Blooming in Japan: 下関の花火　Shimonoseki Fireworks!

Out of the station at Shimonoseki!

It seems all I do is go to fireworks celebrations. But 'tis the season I suppose. It is Obon now, which means the ancestors come back and you are supposed to visit their graves, go back to your hometown, and have a good time. Anyway, all the yukatas I saw at the Onoda festival made me reallllly want a yukata. A yukata is a summer kimono, they are thinner and cooler than the kimono. Also easier to wash. So the day after the festival I bought a goregous yukata that is blue with yellow and pink sakura, a pink obi with pink sparkles, and the necessary odds and ends to put it all together. Yay! I was determined to wear it to Shimonoseki, despite everyone warning me that it would be crowded. Yeah, so is Disneyworld. I'll survive.

So Saturday I went out and bought a flower for my hair. The girl tried to get me to buy two and showed me a book of yukata hairstyles and looks like the bigger the better. I said no, I'll start with one giant pinky. It's got little pearls popping out of the center. And it was ten dollars. Enough spent.

Then I went home and did my hair only to realize I was running very short on time and I would have to tie my yukata with lightening speed. No problem, I'd only worn one once a year ago and had no idea how it worked, and the lady at the yukata shop had dressed me in it, but how did it go? I did my best and at least got the left then right side done correctly. I goofed the center but my excuse is I'm foreign! I barely made it in time for the train but "Sheeeee's SAFE!"

A blowfish with a goatee?!

Shimonoseki is actually kind of beautiful, now that I'm not driving around aimlessly and hopelessly lost, or driving to the outskirts of town to teach one class. As soon as we stepped off the train, people were saying we were beautiful. For once it was nice to be called that instead of gawked at. You kind of feel like a movie star. When we finally got to the strip next to the ocean, I laughed because I'd been here before, but much more upset and lost. How ironic! We were all sweating profusely and as soon as I found the kakigori stand, we all dove in for snow cones! Yum, peach. It's my favorite flavor in Japan, followed by strawberry. Kristen's Nanny (grandma) and Poppy (grandpa) were visiting and once I saw them all come back with crepes, I went off to find the crepe stand! Ah, chocolate almond. When I came back they wondered where that one was, so I told them I read Japanese so it's not as hard for me to get by. Lucky ducky I suppose. YUM.

After we were all fed, the fireworks began at 8:00 pm and again, I will say wow. Each show has been unique and just as good. The fireworks here were huge! Jenny said "Wow, look at all that exploding cash" and we all laughed. There was also fireworks going off across the ocean in Moji, a city in Kyushu. Shimonoseki is the southernmost city in Yamaguchi, otherwise you leave it for the next island. Very cool idea! There was a lot of ooing and awing from all around. In the middle of it too a guy with a tv camera was taping some girls watching and then he saw us and quickly turned his camera around to get us. I got his picture too so HA Mr. Cameraman! Hope we made the news...

Leaving was of course crazy but it was a fun adventure. The fugu (blowfish) is the national mascot of Shimonoseki so it was everywhere, and always too cute. Now, if only I could find a Fugu Hello Kitty keychain I would be happy.... At least the yukata is easy to wash after a night of baking in the heat! :)

While we waiting for the crowds to leave, we turned around and hopped into the fountain behind us to cool down. Other people had done it before us, so we probably weren't breaking any rules.