The Kanaya Tea Festival is the most important festival held in Shimada and it is held every two years! It is held on the second week end of April for two days, meaning that the ladies and girls of the whole town parade no less than 4 times during that time. In 2016, it will be held Saturday April 9th and Sunday April 10th.
When you arrive at Kanaya Station you will know that something is going on even though the festival does not take place in front of the station.
The welcoming committee!
Beware, you can expect to be asked to join with the welcoming party for the official photo album.
All ladies from the town participate in festival!
Although for the little ones may need some help.
A cha musume dance party will be on show in front of the station the entire day and in this case no less than three generations participate!
You may find out that the revelers do not wait for the tourists to enjoy a few drinks before joining in the parade.
Festivals are hard work and those veterans definitely enjoyed some respite! Be it under the watchful eyes of the organizers?
Cha Musume Pageant!
Alright, ladies! Get ready!
Let me help with those knots. So cute!
Note the way the dancers were carrying their belongings.
Over 1,000 dancers are all set to go!
Meanwhile onlookers are busy feeding themselves with some deliocious takoyaki.
Or maybe some okonomiyaki?
Some even help out massaging tea leaves after carefully observing a professional demonstration.
It is never too young to start and in two years time these little attentive girls will be veterans!
The festival offers many opportunities for some great pictures.
And you can expect some strong ladies taking part in more muscle-straining roles.
Drums have been one of the main features of the Kanaya Tea Festival, like many other festivals all over Japan, since its beginning. They truly are a main event you should not miss out on.
The drums used to be the sole responsibility of the town’s men at first, but now ladies and youngsters of all ages take part in it meaning the entire population of Kanaya Town participates in the festival!
Nowadays the drum float is motorized and all six drumband from the towndistricts use it in turns.
Kanaya Taiko/金谷太鼓, or The Drums of Kanaya!
The young and young at heart!
Can you spot the little kid in the front on the left? No fear at all!
The drummer of the day is still a high school girl and how about these kids? Incredible!
For photographers “faces” could make up for a whole theme! These men sure look fierce, but actually it is all banter and fun.
Now, what faces are in front?
Even if you ask them to look fierce, they are bound soon or later to burst into laughter! Yet they will gladly invite you over for a drink.
Young visitors and tourists surely will find their soul brotheres and sisters at the Kanaya Tea Festival!
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