Sunday, March 7, 2010

Manila Japanese School Bon Odori

Every year around this time MJS holds a festival in their school grounds, allowing outsiders a taste of Japan in the middle of the Fort.

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Our attention was immediately riveted to the center of the grounds, to the yagura, where there were taiko drums and the lead dancers going around it. Surrounding the yagura, on the grounds, parents, teachers, the kids and other participants also danced counterclockwise.
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We had a little picnic. Didn't have anything to cover the ground with unlike some who came prepared. But the grounds seem pretty clean, just dusty.
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Dang contributed yakisoba, Claire okonomiyaki, me takoyaki. I thought the okonomiyaki was the best.

I wasn't able to get as much pictures as I wanted. Totally missed getting some of the Mainichi Shinbun's goldfishes.
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The food booths.
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Dang's wagashi, japanese pastry. Notice the sakura design.
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Takoyaki stand
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Cotton candy sign
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Ramen sign
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Sakaya
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Awesome head dress.
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Claire went gaga over that school clock.
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Construction team for the yagura and lights I expect. Professional all the way.
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Headquarters and first aide station.
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Another taste of Japan, smoking corners.
Ran into old students. Lisa and Deanna Chang are from Taiwan. They're UST students. Lisa studies biochem, Deanna piano. They're here to study English, Japanese and Spanish. An old MJS student friend of theirs took them here.
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And to cap off an already wonderful day, stupendous fireworks.
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My take home midnight snack.
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Didn't arrive early enough to get the complimentary fans, but the folks at a booth turned the other way when I wanted to ask if I could have one.
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1 comment:

  1. Nice coverage of the festival! :D I went crazy over the school clock because in anime, there's always a school clock and I saw one in person. Hahaha.

    Your students are cute in their yukata <3

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