Tokyo Times

Photographs from a small group of islands

Culture

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Close up and personal at a traditional Japanese festival

Japan happily adopts new trends and customs, more often than not blending them so effortlessly into the culture that in no time at all they are part of the culture. But, as rapidly as things change, in many ways they also stay very much the same. An impressive feat that is particularly noticeable when it comes to traditional festivals.

Almost always boisterous and packed affairs, it’s immediately clear that many of them haven’t altered much in the countless decades they have been held. Something that’s especially true when it comes to Asakusa’s Sanja Matsuri, which dates back as far as the sixteen hundreds in its current form. Plus many more centuries earlier in regards less organised celebrations.

Asakusa Sanja Matsuri

An event that, along with the same customs, is clearly just as much fun as it has always has been.

Asakusa Sanja Matsuri

Of a very similar intensity too.

Asakusa Sanja Matsuri

Asakusa Sanja Matsuri

Asakusa Sanja Matsuri

The only real change being the faces on show — both of those involved, and those not.

Asakusa Sanja Matsuri

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A traditional Japanese wedding with untraditional warmth

Due to their rigid formula and unrelenting adherence to time, Japanese weddings can often be uncomfortable and overly serious affairs. As such, lightheartedness may not see the light of day until the second party, and any act of spontaneity is simply out of the question. A strict sense of decorum that in many ways made the post-ceremony scene below all the more endearing.

Greeted by a large group of strangers that very quickly formed around them, the young, rickshaw driven newlyweds were treated to spontaneous applause and joyously uninhibited encouragement. All of which resulted in a wonderfully out of the ordinary moment that made their surprised looks all the brighter.

Japanese newlyweds

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Traditional dancers at a traditional Japanese festival

Tokyo changes at a dizzying pace. Buildings frequently go up and down. Shops and businesses regularly swap hands. Plus fads come and go continuously. Festivals, on the other hand, fortunately don’t — proudly maintaining their traditions and strong community ties.

traditional Japanese dancers at a traditional festival

Events that have presumably altered very little over the years.

traditional Japanese dancers at a traditional festival

Something that can also be said about many of the participants. People who in one way or another have probably been involved since they were kids.

traditional Japanese dancers at a traditional festival

traditional Japanese dancers at a traditional festival

And with Japan’s legendary longevity, they’ll no doubt continue to be involved for many more years to come.

traditional Japanese dancers at a traditional festival

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A brief but beautiful cherry blossom moment

The wonderful weather that resulted in this year’s cherry blossom appearing a good two weeks earlier than usual, sadly upped and left the minute said blooms hit their much publicised weekend peak. Truly rotten timing that left picnic spots awash with rain rather than revellers, with none but the hardiest of hanami goers opting to sit down, drink and deal with the elements.

But between the cold and rain there was a brief spell on Monday when the sun shone, the temperature was turned up a notch or two, and all seemed well with the world. A welcome respite that allowed for this lovely moment, before the rain swept in again and unceremoniously washed it all away.

Japanese cherry blossom couple

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Cherry blossom blues

Cherry blossom season is understandably a big deal in Japan. The weather is warmer. The flowers are beautiful. And the booze flows like there’s no tomorrow. Or at the very least a tomorrow that doesn’t involve getting up early or doing anything particularly taxing.

But at the same time, it’s such a big deal that one must go out and celebrate it. And one must have a good time. No matter how difficult, or how bad an idea, that may be.

Japanese cherry blossom sadness