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:: My Urban Eyes ::

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:: Tuesday, October 04, 2005 ::

Yukata and Bon Dance



Today the local dance circle (i.e. club) composed of Hirakata-shi (i.e. the town we're in) Okaasans (i.e. mom-type people) dressed us foreigners in yukata and taught us a Bon dance--very fun! A yukata is a summer weight kimono. While a kimono can have layers upon layers, the yukata is only one. Without any further ado, the pictures!

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The Okaasans of the dance circle were very helpful in getting us into our yukatas. It's a bit of a process!

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My friend Erin and I. Her obi (the belt-esque thing) had a really cute painted pattern on it. ...and ignore my sneakers. -_^

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My obi from the back. There are lots of different of styles of obi (and tying obi), and they all mean different things. I think this bow is pretty standard/normal, though.

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Me at the fountain in front of the CIE. After we tried them on we went to the cafeteria for lunch--a gaijin (foreigner) in a yukata gets tons of stares! Hehe.

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The Okaasans did a whole bunch of dances for us, some of them were very cool! This one was my favorite, about a husband and wife going off on their honeymoon, I think. The whole thing was very sweet. All of the dancers are girls, so if the guy looks a little fem, that's why. :P

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And here's the group picture! It was really an event, very fun. ^_^

While I'm at it--other things I've done lately!

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Last week I went bowling with Japanese and fellow international students--it was a blast! To give you a clue how the actual game went... the winning score was a 72, I think. Hehe.

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Let me tell you, the Japanese know how to do karaoke. You don't sing in front of an entire bar or restaurant--only in front of your friends. "Karaoke boxes" have lots of little rooms for this purpose. Sometimes drinks are included, as well! Not much drinking on this particular night, but we don't need drinks to have fun, right Mom? ~huge wink~

Other than this, my life has been... school. Exactly. Hehe.

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:: Kazen @ Always Doing 11:58 AM [+] ::
:: ... 4 comments



Comments:
CUTE!!
 
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
 
August wants to know why do you have to wear those dresses?

Very charming! I love the pic of you in front of the fountain! That is a shot to keep forever!
 
You're so not allowed to look more Japanese than I do! :P
 
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