Two weddings, two festivals and a tea ceremony

Ian's mom and her friend Nancy have been visiting and while the weather has not been as accommodating  as we would like, read lots of rain, we have been on the go.  You know me:  go, go, go is my motto.

Sunday we took them for the rapid version of Shibuya, Yoyogi Park, Meiji Shrine and Harajuku.  It seemed that we would wandered into one festival and out another throughout the day.  Each neighborhood has a Shinto shrine and in the shrine, they have a mikoshi, a portable shrine that Shinto followers believe serves as the vehicle of a divine spirit which followers periodically take out and parade through the neighborhood in different states of traditional undress.

girl riding with taiko drum

here comes the fist mikoshi

traditional outfit

young and old alike

the mikoshi

even the dog's get in the act and stroller...

then the second mikoshi parade...

coming down takeshita street

having some fun with no pants on

a family outing

Weddings in Japan are typically a Shinto tradition as well, while funerals are Buddhist ceremonies.  Meiji Shrine is a beautiful peaceful oasis in the heart of Tokyo.  We were literally in crushing pedestrian traffic right outside the shrine entrance and then followed a long, serene gravel lane to the Shrine.

the gate to meiji shrine

in the courtyard

meiji shrine

 Because it is a very popular place to get married, one of the conditions is that the wedding party must consent to be photographed by tourists.  I met an extended British family whose son married a Japanese woman the day before at the shrine who recounted the fun they had being part of the procession.  They said they felt like rock stars.  We will be guests at a wedding next week, but the ceremony will be held at a small neighborhood shrine and only immediate family are invited to that portion of the celebration.

wedding couple number one

the bride and groom will rent their kimono as well as the wedding dress  and tux they will change into for the reception and then the evening gown for the after party

wedding procession number two

shinto priest and his attendants

the bride and groom

I brought Sandy and Nancy to a tea ceremony which was enjoyable.  I think the ceremonies for westerners have been modified and updated in a positive, if more cursory, way since I was here in high school.  I remember having to literally endure hours of sitting on your feet and not moving or falling asleep while your legs were completely numb and starving at the same time listening to the instructor drone on and never knowing when the end was in sight.  In this tea ceremony, we were fed right at the start some sweets that were almost palatable and the viewing of the ceremony did not require unnatural, extended sitting contortions.  I even enjoyed the taste of tea this time around.

our teacher

preparing the tea leaves

Sandy appreciating the tea cup before sipping

a perfect cup o' tea

yum

After the ceremony we met Ian and the boys at the Mori Museum in Roppongi for an installation art exhibit.

We ended the day with steaming, hot ramen at our favorite whole in the wall and jazz at our neighborhood spot.  The ramen shop is only a counter, so it took a little finagling to fit all 7 of us inside.  One of the patrons even stopped on his way out and asked us incredulously how in the world we knew about this place.  Actually, friends who are brother and sister owners/bartenders at our favorite 6 stool bar tipped us off to the place.

Jackson vs. the Ramen Bowl