Japan

Arao conducts a children's festival for children ages 3, 5, and 7. The celebratory festival, held at the Shinto Shrine, is a dress up affair for the children and parents and features special dances, drum ceremonies, and a parade. Booths of toys lined the sidewalks to the temple. But, by far, the most impressive aspect of the festival was the children's dress and costumes.

The young boy pictured in the top left was one of the drummers that marched in the parade and then played the drums during the festival. The young man atop the horse arrived amidst great fanfare: an entire group of men accompanied him and were singing and dancing as the crowds parted to welcome him to the shrine. Children dressed in uniforms were permitted to eat with him on a large blue tarp. Many of the boys and girls were wearing highly decorated kimonos, and the girls had elaborate hair styles for the occasion.

This was a large festival attended by thousands from the area. I took a large number of pictures of this interesting event and will post more detailed information and a photo album about this later.