T.G.I.F.: Tokyo Ice Festival

Happy Friday everyone! Rainy season is  looming and like I mentioned last week, events are become scarcer during the months of June. Our first big cyclone of the year was on course to hit the larger Tokyo area tomorrow and last about 2-4 days but fortunately it has diverted south and missed Japan. That means this weekend, while a touch rainy, is not going to be spent entirely inside.


Precipitation aside, this event looks like it is still a go-ahead this weekend in Yoyogi Park, Tokyo. Click the image for more details...

This weekend I am heading to Tokyo to meet a friend visiting from Australia so we might check out this event! Have a great weekend!

The Izu Life: Sports Day

Yesterday was my high school's sports day. The kids work hard all year and this is one of their most looked-forward-to events; a day where they can let loose, forget about studying, and enjoy themselves. Enjoy some snaps below...

Tops Tuesday!

Tops

I know this didn't strictly take place in Japan but anime and cosplay originated in Japan so this dude and his awesome Blue-Eyes White Dragon cosplay that he is trying to sell make this week's Tops Tuesday post...

See you tomorrow for a post about my school's Sports Festival!

The Izu Life: Culture Festival!

Last weekend was the Bunkasai (Culture Festival) of the school where I work. The kids had an amazing time! You could tell they were much more genki than usual and I found they where much more open to me and the gibberish I speak than any other day. Many ran up to me to have full conversations in English which is like pulling hen's teeth to get them to do during class! For many students, the Culture Festival is the event of the year. And so, the students worked all week after school, sometimes late into the night, to prepare their classrooms to serve as haunted houses, cafes and project displays. Enjoy some pictures below!

T.G.I.F.: Takigi O-Noh (Bonfire Noh performance), Kyoto

Heading into June, it's going to become increasingly difficult to locate festivals and events happening on the weekend. June is the rainy season in Japan so fewer organizations are willing to schedule events during this time. Personally, I'm hoping for a similar rainy season to last year's lackluster performance so maybe June will actually turn out to be quite enjoyable.

This June 1st and 2nd is the Takigi O-Noh (Bonfire Noh performance) in Kyoto. Performed at the famous Heian Jingu Shrine under the cloak of night's darkness, this performance makes use of elaborate costumes and masks to convey emotion rather than the actor's own facial expressions. So, if you're in Kyoto, check it out! Click the image below for more information...

http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/attractions/event/traditionalevents/a28_fes_noh.html

On a side note, this weekend is my school's cultural festival, which means two things: 1) this is my second school festival in Japan,  and 2) I can lookforward to a 9-day week because the sports festival follows immediately on Tuesday. When I first heard I would be working for 9 days in a row, I didn't even bat an eyelid. I think its interesting how I've been living here long enough that when something like this happens, I just think to myself "Meh. Its Japan."

What are you doing this weekend?