There is a smaller omikoshi which elementary school kids can carry. For younger children, they can pull the drums that are played in front of the omikoshi. So from a very young age, residents can take part in this traditional Shinto practice.

The kids took part in this year’s festival with their friend from school. They walked in the blazing sun for a total of about 2 hours (with about 3 breaks in between). They’re too young to carry the shrine, so they carried and together with other kids about the same ages, pulled the long rope that was attached to the trolly carrying the drums. I was impressed that they managed to make it through the entire morning.

I couldn’t help but notice the striking similarity between the omikoshi and the Christian stories about the Ark of the Covenant. …but this will be another topic.

There are more Halloween options lately. We went to the Omotesando Halloween event. There is some sort of stamp rally where you go to shops, collect stamps on a sheet of paper then hand it in for some treats.  We were a bit late, so instead we headed straight to Omotendao Hills where there were some short performances like a clown and magician. And you could have your photos taken.  Kawasaki has their yearly parade in La Citadella, but we didn’t get a chance to go there this year. Instead, my in-laws took the kids to a small Halloween event for kids in Harumi Triton Plaza. Can you guess their costumes this year?

Until April 19th, there is a cute little carousel and replica SL train for kids (and adults) to ride at Akasaka Sacas. Apart from this event, the Akasaka Sacas complex itself doesn’t have as much space for kids to run around and explore as say Tokyo Midtown or Roppongi Hills. If you are in the area though, it’s worth stopping by to eat or grab a snack or to check out some event, like free performances. It is also right in front of the TBS station building. There isn’t much to do in that building, but if you have a little Ultraman fan, he might want to pose next to the giant figure.

Chiyoda line to Akasaka station will leave you right in front of Akasaka Sacas.

This year we went to the Harajuku Halloween event to try to watch the kids parade that goes along Omotesando. Some shops gave out some candies and treats and you could get a special sheet of paper stamped from each shop. After getting 10 different stamps you can get a prize. Although the website says the event is from 11 am – 6pm, by 2:30 pm almost all the shops had no more candies or treats to give out and if you start collecting stamps from different shops at that time there is no way to collect enough required for the prize. We were too late for the parade as well. So getting there around the start time is probably better. Anyhow the kids had fun going out in their costumes and seeing other kids dressed up. Can you guess who the kids are this year? You might need to live in Japan to know who Keiji is.

There is a Japanese national holiday on the second Monday of October known as Health and Sports Day, a day to promote health and physical and mental well-being. Many schools, including ours, hold a sports day during this time, which is like a mini-Olympics with games and some little choreographed performances by each grade. Since the kids are only in nursery school it was not too competitive like older grades, but it was so cute! Even Arisa’s class had a little mini obstacle course where they walk over a little bridge, crawl through a tunnel, then reach the goal. Then there was also a short race. Both were done with a parent. Keiji’s group did a pirate-themed number (isn’t that perfect Auntie Jackie?) for their performance. They had an obstacle course as well which involved jumping down from a stack of planks and tapping a tambourine while jumping off, then running over some rings on the ground, then a parent would give them a piggy back ride to their goal, where they’d get a gold medal from inside a treasure box. The parents have a game as well. We were separated into two teams. Each person wore a string around an ankle, with a balloon at then end. Then each team had to try to pop the other teams balloons. Whichever team had the most balloons left won. It was actually pretty tiring after all the activities were over. It was really fun though. The kids did so well! I can’t believe they can already follow  choreographed routines. Another  Japanese event I often heard about and have seen on TV dramas and finally got to experience for myself.

On the weekend of October 11th-13th was the O-eshiki Buddhist Festival. The festival commemorates the anniversary of the death of Nichiren Shonin, a Buddhist monk who is credited as founder of the Nichiren Sect, which teaches the chanting of Namu Myho Renge Kyo as an essential practice. In his later years, Nichiren traveled trying to reach the hot springs to find a cure for his illness but passed away at Ikegami. He founded Honmonji Temple just before his death. So every year at Honmonji Temple is a big celebration in his honor. We attended the the second night of the festival. It’s beautiful to see the parade of beautifully lit-up mando followed by a lively procession of followers beating drums, playing flutes and chanting as they make their way to Honmonji.