Kappy Anniversary to ME!

October 10th is usually Thanksgiving in Canada and Sports Day in Japan though both shall be postponed to Monday this year for the holiday. It is also the TWENTY-SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY of my setting foot in Japan!! In the Yokai Countdown, KAPPA is the featured creature. Thus, I shall regale you of a recent trip I made to the Kappa Festival in Shikama Town. I last visited this same festival 3 years ago.

 

I met the same two mascots I met before, though I can't tell if it's the same individuals inside. As you can see, I'm consuming a cucumber, as it is the norm.

 

A very cool statue in the town square.

I ate a HUGE burger from one of the food trucks. It was almost more than I could handle. (I never should have eaten the cuke.)

 

There were a couple of mediocre J-pop groups.

All in all, it was not as enjoyable an event as before. Almost NOBODY was dressed up in Kappa garb, except for the staff.

I suggest you click the link at the top. THAT was a fun day.

I didn't stick around for the lucky draw because it was beginning to drizzle. There may have been a Kappa parade, I don't know. Here is the parade from a video I took those three years ago. Check out all the costumed individuals and Boogie along.

 

Here is my Kappa pal. 

 

In order to celebrate my anniversary, I picked up a couple of cupcakes, but don't really feel like consuming them before bedtime. I'll eat them for breakfast.

 

 

I was in Tendo, Yamagata for a wedding today and I have another one there tomorrow, so off to bed shortly. I did buy a couple of goodies, one in particular is this Jack Frost* character. I don't know much about it but it looks rather funky.

A quick Google shows that he is a "Shin Megami Tensei: Persona Jack Frost Mini Figure vol. 1 TAKARA TOMY (B) 

Sheesh, someone is asking a ton of money for a similar one. I paid 220 yen!

Speaking of Jack Frost, he shows up in my Monster book. 

 

As for another blog to investigate, try 2 Cool Ghouls.

Good night, more mischief tomorrow. 

Masks are Back!

It was the last session this season with my adult students so they all had a lot to talk about. So barely any time to discuss Halloween! They did all agree to wear masks for a group photo though!

 

 

This makes me smile!

I popped into my local Aeon Mall and snapped a few photos. 

 

   

 

    

 

I even managed to get in some UFO Catching, some sweet treats. 

 

 

A couple of Gatcha.

 

 

 

Speaking of Chucky...

 

 

FANTAstic!

Aw, this is sweet. The Demon Woman of Dojoji slithers her way into our hearts.

(If you can't read the fine print, be sure to click on the pic to embiggen it.)

No time for a movie tonight (I did catch up on "Only Murders in the Building" and "Generation V" though.)

This fellow Countdown blogger may have some movie tidbits for ya. If you like Classic Horrors that is.

Another class with another group of Adults. Maybe they will have some spooky tales to tell (I gave them a homework assignment to do just that.) 

Sticking Your Neck Out.

This giant Yokai, 大入道 (おおにゅうどう) or Ōnyūdō may resemble a priest but they are unrelated to the clergy. Ōnyūdō is a catchall term for giants and "can be separated into four general groups: those that harm humans; those that help humans; transformations of other yōkai; and other, truly unique ōnyūdō that do not fit into any of these categories."

"Regardless of how good or evil at heart a particular ōnyūdō is, they are by nature extremely dangerous. It is generally wise to leave them be. Better to avoid all contact with them than risk enraging an ōnyūdō and bringing destruction upon nearby villages."

Here is one in a parade. He will stick his neck out for anyone.

 This Junji Ito creation is not a Giant, but is an old man. Check out Professor Kinda.

As for me, I too am feeling like an old man, a dinosaur of sorts. We had a fun Halloween party for a bunch of school kids.  Mostly Marios and Princesses but there were a few standouts such as a Grim Reaper gal.

We had a fun game of Quidditch hosted by one of the Gryffindor Professors.

In the background there, you can see Alice has been mutated into a Cheshire Cat. (The Cat part of her attire was home-made.)

We were also aided by a shy witch and a Jack o' Lantern.

I paraded around in my Gachapin track suit. The epitome of lazy costuming.

This time I brought along a little friend.

After the event, I went shopping at the mall and had more gawkers than usual and a few whisperers of "Gachapin!" I took every opportunity to show off in the various displays.

I dropped another 30 bucks on Halloween decorations on sale. I'm a sucker for this.

Speaking of suckers.

And I even won a King Caesar at UFO Catcher (after innumerable attempts.)

I scored a couple of old comics as well for two bucks a piece!

All in all, a pretty good day!