I finally went to watch the Shimada Obi Festival today where I took literally hundred of pictures and have to divide this report on of the strangest/unusual festivals in Japan into many parts!
this first part will be dedicated to “Happi/半被”, which could be translated as half coats and which are usually worn at Festivals or special occasions to show to which group you belong!
But there are also purely artistic Happi!
A classical design with a lion!
Another classical happi with a chain motif!
Another classical happi with a prawn motif at the top!
A more artistic happi with a stylized Kabuki Theater Face Painting!
Samurai Fight!
The broken mask of a Goblin/Oni called “Han Ya2 in Noh Theater!
A Dragon in the clouds!
A monk astride a Dragon!
Two beautiful artistic happis!
Let’s have a closer look!
River-crossing Lady!
A Phoenix, a Winged Horse/Pegasus and a Turtle in front of a red Mount Fuji!
A Dragon flying around Mount Fuji!
A scene representing a castle with a river, a bridge and a boat in the foreground!
Like a painting of yore!
Beautiful!
Part 2 will be about the “faces of men” i met around the Festival!
RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES
Shop with Intent by Debbie
BULA KANA in Fiji
Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,
Must-see tasting websites:
-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery
Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents
HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City
SHIZUOKA GOURMET 
Is it me or is this mostly a guy thing?
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True! But not always! I’ll show you one though!
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I have never seen anything like many of these. Are they individually printed? Quite amazing.
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Dera Pat, most of them have been owned for years and sometimes generations! They are very impressive. This is the main reason why I decided to fragment the report!
The “artistic” ones are made of silk incidentally! I don’t know if they are printed individually, but I’ll try and ask to tomorrow. In any case they are very limited!
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