お祭り, by Dirk Rösler.

Summer festival right on our doorstep, organised by residents. Stalls also operated by residents which means no junk food and dodgy people selling cheap plastic toys.

I have to say I am particularly enjoying the summer festivals this year. On Sunday morning we went round with various o-mikoshi (portable shrine). They had different ones, one for each group of children, probably made by themselves. They were all replica of the main wooden one which is carried by adults. On the way around the neighbourhood, residents were out splashing the procession with water from the hose or bowls. The kids were screaming in delight. Along that the repeated cries wa shoi!, which I don’t know the meaning of. A lot of fun. I am looking forward to next year with Theobald a little older so he may be able to run around more…