March to the Beat of Your Own Drum

A few weeks ago I was lucky to go with the Marine base to the Gion Drum Festival in Kokura. It was also the first sunny day in awhile; this happened to be one of the worst and longest rainy seasons Japan has had in awhile, just my luck since I am solar powered!!!

The Gion Drum Festival is a three day festival that has been happening for over 360 years. The main highlight of the festival is the second day when the drum festival takes place. The groups of drummers wear traditional yukata and happi and they competing with each other to give the best performance, the festival surroundings echo with the strong beat of their drums.

I knew this was a competition so I thought one group would do their performance and the next etc; however, that was not the case. Each group would walk thru the judging and bandstand area playing and then thru the streets and they kept this up for 3 1/2 hours!!! It was so hot and there were so many little kids that by the end they were so tired.

Looking down on the entrance area of the stands; also the beginning of the competition area.



There are some amazing drums, they are decorated "floats" with the drums on the side and behind it, with people pulling them.





How awesome is his outfit!



These pictures were taken after a long, hot day of them walking around pulling the drums. Look how little and cute they are!!





These kids were having fun as they were waiting to go again:


Even when they weren't walking thru the stands they were playing everywhere and were hanging out wherever they could. They were even walking in the street with the cars!










Even after playing and walking in the hot sun for 4 hours straight each group then found a place throughout the twon, actually a lot were right by the mall and food area, and kept playing there. They were amazing!





How cute is she in her summer kimono and her crocs: