More Awaodori Men

A couple of weeks ago I posted a few snapshots of some very handsome men taken at the Minamikoshigaya Awaodori festival at the end of last month. Here are a few more very good looking guys from the Fujionren, Kioiren, Soka-Oyamaren and finally the world famous Ahoren from Tokushima prefecture. Are they not fantastic looking?

Awaodori Men

Awaodori is famous for loud music and graceful ladies, but there’s quite a few very handsome men giving their best as well. Here’s a few of the most irresistible guys I could find at the Minamikoshigaya Awaodori festival a little while ago. I have more of these hunks stored up for the coming month! These guys are members of the Kakashiren, Koutaren and Ishinren and the famous, near mythological Ebisuren, respectively Enjoy!

Festival Peak Coming Up – Nagashima Yakumo Festival

Next weekend, the last weekend of July is quite probably the peak of the festival season. Every time I see a poster or an ad for a festival it seems to fall on 27th, 28th and 29th of July! Maybe because it is the first weekend that is guaranteed to be free of the dreaded tsuyu, or the rain period that supposedly stopped early this week. After that weekend the festivals are more spread out with the big obon festival in the middle of the season. Unfortunately I won’t be in town for next weekend, fortunately the reason I am leaving town is to visit a festival! I would need a personal assistant to plan all weekends until november to make sure I get as many festivals as possible.

Speaking of festivals, here’s a few more photographs of the Nagashima Yakumo festival from earlier this month, one of these festivals where the participants outnumber the onlookers! It felt very genuine! Of course it is an event for all ages, from the little babies to the older.

That Festival Look – Nagashima Headwear

One thing that always attracted me to the festivals of Japan was the flair and the fashion sense of the participants. We’re used to seeing young women dressing up independently and making an effort to look fashionable and many young men go to quite some lengths to establish their own character and express themselves through the way they dress. Men, and especially older men don’t have that many chances though, at least not here in Japan. So despite the uniforms worn by people taking part in the many festivals there’s one point where everyone looks completely different: the head scarf! There are endless variations in colors, materials, styles and patterns. Usually it is a short hand towel or a classic Japanese tenugui (long handkerchief) tied in some way that I fail at replicating myself. Have a look at some of these great looking men who took part in the Nagashima Yakumo Jinja Reitaisai (previously blogged about here). I have only tried this look once for a festival and it was a typical said looking western style knot. I should learn to tie them up like these handsome guys! Keep an eye out for the head gear the next time you visit a festival in Japan!