It is Sunday here in Tokyo, just after noon. Today is my first full day in Japan. I am waiting for a train to take me to Kawasaki Daishi station, where I will witness the Kamakura Matsuri, a fertility festival and parade in honor of the Iron Phallus! (Now is this a parade for strap-on FemDoms or what?) I have heard that in addition to carrying around floats covered with penises, people drink excessive amounts of sake, plum wine and beer and sometimes join the parade in masquerade, generally making folls of themselves. And this being Japan, it is impolite to notice someone being foolish, so its a welcome opportunity to bust out of the rather restrictive social/behavioural structure. I’m also looking forward to visiting the Kawasaki Daishi temple and the Wakamiya Hachiman-gu shrine today, the latter being one of just a few of the shrines still dedicated to worship of the fertility deity Kanamara-sama, who is apparently represented as a three foot tall metal cock. Whee! I’m looking to those photo opportunities, and I’ll post some to my blog when I get home.
I’ll write again in a few days. For those of you with assignments from me, do exactly as I say, and do send your status reports! You’ll hear my voice again soon!
