Bruised and Battered

I write this blog whilst sitting on a padded cushion. This is the result of a 26km ride on my mammachari. Whilst it is a funky, short-distance shopping bike, it is not well suited for cross-country cycling! Let me be clear here – it was Kept Ninja who thought a cycle to Costco would be a great weekend activity… not me. We did however, have a successful Costco trip and are now starving whilst waiting for our bagels… I mean produce, to arrive this morning :)

Resident Team and families

The big highlight of our quiet weekend was Friday night. I work in an area called Tsurumi, at a company called Chiyoda (they are one of the joint venture partners doing the design for Woodside). Anyway, they are a very large company and sponsor a summer parade each year, called “O-mikoshi”. We were each given a traditional Japanese sash called a “Tenugui”… there was some conjecture as to where it should be worn, but we were assured it was not a suitable Sumo diaper and that around the forehead or neck, is preferable.

The parade started with an address by the Chiyoda President and then a shot of sake – my first shot of sake – it was much sweeter than expected but way too strong! 

The O-mikoshi Parade commences

The wooden flutes and drums then serenaded the troops to pick up the O-mikoshi and carry it to the first pitstop – there seemed to be an abundance of volunteers to carry the thing so the Woodsider’s just looked on and drank some beer at the first pitstop. The second leg was the women’s leg – fortunately again, surplus volunteers meant there was no need for me to break my back! The final leg was short of good men, so Ninja, Steve Clearwater and Kui Lee stepped up to the plate! Steve and Kui had an unfortunate location of being in the front, middle of the O-mikoshi – nowhere to escape and maximum impact.

Steve and Kui smiling through the pain

 Ninja was positioned on the side of the float. I let my guard down for one minute and next thing you know a middle-aged Indian fellow was softly caressing Ninja’s back as he fought with the other volunteers to raise the height of the float and preserve his shoulder. Rather perturbed by the sight, I couldn’t help but roll in fits of laughter as Ninja did a ‘haka’-like dance in an effort to lay low. In the absence of video footage, pictures speak volumes :)

Want some lotion with that buddy?

Is he carrying the float at all?

The money shot

At the end of the third leg there were more beers and some photo ops with the O-mikoshi – I didn’t get all of the big group shots on Ninja's camera, but hopefully some surface tomorrow at work. 

Almost there... stay on target...

Refreshments at the end

Chiyoda then hosted a party in the canteen with drinks and nibbles. We escaped early and tried the French Restaurant near work, which had a delicious boeuf bourguignon.

Very quiet Sunday ahead of us today with two bruised tushes and one bruised shoulder (it's a few shades of green with blood blisters thrown in for good measure!). Time to do some uni work!

Xoxo

Karate Kate