Exploring BAKAMEN-ODORI 2018

Last July 29, 2018, Sunday, I was very fortunate to travel to Funabashi and witness a wonderful annual festival called, “Bakamen-odori”.

This festival started when poor catches had continued in Funabashi fishermen’s town from the late 1880s to the early 1890s because of the epidemic and accidents at sea. 

In 1990, fishermen dedicated a portable shine to Yatsurugi Shrine to pray for big catch and safety at sea. Since then they have lived together with a summer festival. They learned dancing and musical accompaniment from invited performers from other towns. 

The dancers carry themselves according to their mask for comic effect.

The picture below shows the fox’s mask symbolizes the messenger of the gods to bring a bountiful harvest and catch.

The dancers and musical accompaniment are on the floats which are being towed by people.

The musical accompaniment is being composed by the drums, the small bells and the flutes.

In this event, Japanese food stands are everywhere. They grill squids with sauces which makes its flavour stand out.

A boy in this image watches the float pass by. It almost seems that he wants to be on them when he grows up.

The floats in the parade will leave you amazed as they pass by.

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P.S. This article was reviewed and edited by my English tutors. Thank for all your help.