出初式

A number of years ago I went to the 東京消防出初式 (Tokyo Fire Department New Year’s Demonstration).

(Click here to see what I wrote about it on my “Tokyo Festivals” page.)

I had been wanting to go again, but never got around to it. I should’ve went last year because the event’s on January 6th every year, and last year January 6 was on a Sunday. Oh well.

This year the event will be next 火曜日 (Tuesday)…January 6, 2009. It’s at the 東京ビッグ・サイト (Tokyo Big Sight) near お台場 (Odaiba).
It starts at 9:30AM.

I was disappointed that it will be on a weekday this year, and I was thinking that I’d have to wait until January 6, 2013…which will be a Sunday and the next time that date falls on a weekend.

But I think I may be able to swing by there for a short time before work next Tuesday! 🙂

It’s an excellent festival. The firemen put out a real fire in a mock building, parade their fire-trucks and fire-boats, and a popular point is when they do the traditional Japanese firemen acrobatic demonstrations.

This is something that firemen in Japan have to be able to do. It’s done nowadays partially for tradition, but mainly for physical training…it was done centuries ago because that was how firemen in Japan used to fight fires—by climbing on bamboo ladders.