Earth Celebration...

Most Japanese are familiar with Sado Island for its famous water tub boats. There were massive numbers of tourist buses lined up in front of the harbour so that people could partake of this novelty marine event. I'm quite sure there was a distinctive folk music to accompany the whole experience, as some traditonal folk music was blasting out of the speakers. I resisted the temptation to join the crowd and focused on the raison d'etre: Kodo's Earth Celebration















Ogimachi - at the hub of EC and most hospitable

I made sure that I would not miss out on this opportunity - Kodo's Earth Celebration (EC) on the legendary Sado Island. I did not really have the money to attend, but I felt that I really deserved to do this, after all that I had been through in the last year. It was very hot and amazing. I met so many different kinds of people and wished that I could have done so much more, but the heat made it very difficult. And the lack of sleep. I was camped out on the beach and of course, there were drum circles going on all night and there was little sleep to be had. I was exhausted, but forced myself to do as much as I could. I ate, I drank, I saw as many perfomrances as I could and I socialized as much as I could considering my physical state. I wish that I could have done a lot more and I regret not getting people's contact information.











A view of Sado Island from the ferry...I was very excited at the first glimpse and prowled the streets of Ogimachi.

It was great to see members of Kodo in their home turf, so relaxed. Their family members were about and I met brothers and mothers selling home made items. I felt right at home. It was very reminiscent of events I had participated in the past. I was surprised to see Kodo in this light, as the group strikes me as rather conservative in many respects. However I have shifted my opinion considerably since this experience and really enjoyed this mellow Kodo.











The heat was altogether something I was not familiar with, however, and it really dragged me down. I did take a plunge in the ocean on my last morning, somewhat refreshing. I enjoyed sights of Ogimachi, a town that had thrown itself right into the Earth Celebration spirit.













I have saved most of the performance aspects for my ethnoid blog. This is the down time section of EC. Here I can include shots about town, which I enjoyed thorougly, despite the fact that it seemed quite empty. Perhaps everyone leaves during the festival. The town does have its own proper matsuri taking place a week after EC, so maybe everyone was immersed in preparations.













The gateway to Kiseki Shrine, quiet only because this pic was taken after the festival, otherwise there would have been a constant throng of human folk. Beyond the gate is the shrine itself where a stage ha been set up along with sound system. All of the concert paraphanaelia had been taken down and EC folks were dismantling the stage at Shiroyama, beyond the shrine. It was a big no-no, but I had unknowingly taken some pics at the concert at Shiroyama and so will disclose here amongst friends, but refrain from posting on the ethnoid blog. This will give you an idea of the Kodo concerts, which by the way, were incredible and adjectives will not suffice. You had to be there. I was awestruck. And the drums. Gotta love those drums!

So after the festival, I had enough down time to stroll around and watch the unwinding of EC. I checked out Ogimachi and strolled along the waterway checking out the tub boats and the kitties. Very cool cats, by the way. I was very amused by the tub boats as you can tell by numerous pics. Yes, I did want to have a go, but alas, no, it was not meant to be. Maybe next time.

Bye for now, see you next Earth Celebration............