Beach, Japanese style.

Erin told us to expect a beach, so imagine our suprise when this is what we got. The stone pillar supported walkway, looking like something out of Lord of the Rings, and a stepped, tiled stone harbour type thing complete with separate kids' swimming pool and tents.

The entire construction is amazing, and all the more so since there seems to be no good reason for it's existence. It's some way out of a small and insignificant town, there's no outstanding scenery and after the tunnel there are steps. Steps! I figured it was at least partially for the benefit of wheelchair users, but apparently not.

I was there to say goodbye to Erin, but the rest of the town were engaged in some kind of festival. Without warning we found ourselves in a raft race, in which we secured 3rd place and a totally unexpected 10,000 Yen prize. There was also the 'spin around blindfolded and smash open a watermelon with a bamboo stick' game, the 'scatter hundreds of sea urchins in the shallows and for people to collect when a whistle is blown' game. This was apparently succeeded by a similar thing using rice cakes, but Alison had to go, and I casually told the guy who was trying to get us to stay for this last bit that "I don't really like rice cakes", upon which everyone laughed and Erin later told me he was the mayor. Oops.

Japanese beaches. Most excellent.

Goryoukaku Festival

Although it got rained off last year this was pretty much the same deal as in 2004. Key differences this year being that I was 'Parks', the British ambassador, hence the bow-tie and lack of bastard heavy flag, and that the guys representing France weren't pissed!

Apparently the parade isn't just about Commodore Perry's landing, but just as much about Hijikata Toshizou's last stand fighting for the old regime during the Meiji Restoration. There is a yearly lookalike contest, and the winner takes a key role in the parade. The popularity of this historical figure is difficult to explain, but it mainly comes down to manga, like so much of pop culture in Japan.