Q1 2011 part 1

In short 

It is 2011, the Q1 update starts with the New Year. In this coldest winter in years we make a short dash to the south of Kyushu. There are birthdays, outings with friends and a few birds again. The plumblossom is well recorded and so is our daily life. Let the photo’s tell the story.

Oshogatsu is what the New Year is called in Japan. The celebrations last for 3 days, from January 1st to 3rd. Schools, banks and many shops (not all!) are closed. For many companies it’s the only one time in the year they close  up. People decorate the entrances to homes and offices with ‘kadomatsu’ and ‘shime’, traditional new year’s ornaments. In Meinohama harbor you can see the “shime” on all fishing boats. And on Alishan of course.

In the morning of January 1st the fishermen sit on their deck, drinking sake with family and friends. Note the shime in the upper left corner. 

Osechi Ryori: New Year’s food.

Cooking is done beforehand and things like sushi and sashimi, abundant at any other festivity, are traditionally not part of the Osechi. The dishes are beautifully decorated and made for the eye rather than the stomach. All parts have a meaning. The kazunoko (fish row) symbolizes the wish for children in the new year, black beans are for health and kombu seaweed for joy.

Japan has many traditions and so do we. Every year (when we’re in the country) we celebrate Oshogatsu with the Kako family. The children all came home from Nagoya and Tokyo, Yosuke had returned from England.

Nobuko is an excelent cook, this year was also a real feast!

From left: Shiho, Keisuke, Kohji (Nobuko’s brother) and Yosuke.

At Shibaraku Papa-rin offers his customers New Years’ sake during the first week. 

Tamaseseri

On January 3rd all our neighbors go out to watch the Tamaseseri festival of Meinohama. The fishermen fight over a big wooden ball in a rugby-style scrum and move about slowly towards a shrine where the fisherman who manages to bring the ball up on a special platform can expect some good luck in the coming year.

The wooden ball that’s covered in oil becomes very slippery after a dip in salt water.

Onlookers throw buckets of cold water on the scrum.

Whatever the weather (no snow this year, but only 4-5 C) the guys wear fundoshi, a wrap that hides and protects their private parts and zori, cotton socks with thin straw or rubber soles. Some cheat a bit, like Kunitoshi in his white shirt and leggings.

It’s gotta be steaming hot in there.

Not all men are Japanese, Jaap is in there somewhere...

The scrum enters the ground of Sumiyoshi Jinja

Found Jaap?

Yo-chan and Ma-chin are ready to get the ball.

Anybody who expects the winner to stand up and raise the ball over his head will be disappointed. This is not about winning; it’s just a tradition. The old sacred ball is quickly placed in its box. Everybody sings the Hakata celebration song and it’s over. Afterwards people can briefly touch the ball, as it is the believe that it heals and eases pains.