KJ200610: A Fruitful Autumn (1/2)
Autumn Festival:Various crops ripen to abundance in Autumn, and at farms, the inekari(rice harvest, pulling rice plants from the paddies)takes place.
Recently the use of machines has led to
fewer people participating, but traditionally, schools would have a harvest
holiday so that the children could help their families with the harvest.
After the harvest, autumn festivals take
place at local shrines. The festivals are events of thanksgiving,directed at
the seeds sown in the spring and raised with such care.
On clear Autumn holiday days, large groups of adults and children wearing matching headbands and happi(Japanese -style clothes)can be seen playing chimes, bells and taiko drums while carrying portable shrines through town.
At local shrines, lively markets full of
candy apple, scooping goldfish and cotton candy stalls can be found, and
watching lion dances there is especially enjoyable. It’s a great way of
discovering some traditional Japanese culture .
