This past weekend was the summer festival in my town, Maki. I missed the first day, but the second day I walked around with a few of my friends wearing Yukatas (summer kimonos). We ate okonomiyaki (pancake things...) and watched fireworks. Later, we met a friend at his Izakaya (like a bar, restaurant, party place) and sat around drinking beer and eating small plates of food.
Sunday, the third day of the festival, I met my friend from the swim team and we went to her friend's house on main street. This last night was the Yakata (I don't know if that's really what it's called, but I think it is) which is when teams of young (and some old) men get together and carry this big float covered in lanterns, atop which sits at least two young women (and sometimes young men). They do this thing called 'basho' in which they run in a circle and shake the whole platform up and down. Everyone drinks a lot, and there's even a little black box cart where people who have gotten too drunk can sit. It was absurdly entertaining, and one old man even gave me his happi coat (the festival coat all the men wear). I hope the pictures do it some justice.
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