My first Salmon Festival

It was Hokuto's first salmon festival! He enjoyed watching his Ji-Ji on top of the shrine.

Video Footage at Salmon Festival 2008

Here is a video clip of the shrine being carried at the festival. Nice work!

Salmon Festival 2008

Yet another job well done by the Vancouver Omikoshi Group at this year's Canada Day Salmon Festival in Steveston.
Some new additions this year were water guns and a stage of sorts, on wheels for the drummer. The group prides itself on being "green" so the cart was pulled by members of the team (as if carrying the shrine wasn't enough work! But...that's the point I guess).
Some of our favorite comments made by onlookers were:
"Crazy Japanese Float"
"That's insane!"
"They're protesting something"
"It's their religion.....you know."
Q: "Do you know what they're saying?"
A: "No I'm Chinese".

More Powell Street Festival 2007

Here are more pictures from this year's festival, including one of the very tired - but very clean, omikoshi guy.

Powell Street Festival 2007

Here are some pics from last weekend's Powell Street Festival. Well done to all those who came out and made this year's matsuri a memorable event. As the group prepared to raise the shrine, they "cleansed" themselves with sake - at the end of the day some were a little more "clean" than others. The shrine will be brought out again next year for the festival season. Until then....

Powell St. Festival

Omikoshi Vancouver group is scheduled to raise the shrine once again at the 31st Annual Powell St. Festival. Come out and shout "sei-ya" with them at 3:30pm on Sat. August 4th in the Demo Area, Oppenheimer Park; 400 Powell St. Vancouver.
Read more about the festival at www.powellstreetfestival.com

Powell Street Festival 2006

Here are some pictures from last year's festival.

Couldn't resist taking this last picture. Wonder if he'll be dressed like this again this year?? And to answer your other big question, he's wearing a loincloth - albeit a bit teeny......