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This weekend, July 25, 26 and 27, there will be a Buddha Road Peace Walk at Zenkoji sponsored by volunteer group Wind of Tibet. Info as per link below. Zenkoji Temple played a pivotal role during the Peking Olympic Torch stop at Nagano in their support for religious freedom in Tibet.

今週末、７月２５，２６，２７日に「善光寺へ向かうピースウォーク」が行います。Ｗｉｎｄ　ｏｆ　Ｔｉｂｅｔがスポンサーです。善光寺が北京五輪の聖火リレーで大事な役割しました。詳しくは下記のリンクにて

http://www.geocities.jp/windoftibet/buddharoadtop.htm

上山田温泉の夏祭りがスタートしました。私達旅館若旦那達も「下駄供養」で参加しました。

Kamiyamada Onsen's Summer Festival has begun! The other innkeepers and I took part in the Geta (Wood Clog) Offering.

民踊連磨利、お神楽タイラー

祭り。私の地元のシアトルみたいな都会な所の祭りは専門な人が管理して、我々市民の皆が見るものでした。日本に来てから始めて祭りに参加する楽しみが分かりました。そして、この戸倉上山田温泉に引越ししたら、温泉の夏祭りに参加しない訳に行かないと言うことが分かりました。参加する義務があるというより、温泉の全員、全体の盛り上がりなので毎年の楽しみだ。
今年は亀清旅館の若女将も私も、夫婦で参加しています。妻は民踊連の役員、私は今日：お神楽、明日：お獅子。宿もお陰様でまんぱんで、祭りでも忙しいけれど、年に一度だけなので頑張ります！
Festivals. Back in my home town of Seattle, a festival is something pro organizers put on and the public just watches. It was after coming to Japan that I first experienced the joy of participating in a festival. And after moving to this small town of Togura Kamiyamada Onsen, it wasn't a question of participating or not -- everyone participates. It's not like an obligation; participating in the festival raises the spirit of the whole onsen town -- it's something to look forward to every year.
This year, both myself and my wife Mari and participating. Mari as part of the dance troupe, and I as a member of the Okagura Lion Dance group today, and in the huge Shishi tomorrow. Our inn is full, and participating in the festival takes a lot of energy, but it's only once a year so we're going to try to have fun!