Rolled into Nara on a Sunday afternoon expecting the usual sleepy town, psychotic deer and overdressed tourists typical of every other day I’ve spent there. Instead on the first street out of the station we ran into a troop of 30 people looking like they were about to enter a 16th centure yakuza-streetpunk / imperial concubine fashion contest. When we spotted Totoro ducking into an alley to avoid the oncoming group of grandmas with ghostly white faces and american indian style headresses, we figured something was up.

Further investigation revealed that today was the annual Basara festival which, to the best of my understanding, involves a bunch of Naraites getting dressed up in insane costumes and dancing variations of the Yosakoi-Soran dance before taking to the streets for a parade around town. It was a bizarre and amusing way to spend a Sunday.

Posted in Japan on Friday September 2, 2005.

« Previous: It's bad, you know | Next: He do the devil at four. »

Related Posts

Omodaka
Uniqlo Calendar
Weekly Schedule
Highly Effective Train Travel
Kangaroo Court II