Dazaifu

I went to the Dazaifu light festival this evening. I have no idea what it is about or for as my internet searches have turned up a blank. Oh well.

Dazaifu is a lovely place, if slightly touristy. Once inside the shrines, though, everything takes on a more peaceful and tranquil mood. There's something about the big torii (stone Pi signs), the bridges over little lakes, and the shrine buildings themselves that is very relaxing. We got there an hour early and so had a look around the shrine itself. We possibly should have stayed on the bridge, since that was the closest point to the action. Instead we watched from over the lake, not too far away - we still had a good view. I felt slightly embarrased at our obvious height advantage as all these little Japanese people clamoured to see, but we stood our ground like any good gaijin (foreigner).

In front of the crowd, along the edge of the lake, were hung little candles all the way around. Before the festival began, a few were lit by helpers in Hawaiin-style shirts and more candles were given out to be used as tapers. The front row of the crowd spent the rest of the celebration fruitlessly trying to keep these candles all lit as the wind kept blowing them out. None of them seemed to have any regards for the flamability of there clothes nor of the dripping wax as they leaned as far as they could to light that one candle. When they were all lit though the effect was really lovely, especially the reflections in the lake.

The celebrations took place on a little sort of mini-pier structure in the lake. There were about three dances, not the high energy sort, but consisting of slow and deliberate movements. The first was a man, the second four girls initially with fans but who swapped to sleighbells, and the third was another four girls with flowers. They were accompanied by a man with a big drum, though not played quickly like the taiko drums but, again, deliberate and slow. There were also some men who droned in the background, achieving quater-tones (don't know if that was deliberate), and some stringed instruments and some sort of wind-powered keyboard instrument. At least that's what it sounded like; I didn't really get a glimpse of any of them, apart from the drum.

The whole thing only lasted about 40 minutes, but my back was hurting from all the standing by then. I enjoyed the experience and the little bit of Japanese culture. I didn't take many good photos as it was too dark. I shall have to return during the day to capture the shrine better.