First Market, 2014

Today was Yoshino's 初市 (hatsu ichi), or the first market of the New Year according to the old calendar. It was held in Kamiichi, the region near the Kintetsu Kamiichi station. The street was lined with vendors selling foods and various games for children, like raffles to win video games. The market ended at the Kamiichi Ebisu shrine, where music was being played and two young women dressed in the white and red robes of shinto shrines stood around happily. It was a very pleasant experience, especially as I was able to see a lot of my students, their parents, drink sake out of a bamboo pole being heated by a fire, and help pound some mochi. Also, I got to walk around town dressed as Pinkle, Yoshino's town mascot.

今日は吉野町の初市だった。大和上市駅の周辺で、道に食べ物とゲームの屋台が並んでいた。上市蛭子神社まで続き、そこでにこやかにたっている2人の巫女さんがいた。とても楽しいイベントだった。普段学校でしか会えない生徒たちとしゃべってたり、食べ物を食べたり、炎で暖めた竹から注がれたお酒を飲んだり、お餅をついたりしたからだ。しかも、一瞬ピンクルの格好をつけて、歩いてた。アー、楽しかった。