Eldest-son 2-years-5-months-old. Overjoyed in front of Omikoshi (Potable Shrine) of the local town-block.

　It is the height of the festival season! These days, I feel that there are many happy and enjoyable moments, such as encountering Omikoshi (Portable shrine) passing by at a place I visited by chance, and hearing a festival music…. I would like to thank all the people who have made great preparations and are working hard to keep the culture of the festival uninterrupted while the corona has not yet fully resolved.

　My family also went to see the festival of Ujigami-sama (Local guardian god) and the festival of the shrine in the neighboring area where the night shops are lined up. I had taught Omikoshi as “the god’s vehicle” in advance to my son, so when he saw Omikoshi moving and was greatly interested and said, “It looks like the god is moving. Where is the god going?” It seems that his familiarity with the god was enhanced.

　Come to think of it, when I am with my children in such occasion, we have more opportunities to inter act with the local people such as when going around the local Omiki-jyo (Sacred-sake offering place), we were allowed to play the Japanese-drum there, and being able to place our hands together in prayer before Omikoshi (portable shrine), and we enjoy them very much. It has been said that the relationship between people is weakened in the city long since, but it is very significant and thankful in terms of education and crime prevention to have the face-to-face relationship with the people in the area. And if you go and find an opportunity yourself, the life in the city is not yet altogether bad.