The weather was very kind to us today and we had bright sunshine all day. The festival was located all along a snake like road winding down towards the temple. There were plenty of food stands along the way with all sorts of food, Chinese dumplings, Indian, and typical Japanese food including a cucumber on a stick! Lol
There were plenty of different styles on show today, some low in the legs, some on the floor, some with chanting or a light melodic pipe sound accompaniment.
I instantly fell in love with Taiko. I loved the really tight choreography and watching everyone spinning their sticks, raising them up, turning and stepping out in absolute synchronisation. The beat feels very primal and gets deep down into your feelings, the change in tempo are well controlled and really bring you up.
The fitness instructor inside of me could see what an amazing workout it was for the entire body. Some styles people were really low down, working glutes, hamstrings, quads etc and of course arms, shoulders and back get a really good hammering. The calories these guys (and girls) must burn in a session and practice must be huge. I was watching the sweat drip off one guy and thinking about how much more I would sweat. Just like my combat class where I always inadvertently sweat on the front row, if I practised Taiko I would cover more than the front row and would definitely loose a few drum sticks through slippy hands!
I picked myself up a best of Taiko CD to listen to back home. I might even crank it up in the stripy boy racer car :) It would be interesting to see if it still has the same same affect out of context but I'm looking forward to finding out!
Another highlight of the day was a little side show involving Hiroshi the Monkey. A very very cute act indeed, I got to shake his hand and he even groomed my hairy forearm, awwwww! Love the Monkey!
Narita although being the location of the main international airport in Tokyo is actually a very pretty place. Lots of quaint typical Japanese buildings lining the road leading down to a very well presented beautiful Temple at the end of it.
The weather had turned considerably colder so we joined everyone else in the bar near the train station. It was a good chance to catch up with Neils friends and get to know them a bit better, as well as drink at happy hour prices and grab food!
We all jumped on the train back to Tokyo and stocked up with a few Chu-Hi's and chocolate for the long journey. A very lively journey indeed but again good banter going on!
Myself and Neil were the only ones that made it into Nichome to spend a few hours in Arty's. It was very different to the other nite, very quiet indeed. Normally they have an all you can drink for 1000¥ 7-9 but due to energy saving they opened late so it didn't attract everyone in.
We kind of had our own dance floor all nite and put in lots of requests for the usual songs. People came and left but we mainly chatted to the bar staff and left at closing time 3am.
Walked down to Sukiya to pick up a burger and rice curry meal, then walked back in the daylight, after 5 we decided to catch a cab on cheap rates. Then our amazing and very full day was over. Awesomeness all round :)))
Location:Narita
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