Brad and I went to the Shimbashi Koichi Matsuri last night. "Koichi" means "an hour or two" and "Matsuri" is "festival". We went to this festival last year and made a point to go again this year so we could enjoy the traditional folk dances performed as part of the Obon season.

We love the festive atmosphere created by the dozens and dozens of brightly lit paper lanterns strung over the square where the bon dancers, clad in colorful summer kimono and yukata, were perfoming. Even people off the street, dressed in suits or t-shirts and jeans, joined in on the dancing performed in synchronized motions around a tower-like platform. Taiko drummers took turns atop the tower beating out the rhythms that accompanied piped-in folk music.

It started to rain as we began to chow down on our yaki soba (fried noodles) and spring rolls and a Japanese man beckoned us to take shelter with him and his companions at a table under a tent. He also gave us each healthy portions of some delicious sake and the man sitting next to me gave me his fan to help cool down from the stifling heat.