I have had in Japan. We have a long weekend (today is Sports and Health Day), so yesterday was the perfect time for the city of Ogaki to have an Omikoshi Parade. An Omikoshi is basically a portable shrine in which a local god resides. The local god is taken out into the public once a year and is shaken around (for amusement) and paraded through the neighbourhood. A handful of the ALTs in Ogaki got together and paraded around the City Hall's Omikoshi.

This is the City Hall's portable shrine. It was one of the smallest shrines of the parade but weighed quite a bit. It has a bird on the top. I don't know why. The picture on the right is of Megan from NZ, Laura from US and me! We're wearing Happi coats, which are the traditional dress of shop keepers in Japan.

Before the parade, we all gathered around for some happy snaps (the above photo is of the Ogaki City Hall group. We were cool) and happy sake (Japanese rice wine). The guys all gather around in a circle surrounding a tub full of sake and scoop it out with a wooden ladel and clap and chant while someone skulls it. I did one of the sake skulls, it was an interesting experience....

Of course, the experience wouldn't be complete without a nice refreshment. My choice of drink for the day was Green Apple Chu-Hai. It's a yummy yummy fizzy apple drink which apparently has alcohol in it. We had the esky of drinks follow us through the parade so we wouldn't go without. Turns out the drinking lasted for 14 hours that day (start at midday, finish at 2am.....)

This is Josh (US), Megan and myself carrying the shrine. On the right is the shrine in action! We had been warned that we would be hit on the head, and sure enough Peanut (Megan) was hit a few times. I hope there's no permanent damage.... The parade kept stopping and starting so we could rest the shrine on stands.

I don't know how many floats were actually in the parade, but it was a really good turn out. There were heaps of spectators pointing at all the crazy Gaijin (foreigners), and many many many drunk men. As we carried the shrine down the street, we chanted something that sounded like "Washo"....

There's nothing like having a bit of sake to wet your lips after the efforts of carrying around a shrine!

I have run out of things to say about the day, and I have a stack of photos, so check them out!

LEFT: PJ - the Regional Prefectural Advisor of Seino, which is the region where Ogaki is

RIGHT: Everyone just after getting dressed

LEFT: Predeparture with Ogaki Castle in the background

RIGHT: Me, Ed (from Osaka), Megan

LEFT: Ed, Nate, Josh, Laura, Megan, Me, Xiao Yan

RIGHT: Other groups getting ready for the parade

LEFT: Josh and Andrew carrying the back of the shrine

RIGHT: The parade....

LEFT: Carrying the shrine is hard work....

RIGHT: The girls go crazy

LEFT: They like talking into cones here

RIGHT: Meet my bodyguards

LEFT: Party time

RIGHT: The bird on top of our shrine

Josh thinks it's funny and Xiao Yan wants peace

Laura thinks she's groovy and Megan has a quiet chuckle

Nate wants a hug, I want to hide

LEFT: Josh and me

RIGHT: PJ, Andrew, Megan and Josh

LEFT: The boys with their fans

RIGHT: Andrew, Nate and PJ

LEFT: Me and Andrew

RIGHT: The big happy whale float

LEFT: Laura and Megan

RIGHT: The spectators were amused...

LEFT: Ogaki station in the background
RIGHT: Don't mess with PJ

LEFT: Xiao Yan and Josh
RIGHT: Me and Megan

LEFT: Something in your eye PJ?
RIGHT: Laura, Ed, Josh, Xiao Yan and Megan are all crazy foxes

LEFT: Laura's a bit of a poser...

RIGHT: The teardrop team

LEFT: Teardrop man is better than Santa Claus; RIGHT: Ed, PJ, Josh and Megan are all badasses

Laura and Megan chill out after the parade is finished