ART - Attending a Japanese Summer Festival (in Singapore) 2011

Here on Actar's Reviews, we're not all about Anime and Figures and Japanese Popular Culture, but Traditional Japanese Culture as well.

Today, I went down to the Japanese Summer Festival held in Singapore, organized by the Japanese Association, Singapore. The Summer Festival is widely celebrated in Japan and is a staple in Slice of Life Anime like Lucky Star and Ichigo Mashimaro. The Summer Festival is held every year at the Japanese Primary School (Changi Campus) and aims to provide an authentic Japanese Summer Festival experience in Singapore.

It is an exceedingly popular event and is attended by both Japanese and locals alike. This being my first time at the event, I brought along my camera so that I could share the experience with all of you.

First, the multitude of stalls selling everything from traditional Japanese food to festival favorites to small souvenirs.

Next, we come to the game stalls. Many Summer Festival essentials are there including the Shooting Gallery and Balloon Yo-Yo Fishing. Sadly, Goldfish Scooping was axed by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority.

Lastly, we have the traditional Bon-odori (Bon Dance) where anyone can gather around the main stage and join in the festivities. Once night falls, the even commences.

With that, the Summer Festival comes to a close. While there were no fireworks, JAS did a bang up job in recreating the feel and atmosphere of Summer Festival in Japan. Me, my family and everyone else there certainly had a blast.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• japanese
• summer
• festival
• bon
• odori
• shooting
• gallery
• goldfish
• scooping
• balloon
• fishing
• games
• food
• takoyaki
• candy
• floss
• cotton
• okonomiyaki
• taiyaki
• yukata
• kimono
• singapore
• school

[FrostGibbon]

Whats the predominant language spoken in singapore actar? Just asking since i heard English in the background...at least i believe i did.

[Actar576295]

@FrostGibbon We have four national languages and many dialects, but the most prominent must be English and Chinese.

[koyogshock]

@MewMintArrow this is my school

[DarkMysticz]

Pretty lively event.

[MewMintArrow]

SO LUCKY!!! I live in the UK so there is absolutely NOTHING anime!!! If there was just ONE shop near me with things that people actually WANTED (NOT like my little pony, and other crap we have here) I would be the happiest person in the world! There should be replica toys too!!! With decently dubbed anime NOT BY 4kids!!!

[VillainousHanacha]

Nice event. It certainly has the Sakura Matsuri here in NYC beat as far as attractions are concerned.

And concerning culture and whatnot, I personally believe that food is the best way to understand a culture. Through it, you can understand history, the additudes twoard enjoyment, and even some philosophy. This maybe just my bias as a wannabe chef, but I do heavily believe that one of the defining aspects of culture is it's cuisine.

[Soul8er]

i wish there was a Japanese style festival in our country .. .. our festival here is called FIESTA .. but there are to noisy there like drinking alcohol .. and smokers everywhere ... -_-" its too noisy for me i Rather stay at my house and watch anime or something ..

[ultimatefate]

@Actar576295 theres one more actually , cursing ;p .

[FrostGibbon]

@johnperez1056 yeaaaaaaaaaah me too lol.

[johnperez1056]

i heard sombody say something about watching the vampire knight wtf