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.
Did you go to the 「東京消防出初式」 (Tokyo Fire Dep’t Demonstration) yesterday (Jan 6)?
I wasn’t able to make it this year. But, as I said in the post above, I’ve been to it before…and I’ll go again ASAP (maybe next year).
Anyway, if you went, what was your impression?
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Eric…
Yeah, my printer’s old. But it still works…so I won’t be replacing it until it stops.
Actually, I haven’t ever really had much need for a scanner.
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When you eventually need to get a new printer, almost all of them have scanners now and are pretty cheap. I completely understand I had to leave all of my print photos in Canada, because I had no space. It made me sad.
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Eric…you should.
As I said, I have “regular” print photos (from a film camera) of that festival in the ’90s. Actually, I have alot of photos of Japan in the 1990’s that I can’t put on my blog because I don’t have a scanner.
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I took a ton of photos. Maybe I’ll post them sometime soon.
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sungypsy….
I enjoy my job. 😉
Personally, I believe that the image of Japanese people being overworked is exaggerated.
I’ve heard that, though the average workday in Japan is longer…Japanese people get a more days off each year than people in other industrialized countries.
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undercovergaijin….
Why are you leaving earlier?
What is your “home country“? America?
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GirlJapan…
Thanks.
Do you like KISS?
That photo of the band in 着物 (kimono) is at the Ofuna-Kannon near 鎌倉 (Kamakura, Japan) when they came here for the first time about 1977.
(The other photo in my blog’s header is a photo I took fairly recently in 渋谷 (Shibuya, Tokyo)).
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Eric…did you take photos when you saw the show there?
I took photos when I saw it last time…but that was years ago—before digital cameras. 😉
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Hello and a happy new year! The fire dept show does look like fun, I wonder if I can pop by too. It is ahrd when work interupts the fun aspects of living in Japan because let`s face it work in Japan is not fun. Especially for the poor Japanese salaryman.
Damon
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i was planning on staying a bit longer, but i might be heading out around the middle of this month. but i will probably be back and forth quite a bit.
as for the name i am actualy japanese but i’ve been away for my whole life.
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I am really digging the Kiss Image in the top left = ) Happy New Year!
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I’ve seen those fireman acrobatics here in Sendai too. It’s pretty amazing some of the stuff they do.
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undercovergaijin…
Funny nickname. 😉 How did you chose it?
>wow that does sound like fun. i might just pass by there myself.
You should if you can. As I wrote above, I’ve been to it before…it’s fun.
>great blog
Thank you. Please visit (and comment) often!
>i only wish i had stummbled upon it before my trip
How long will you stay in Tokyo?
>it would have saved me alot of head scratching
Well, if you have any questions about Japan…feel free to ask. Maybe I can help.
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wow that does sound like fun. i might just pass by there myself.
great blog oyu have here, i only wish i had stummbled upon it before my trip, it would have saved me alot of head scratching haha .
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