Matsuri Tsukuba 2007
Posted on 28. Aug, 2007 by dimaks in Entertainment, Life
The Matsuri (Festival) Tsukuba 2007, organized by the Tsukuba Chamber of Commerce and the Tsukuba Cultural Foundation was concluded on Sunday night by various street performances ranging from comical magic, acrobatic show, musical band, dances, and parades. And who would miss out the cluttering booths selling foods and toys?
I only managed to attend one day of the event, so I had to do things double time – point and shoot, walk, watch, and back to pointing and shooting photos and videos. Honestly, I was excited to watch the “Seshami street” boys playing the shamisen because the instrument they play is somewhat similar to one of the traditional instruments of Maguindanao, called “kutyapi“, and ever since, I love listening to it being played. The music is just astounding and seem to reach the inner soul.
So for that, I hereby share a video (photos included) of the fantastic duo, Ryo Hagiwara and Pierre Ono (both former Tsukuba University students) playing the Shamisen. They really did a good job by adding humor to their play – watch how they change picks along the way. They even came up with a rubber doll.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKBFuGVY304]
After that, I saw this five-members musical band. I was kind of caught with the music’s rhythm until I saw that old woman on my right side, who seemingly had the music brought her to dancing mode until she tried pulling up a Cha-cha.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMpOflBDBYQ]
On the other side, there was the Chinese acrobat group. Now I am convinced that these guys can really do those famous martial arts moves in the movies. Talk about balance, strength and focus. Click the photos to enlarge.
And I wondered what the horses were doing in the festival 
Anyway, they took a lot of slots in my zooomr album, so just in case you want to take a look along with other photos I took in the festival.
The Chuo pond at around 4 pm.
And here is how it looks like in the night.
Overall, it was fun strolling the Chuo park all by myself and watch performances randomly – wherever my feet bring me to. I got lazy looking at the event schedules. As soon as I got them from the distributing booth, I folded them and slipped into my walking short’s side pocket and started walking around.
Well, no Philippine booth this time. Halo-halo would have been a cool treat for the festival goers, under the heat of the sun.
—————-
While writing: Chris Brown – Say Goodbye
via FoxyTunes
Possibly Related Posts:
If you are a Facebook user, why don't you JOIN the great fans of www.skamid.com? Don't forget to check my other blogs too: Voracious Pixels Photo Blog / Scooter & Scootering News and Reviews.
Part-time blogger dimaks is involved in transport planning and research and is into Internet technology, PC games, digital photography, motorcycling and martial arts.. 
K
Aug 28th, 2007
Geez, thanks for that “blowing-musicians”. It reminded me of my dead father and whoops I forgot it was his bday yesterday.
btw, zooomr is a free online photosharing site?
tina
Aug 29th, 2007
parang forte na ng mga intski ang acrobat. hehe.
sounds like a fun festival….
TsukuBlog » Matsuri Tsukuba 2007
Aug 29th, 2007
[...] of Matsuri Tsukuba 2007 by Dimaks. Blog post about Matsuri Tsukuba 2007 by Dimaks. Blog post about Matsuri Tsukuba 2007 by Kathy. Related [...]
Wil
Aug 29th, 2007
The shamisen sounds interesting, but I imagine the two performers played it in a style that is different from how it’s normally played. The jazz performers were pretty good, too. Did you use a camcorder or just your digital camera to record the video? Quality’s pretty good.
Gypsy
Aug 29th, 2007
Galing naman ng mga festivals dyan! Parang di kaya ito yong level ng Japs ah…
kathy
Aug 29th, 2007
Great shots, Dimaks! But of course.
We went there Sunday night, so my videos/photos would be the nighttime version of yours.
I missed the shamisen, drats.
dimaks
Aug 30th, 2007
~K
welcome! and yes, zooomr is a free (i mean free and no limit) online photo-sharing site.
~tina
right, they excel in that field, and of course, selling, as you can see in the booths during festivals.
~Wil
i used my nokia phone for the videos and my digicam for the photos.
the shamisen players were really fantastic. the crowd just can’t stop clapping
~Gypsy
ang dami ngang festivals dito e, minsan nakakalito. this october Tokyo motor naman.
~kathy,
thanks! did you happen to watch the flamenco dance near the rocket place? i got a video in my youtube channel.
verns
Aug 30th, 2007
wow…I can’t remember the last time I was in a festival or in a fiesta but I can still remember the feeling. Always homey and warm.
Glad you had fun Dimaks
tutubi
Aug 30th, 2007
nice blog and interesting post you have here.
nice pic of the lagoon
Mithi
Aug 30th, 2007
Waw, nasa Japan ka na pero naaalala mo pa din ang mga ONLI IN DA PILIPINS bus scenes naten?
Very nice blog, informative and easy on the eyes. Thanks for the bloghop.
K
Aug 31st, 2007
“yes, zooomr is a free (i mean free and no limit)..”
Obviously my previous photo-entry was uploaded from zooomr. I kinda like it. Thanks sa links (I clicked kasi your photos).
dimaks
Aug 31st, 2007
~verns
i never was a fan of festivals, but i am starting to change since i came to Japan.
~tutubi
salamat at napadapo ka rito. daan ka ulit
~Mithi
welcome! i am a public transport rider, that’s why. i hope you drop by again here.
~K
welcome! though zooomr is still in the production and improvement stage, the guys running it are doing a very good job and progress.
annamanila
Aug 31st, 2007
Splendid pictures. I like the horse — so handsome ha.
Kudyapi … thats what we call it. Its sound is also weepy, di ba?
Sorry the video won’t play in my darned pc.
Leica
Sep 1st, 2007
uy,thanks for posting!it havent change much actually for the last five years or so.and yes, i try not to miss it too whenever im in tsukuba. btw, youve got to see kadayawan festival. galing din!
aCey
Sep 1st, 2007
i’m so in love with japan now. haha. i wonder when i’ll ever get to see the place.
thank you for answering the taggie, d!
Richmond
Sep 1st, 2007
Ahhh ganun pala yung itsura ng kudyapi, akala ko flute yun.
dimaks
Sep 2nd, 2007
~annamanila
handsome ba yung horse? hehehe. it was just out of consciousness, kung bakit may kabayo sa festival, so i took the shots. they were subjects anyway
yes, kutyapi or kudyapi as it is called by the Tagalogs.
~Leica
no problemo! hmm perhaps kadayawan is really a must-catch. someday..
~aCey
‘hope you’ll find one someday.
welcome! there are many ways to get to your much-dreamed place
~Richmond
yes, though a kudyapi comes with 2-strings.