Free Choice

Mikoshi Festival

Back in late September, in the busy part of Shibuya, a well known shopping district in Tokyo, I was lucky enough to witness a ‘mikoshi’ making its way through the streets. We had just learned about this briefly in class, and was reluctant if I would ever have a chance to witness this Shinto festival firsthand.

A ‘mikoshi’ is a portable shrine which encases the spirit of a ‘kami’ or deity and usually constructed out of wood and adorned in elaborate silver and gold decorations. The ‘mikoshi’ are carried with two or four poles which support the structure and carried on the shoulders of several dozen parishioners who wear a hapi (a festival coat) and tabi (special socks) . The mikoshi are brought to a Shinto shrine so that the ‘kami’ can enter the mikoshi and then carried around the neighborhood. The mikoshi are usually carried the duration of the entire weekend, and needless to say, our group ran into the same Shinto group of people later that evening, still joyously carrying the structure dancing through the streets.

These festivals which include the mikoshi often take place in the summer or fall and the procession is paraded in order to bring good fortune and to local residences and homes. Various festivals take place in different areas of Japan and in some areas, many mikoshi may gather together in a large area. Different teams of Shinto parishioners carry their own mikoshi, and in its enthusiasm, the atmosphere can grow rowdy and there is a great risk for accidents that may occur during these large gatherings.

I would personally distance myself from those kinds of large gatherings, in order to reduce the risk of injury, though it would be interesting to observe these enormous gatherings, witnessing different groups of Shinto followers boasting their mikoshi which have been so meticulously constructed. Yet having the chance at all, to observe these firsthand, even in the busy streets of Tokyo, reminds me that Shinto is a way of life that is not exclusive but rather incorporated in present day.

More links:

Mikoshi: More information about the Mikoshi

A Photo Collection of a Mikoshi Festival in Yokosuka

A Take on the Man Bag

This week’s topic on Gender in Japan is perhaps one of the more difficult topics to write about. Yet in my two months of living here in Japan, the question which pertain to blurring gender lines is why so many men in Japan seem to be carry large over-the-shoulder bags that are similar to their women's counterparts. In particular, many of the young male students in Kansai carry these large tote-like bags to hold their various items. Questions which stem from this would include: What is the origin of handbags for men, especially in Japan? Why are these kinds of bags so popular here and not back in the United States?

The answer to the question of the origin of the male bag was difficult to search, and the only tidbit I was able to track down was a popularity which emerged in the 1970s. One can safely assume that this fad faded out for a period of time and was reintroduced into the fashion world. The two styles that I have noticed the most included a sling bag (slightly smaller than an average messenger bag) and totes which have two handles and can be slung on the shoulder.

For the American college men I interact with everyday, they would agree that carrying a purse would be practical, but they can usually hold all the items they need in their pockets, which include: keys, a wallet, and a cell phone. So why would these students vote to carry these kinds of bags?

By asking a few of my newfound friends here, the reasons I’ve received were twofold: 1) Fashion. The standard for men’s fashion here in Japan vastly differs than what you would find on an Upstate New York university campus. The best way to describe it would be more experimental in the combinations of solid, bright colors and patterns in their outfits. 2) Convenience. The average Japanese Kansai Gaidai student commutes to school for about one to two hours per day. It would be impossible to carry all of one's possessions in their pockets and slinging a bag over is a more convenient option than a backpack.

Even Japanese magazines cater to their clientele, promoting this kind of fashion. My Western friend originally wanted to buy his first magazine in Japan ‘Fine Boys’ and wondered why the cover boasted a “free gift.” He discovered to find a sizeable tote bag as his free gift. Inside the magazine contained a spread which provided suggestions on how to sport his new bag depending on his outfit choice. He explained that he felt more comfortable carrying it here in Japan than he would back in the States. The fact that more young males tended to carry these same bags and that they were not necessarily a "women's" fashion item in this part of the world blurs these distinct gender-specific fashion boundaries one would find in the United States.

More Links:

PingMag: A short article on men's handbags in Shibuya, Tokyo: Fashion HQ in Tokyo.

Bartman905: What might a man carry in his "man bag"?