Tuesday, July 29, 2014

tanabata matsuri, a Japanese festival




July in Japan means Tanabata, a little holiday that falls on the 7th, which literally means "evening of the seventh." It's the one night where the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi are able to meet over the Milky Way. Even though it fell on the 26th, the Tanabata Matsuri (festival) in Ogawamachi, Saitama was one of the biggest summer omatsuri that I've been to so far in Japan. Ogawamachi is about 2 hours away from Tokyo - big suburban area which is a nice change from the busy city life. The festival was so colorful with all the beautiful decorations, the food stands and toys for children. I was even lucky enough to make wash (Japanese paper) for free. And the hand-made life-like Godzilla figure was just something. The local artist that created it was nice enough to let people pull a rope that emits a spray of water from Godzilla's mouth, all the while blasting the classic soundtrack from the original Japanese film from huge speakers.


I think the most special part of attending this festival was wearing the yukata (summer version of the kimono) my grandmother made for my mother. My grandmother is so talented when it comes to sewing and Japanese traditional kimonos and yukatas. I didn't get the chance to wear this pretty handmade yukata last year, so I was excited to wear this to a grand festival. 



Are there any special summer events are festivals in your country? I would love to know in the comments!

Thank you so much for all the feedback on my last post! I will be returning comments soon :)


Have a great week ahead!



Love,

Samantha Mariko






34 comments:

  1. you look gorgeous! looks like an awesome festival!

    www.bstylevoyage.blogspot.com
    xx

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  2. You look amazing and I'm in love with the print on your Kimono! x
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  3. hi my dear!!How are you?? :) i really love your post...So beautiful photos and you really enjoy that day!!! :) If you want you can take a look on my blog and tell me your opinion about my post :)

    Have an amazing day..
    xoxo Stephania
    http://colorfulblast.blogspot.gr/

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  4. aw that's so cool!
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  5. what a beautiful event. and how amazing you got to wear this traditional outfit passed within your family. =) so special
    xo,
    nancy

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  6. I would love to visit Japan someday! You look gorgeous in your yukata:)

    http://www.stripedlune.blogspot.com

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  7. I love you are so in touch with your culture!

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  8. That Godzilla is pretty impressive. I can only imagine the vibe of this festival that would be emanating here. it must have been magical!

    SDMxx
    www.daringcoco.com
    GIVEAWAY NEWNESS, CHECK IT

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  9. Your Yukata is beautiful and the Godzilla quite frightening! What a great festival--- I am heading to Germany in a few weeks to attend a wine festival in a small village. The town is where my dad grew up and we still have a family house there, it will be my husband's first chance to attend the festivities and I'm super excited!

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  10. Wow great pics and festival, looks amazing. You look so beautiful in the version of kimono, it´s great that it´s handed over generations. :)
    Fashion Happenss

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  11. Your grandmother made such a pretty yukata! Love the festival, looks so fun :)

    xx
    http://felishmichelle.blogspot.com

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  12. You look so stunning and gorgeous honey. Love it! ♥

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    xoxo
    Monika
    http://monikaozdoba.blogspot.com/

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  13. wow. it looks like so much fun. thanks for sharing the photos
    you look great

    x

    ediot

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  14. what a festival it is sam! so gorgeous. love the vendors there and you look beautiful. we have FOOD festivals in new orleans: shrimp, gumbo, tomato, seafood, poboy, oyster festival etc. lol
    http://www.averysweetblog.com/

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  15. Wow, interesting:з

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  16. This is one of the reasons why I wanna go to Japan! To experience life and food and everything!

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  17. I love that your grandmother made this traditional garment, it's just so gorgeous and the entimental value of it makes it even more special. You wear it so well and look like a perfect Japanese doll. This festival looks like so much fun, too!

    xx Hélène
    www.FashionOverReason.com

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  18. Your yukata is beautiful, I love festivals but I don't think I've been to any in a very long time, this one looks like a lot of fun!

    onacruz blog

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  19. Hello, I would like to follow each other? let me know.

    I like your blog, nice to meet you. very nice post

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  20. Oh wow. Beautiful! And you look stunning in that dress!

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  21. great idea! Probably was fantastic :)

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  22. まりこさんこんにちは!
    前におっしゃっていたおばあちゃんの手作り浴衣ですね。
    柄も色もとってもすてきでお似合いです♡
    浴衣や着物を着ると背筋が伸びて
    なんだかいつもと違う気分になりますよね。
    浴衣を着て夏を楽しみましょうね。

    akiko

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  23. The kimono is simply wonderful
    and the stone buda so cute!

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  24. I've been to Japan this year too! But I didn't get a chance to wear kimono. :(
    Awesome post! Lovely photos. :)

    ♡, Jamie of Spotlight on Jamie

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  25. So cute pics and love your yukata style!!
    Beautiful.
    XX

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  26. All these colours, these decorations... It looks gorgeous ! And so do you in this wonderful kimono

    xo. TDVR
    www.tenindvr.blogspot.com

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  27. Oh so lovely festival your looks so wonderful and cute with your Yukata, very lovely post!
    xx

    www.sakuranko.com

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  28. Amazing pictures :D

    Super cool :D


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  29. what a great post!! i wanna go to there someday :))

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  30. beautiful. i do love the colors and the meanings behind these festivals. i love that there is godzilla and is that ultra man? :)

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  31. wow this post look fantastic :D

    xx Cécile
    http://sapetoibien.blogpost.com

    ReplyDelete

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