If you go down to the woods

Enticed by a poster I found at school for a folk music/dance gathering which happened to be in my local park, I pottered down one Sunday afternoon a few weeks ago. It was considerably more inspired than I ever could have imagined and proved one of my must amusing afternoons yet.

When I arrived at the clearing in the trees there were not many people in evidence - but there was  a bunch of alphorns propped up on a fence.

And, on a near by table, a Wagner tuba.

And some tuned cow bells.

Before long dozens of Japanese dressed in Swiss mountain garb emerged in this central spot from all over the park. The alphorn fanfare was rehearsed and the event kicked off. This lady played the bells ever so well.

Albeit with a bit of cheating.

This chap had acquired a somewhat larger bell and a fine red smock.

The event was MCd by a brilliant chap with a felt pumpkin stretched across his chest.

There was quite a lot of alphorn. They were very good. They bunged the crowed in the middle and spread themselves out around the outside. Quite a blast.

And there was plenty of dancing in lederhosen to keep warm.

Smocked man came back with even bigger bells and was clearly happy. They rang out very, very loudly across the park and attracted quite a crowd.

Things were strange enough, to be in a park in the centre of Tokyo with two score Japanese dressed as Europeans, when this chap arrived. He spoke French to me.

You cannot see that he is wearing traditional Japanese shoes which are like flip flops but the bottoms are wooden and rectangular. On the subject of odd footwear, one of the spectators was wearing these:

Then this fellow in the tracksuit started doing quite vigorous (yet balletic) Tai Chi right by the action.

Just when I thought it could not get any stranger or more inspired the alphorn conductor came around offering all the spectators a small carton of milk.

At that point they made us all join in a dance so I had to put my camera away. It was all quite brilliant.

Weddings and 7-5-3

I went to Meiji Jungu at the weekend, a shrine in a large park in Tokyo. The place seems to be something of a wedding factory. In a couple of hours I think I saw 4 or 5 different wedding parties. They assemble, parade across the temple courtyard following a large red parasol and disappear into a sanctum somewhere. A few minutes later you hear a large drum being gently banged. They all troop out again, have photos taken in a clearing in the woods and then scarper off somewhere for some slap-up sushi.

This weekend was also one of the main weekends for Shichi-Go-San (literally Seven-Five-Three), a traditional Shinto rite of passage. Girls of 3 and 7 and boys of 3 and 5 visit a shrine with their families to drive out evil spirits and wish for longevity and good health. Traditionally at 3 the children are allowed to grow their hair for the first time (no longer observed), at 7 girls are allowed to fasten their kimono with an obi (sash) rather than cords and at 5 boys are allowed to wear the hakama (pleated skirt-type affair) for the first time.

The Japanese love a good photo-opp and there seemed to be more people there taking photos than there were taking part. So I joined in.

A newly-wed couple. Nearly all the brides wore these Maria-esque
head coverings for the ceremony, removing them afterwards.
Their traditional hair-styles are exceptionally beautiful.

Amazing hair as mentioned.

Before the procession.

Guests following the parasol into the main courtyard.

A clearing in the woods with fine light spilling through the trees.

The men are wearing hakama (see above).

The ladies' kimonos took an awful lot of adjusting before the photos.
It seemed mostly that only the bridal party wore traditional Japanese outfits.
They are very keen on Western garb: there were lots of morning suits for the men
and this little boy is wearing the kind of thing I used to be dressed in.

This is the obi.

There were dozens of these enormous flowers dotted about.

Vegan wedding breakfast.

7-5-3 girls.

The boy on the right is wearing a hakama and celebrating 7-5-3.

You can see the medal the 7-5-3 children get.

This lad has an exceptional hat. I think he might be some kind of acolyte.

Spotted by a temple.

Some photos

One afternoon I took some photos at one of the busy stations in Tokyo. I was hoping to capture some of the atmosphere and weirder people. Unfortunately my camera is not too hot in low light and cannot cope with motion. So I ended up with art. (No editing on these, exactly as they came off the device.)