Jeanneabeck’s Weblog

Two years ago when I studied abroad in Iida I got to take part in my first Tanabata festival by visiting my host family’s parrents’ house, feasting while watching fireworks from the 2nd story window and by dressing up in yukata and walking to a near by Shinto shrine to see the fireworks close up and to eat yummy festival food.  This year I didn’t put much thought into Tanabata.  I thought it was on the 7th but wasn’t sure.  When I got home Ryan said that he hear fireworks being shot off all day long so we figured out it was the day.  We ended up going shopping and eating at McDonalds of all places (hey it sounded good), taking the train for the first time in a few months.  Riding back home we started seeing fireworks and as we walked closer and closer to our house the fireworks were nearly overhead.  Excited we walked further down the river and found out where they were being shot from.  Putting two and two together we figured out that these fireworks must be for that same shrine I visited two years ago.  A part of me wanted to go find the shrine but Ryan flopped on the ground and started watching the fireworks.  Laying on the ground is a little weird in Japan, but he decided he didn’t care and I went along with it.  I have never been that close to huge fireworks in all my life.  We got some good photos using my camera’s fireworks mode. Enjoy.