fireworks and facial hair

This past weekend Satoko and I drove down to Akita Prefecture to watch an annual nationally famous fireworks show. Actually I believe it was a competition of sorts, but I was clueless to such things as I watched about two and half hours straight of impressive fireworks. They were big and there were lots of them. One looked like a squid (a very popular food here).



We camped in a crowded car lot after the fireworks and the next day drove home and did a bit of sightseeing on the way. Below is a picture of me and a display of a creature called a "namahage." In that region, at some time of year, people dress up in namahage outfits and go to people's houses and scare children. People ward them off with gifts of rice and sake. I watched a father carry his 5 or 6 year old son near a statue like this one, and every time he stepped within five feet the kid would burst out crying and screaming. Scary stuff.



And here is what you've really been waiting for, my facial hair! I stopped shaving on the backpacking trip. We'll see how long this lasts.