It was a special treat to join in the Iwate-machi Akimaturi (fall festival) and meet the people who prepared throughout the year for this special festival. We met community and business leaders, students, and others. Getting to talk to locals means a more personalized experience to see and do other things. For example, after returning the float back to the Shrine, we not only climbed on the float for a closer at the detailed work but we also got a quick drumming lesson.
During the snack breaks and Saturday dinner party we were able to talk with people over drinks while enjoying local specialties.
We enjoyed local sashimi (sliced raw fish) and oden (various ingredients cooked in a soy broth) as well as different types of pickles. We tasted locally produced sake that we would not otherwise have had the opportunity to as standers by to the festival.
During the sake tasting on Sunday, a local business leader talked to us about his business breeding cows and producing beef products. He shared with us a new product, still not available in the markets. His “beef nama ham” or cured beef prosciutto (similar to Spanish cecina) was delicious and a great match for the Kesennuma Sake we were tasting.
Festivals bring people together and joining a local festival is a great way to enjoy the meet local people who put their all into the celebrations. Sharing the experience, brings us together and helps us understand each other, no matter where we are from.
Journeys with Sarajean 