TheShrineFestivals

SUOMEKSI
Shortly after the shrine festivals are held in the Fall, each of the Junior high schools has a festival. At the same time that the students are carrying the "mikoshi" around the town they are also passing out flyers announcing the upcoming school festival activities. Since there are two schools and two festivals held on separate days, I have tried to combine highlights from both. The two schools have different "personalities" so to speak, as you will see. Each year there is a different theme and a slightly different program.
Both festivals take place in the gym and there are skits put on by the 3 classes and the teachers. I will have to ask your pardon in advance for a few of the pictures which are a little bit dark, since the lighting was a bit lower than the tolerance level of my digital camera.

The Soubetsu JH program began with a drum recital in the darkened gym	at the climax they popped open a sphere and the tinsel cascaded like fireworks down through the spotlight

a view of the crowd during an intermission	then there was the Japanese Recitation Contest

followed by the English Recitation Contest which I was asked to help judge.	Then, using video projection the students told of their festival preparations.
The Kubonai Junior High School Festival program was similar to Soubetsu Junior High's but featured a "Fantastic Fleamarket" during the lunch break and a "Carnival for Kids" after the scheduled program finished in the afternoon.

The Kubonai Junior High crowd	One part of the "Fantastic Fleamarket"

Two happy munchers, or should I say slurpers as it was "ramen"	After the lunch break the program resumed with choral program

preparing the "Bouncing Water Ballons" game	preparing the "Catching With a Tissuepaper Net" game

and the shooting gallery	and a final one-handed shot going out the door.
Well this part of the tale is complete, but there is so much more yet to be told......