Hachioji Matsuri Omikoshi
Hachioji Matsuri is not all huge dashi but also the more common omikoshi carried around town in processions by the townspeople themselves. Carrying these heavy ceremonial shrines is not meant to be a task to be accomplished in the easiest way possible, but rather a group effort where the group’s strength and weaknesses are multiplied through this shrine. If it was just a question of carrying a heavy load from point a to point b it would be far easier accomplished with just four persons. This is one of the secrets to understanding Japanese society I believe.
Carrying these heavy ceremonial shrines is not meant to be a task to be accomplished in the easiest way possible, but rather a group effort where the group’s strength and weaknesses are multiplied through this shrine.
That’s an excellent point. My younger daughter, who taught English in a rural part of Japan, said something similar about the way the teachers’ meetings and curriculum were carried out. There was nothing efficient about the way anything was done: if nothing else, it seemed to run counter to clarity and efficiency. The most important thing seemed to be that everyone was gathered together in a group. They didn’t have to be in total agreement with each other. They didn’t even have to like each other. They just had to show up for the meetings and participate in all of the group activities. If you didn’t, it was gravely noted by all and could result in a silent “shunning” of the offender. My daughter has always been a very independent young woman, having grown up in the US, so it drove her nuts. After three years, she had to say “Da-me!” and go home.
Exactly! That is actually one of the most common complaints from foreigners about working in Japan or trying to blend into Japanese society: everything seems to be performed in a way that will maximize effort rather than as in the west, where we favor efficiency and function over form or thought. Even though I am aware of the difference I have problems with this, so every time I get into a group activity here I psych myself up to be able throw away my “western ego” and just go with the group. It works, sometimes, and when it does everything get so much easier!