It`s Golden Week in Japan here. A week where most people are off thanks to numerous national holidays conveniently placed next to each other.
I went to the Takatsuki jazz festival yesterday with Reiko and another expat and his wife and had a really good time.
There were 40 different locations in the city where people were playing jazz – in cafes, school grounds, parks and even in buses.
The weather was in the mid 20`s and it reminded me of summer back in England. And yes I felt pangs of homesickness. We sat in a park (which even miraculously for Osaka had grass) and drank beer, played frisbee and chatted.
Of course no Jazz festival would be complete without some Okinawan music (?) and the participants in the photo above gladly provided it.
Okinawan music is very hypnotic and especially so when accompanied by dancing drummers. Ok I was a bit drunk. All in all we had a good time.
i love okinawan music – wish i could’ve gotten some more while i was in japan – toooo late!
At the Takatsuki Jazz Street did you see that 7 year-old drummer boy? I am still amazed at the ability of some kids here, the levels of skill that some are able to reach so young.
I didn`t see the boy sadly. I spent most of the time in the park watching the bands.