Natsu Matsuri
Last weekend I got a flier for a natsu matsuri held downtown yesterday to commemorate the opening of the new East Gate for Sendai Station. The police had blocked off the main street running in front of the station, and people had turned out in droves to enjoy the festivities. And I've got photos and videos for ya.
Aside from the typical street vendors selling different kinds of foods, the main attraction was a sort of dancing parade with performers from different groups across the city.
Click the image to play the video (1.4MB, DivX 5)
It's fun to stay at the... Y-M-C-A
Fun for all ages
I took these photos from the end of the parade line. Each group was supposed to finish up at our side of the parade grounds, and then file out the end. But something happened. One group continued to play as they left the parade grounds. And then the next group joined them. And the next. And before I knew it, the parade had spilled out of its contained area, and people just started dancing in the street.
Click the image to play the video (2.6MB, DivX 5)
The little girl gets jiggy with it
She is the dancing queen
And then the spry old lady started busting out the wicked moves. She was probably in her 70's and she was tearing up the floor.
And then they saw the foreigner put away his camera, and a group of people pulled me into the fray and handed me a fan.