On Sichi-Go-San

camwhorealert!

Today, 5th Nov, was the 'start of the' shichi-go-san festival of Japan, where parents bring their children [3 and 7 years old for girls, 3 and5 years for boys.] to the shrines to ask for blessings and longevity. There's a short ceremony with chanting, and then the priests give the children some candy[paid for in advance by the parents], called CHITOSE AME- the thousand year candy- for longevity. It usually is conducted on the 15th of Nov, or it's closest weekend, but some families choose to go one weekend earlier to avoid the rush.

Fortunately, waseda sai is still on (today last day) and SO is the kimono rental service hee hee. So being the cheap Singaporeans that we are, wanting and I went for round two of the kimono rental and walked to the nearest shrine to see if we were lucky enough to catch any children in kimonos.

But before that, we ate dango. Singaporean mah... must eat one.

This is the shrine gate(stone tori), wanting and I posing under it.

Enterance to the shrine.

Place to wash hand and mouth.

Ceremony, where the priest chants to the deity for blessings. the little girl is in red and wasn't paying attention at all... can't really see her cos her aunt moved-_-. aah well.

Here's another pic... clearer..mm but can't see the girl.

little girl taking photos with family

little children leaving shrine. boy(background) is in hakama, girl(foreground) is in kimono.

little girl posing at the shrine. litle girl being brought to the shrine[from carpark]

more children being taken to the shrine. [from main gate]

with our one hour running out, wanting and i decide to take touristy pictures... haha and do touristy things like adopting a little girl and taking pics with her["we're your oneesan now!"] her mother was rather amused.

Wanting posing with the female lion statue on the shrine grounds. Note the baby lion under the front paw.

Me posing with the male lion on the shrine grounds.

uh. i'll confess i took this cos the plant matched my kimono... pretty shallow, i'll grant you hee hee.

mm. trying to look like i know what this plaque is about.

having a look inside the rest house. a few little girls had to take a rest there cos they couldn't get used to the kimono. poor things. In the bottom right and left corners you can see the white seats.

tired~ resting at the stone tori gate.

And then it's back to campus.

hee hee. WEll, it was only wanting and I, so most of the pics were either her taking for me or me taking for her :P hope you guys didn't get bored lookign at us. hee hee.