Day 32 - Dance Party, Japan Style.

Just resting up after the Bon odori here in Higashi, the part of Tokyo where Helen lives. It was fun - festival food, people in yukatas, and then performances by a rock group, cheer leaders, a japanese singer and then Taiko drummers. Followed by traditional Japanese dances, where everyone goes around the stage. Hopefully you end up near someone who knows what theyre doing so you can follow along. Some of them are kind of complicated, involving spinning around, but it was really fun. The night is capped off by fireworks, which were particularly impressive as you were really close to them.

Partly because I got to rock my yukata and obi. We had spent the day in Asakusa, a touristy area near the Sensoki temple where we wanted to find a yukata in western sizes. Even if I wasnt big, Im significantly taller than the average japanese woman, so going to a standard department store wouldnt really work. Asakusa is an area that I got to visit last time I was in Tokyo, but I like it there and am glad that we got to go again.

Part of why I like it is the shopping. Besides my yukata, a matching obi, and some ties you need to wear the yukata properly, I also bough a second yukata, a little coat, and then this gorgeous vintage kimono from the Taisho period. Its purple silk, and is handpainted, and doesnt fit me (Japanese women were even tinier way back when). It could kinda pass as a robe, but I also picked up this cool hanger made for displaying kimonos so I could just use it as a decoration back home.

Anyways, another busy day ahead tomorrow - some more sightseeing, possibly also including karaoke and another festival - partly so I have another excuse to wear my yukata :)

Just one picture today - Me and Helen in our yukata with the stage in the background.