Only in summer

I decided this afternoon that I really needed to get out and walk for a bit before it got too dark. The quality of my physical exercise has become a bit tatty recently.  I noticed when I was greeting Mrs. Kusaka that it seemed a bit cooler and drier outside than it had been this morning.  So, after dinner I got my bag and a towel, put on proper shoes (not Crocs or sandals) and stepped outside. 

I immediately heard a distinctive sound. It was music, but of a special type heard on certain summer evenings in this area. Summer festival music with the strong beat of taiko drums and and the plaintive vocal.  So I headed toward the elementary school and the sound grew louder.  I had been to this festival in 2004 and really, it looked much the same.  There were more drummers today and a fire truck, but otherwise the same.  No doubt the annual PTA summer fundraiser.

Having seen fellow blogger, Nancy J's video of the newborn lambs gave me the idea to take a video with my camera, which I had never done. It's quite a small, relatively uncomplicated camera and I had never videoed with it before.  I did manage to figure out how to switch modes and off I went.  Here it is:                                                               

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Sleeping Sakura and Taiko Surprise

For the third Sunday in a row my friend Sachiko and I have headed off for a walk after church. Today we headed east to the Nakayama area of Ichikawa City. We visited a gallery there exhibiting the water color paintings of a local artist named Oshitani. He is a retired businessman who has been painting for only 14 years or so.  I really like his pastel palette and his interpretation of water and sky elements. Many of the paintings were from his travels in Europe. We were invited to sit with the artist and enjoyed ocha and conversation.

Having walked along the JR line to get to Nakayama, we returned along the Keisei Line. We walked beside the Mama River at several points and looked at the cherry trees. I had read that Sakura had officially opened in the Tokyo area on March 31, however cold days followed and the trees have not yet really opened their blooms. Sachiko san says they are sleeping, waiting  for warmer weather. However, we were rewarded with a chance encounter with a Taiko performance by some young people. I love Taiko. It's loud and rather primal. These kids, as is usual were well practiced and gave a really charming performance.