#funabashi loft

[welovefunassyi]

I’ve already posted a video of the Funabashi Loft event on August 6th, 2015, but this one is a bit better quality, especially the audio, so here it is. You really get the matsuri atmosphere. See the photo collection too.

[welovefunassyi]

Some photos of the event today at Funabashi Loft.

Since the theme of the event is a Shinto summer festival to honor Nashigami-sama (the Pear God), Funassyi bangs on a taiko, a traditional drum, and carries a mikoshi (a portable shrine, 3rd photo) too. He’s wearing a nejiri (twisted) hachimaki on his head - a twisted thin towel called a tenugui. This is worn by mikoshi carriers and so on at Shinto festivals. Twisted or untwisted hachimaki are worn by anyone who doesn’t want sweat running down their faces or who want to show they are working hard. You’ve probably seen manga and anime characters wearing them.

Aicchy looks cool and pretty dressed in a yukata, a lightweight summertime kimono, in the 4th photo - the people sitting around the stage are wearing traditional masks that are worn at such festivals. In the 5th photo Funassyi is looking intently at the messages written on pear-shaped tanzaku, which were hung from a bamboo tree during the July 7th tanabata star festival.

The crowd was pretty big as usual, and there were lots of people watching from the parking garage overlooking the stage too.

Photo sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

[welovefunassyi]

July 7th is the Tanabata Festival, also known as the Star Festival, in Japan. On this day, two legendary lovers who were turned into stars, separated by fate by the Milky Way, Hikoboshi (Altair), the man, and Orihime (Vega), the woman, can meet for the only time in the year. People write their wishes onto small pieces of paper called tanzaku, and tie them on to bamboo branches.

The Funabashi branch of the Loft store will hold their own Funassyi-themed Tanabata festival from June 15th to July 7th. Everyone who purchases Funassyi merchandise during that time will get a nashi pear shaped tanzaku to write their wishes on and hang somewhere in the store. After July 7th, the tanzaku will be brought to Ninomiya Jinja, a local Shinto shrine in Funabashi, to be properly sanctified.

The photo above shows a Funassyi doll dressed as Hikoboshi. He’s dressed like an aristocrat of the Asuka period (late 6th to early 8th C.), including the hairstyle. This doll will be on display at Funabashi Loft during the festival.

Press release