I went to the annual air show at Komatsu Base of Japan Air Self-Defense Force on
September 19th. The day, it was unfortunately raining and windy and I worried about
if the show would go on as planned. But when I arrived at the base, the rain stopped.
As I was waiting in line for baggage check, I heard the roar of a fighter approaching.
It sounded like the opening flights started. It brought back a sense like “This is it! I came to the air show!”
After the opening flights, exhibition flights of F-15 and F-12 start.
They show maneuvering flight which appeals their performance, formation and turning flight one after another. A demonstration of a rescue aircraft is another feature.
The members train on a routine basis, so their rappelling looks completely effortless.
I’ve heard that hovering is also very difficult to control.
In the afternoon, Blue Impulse’s acrobatic flight starts finally.
First, all the pilots from the first to sixth craft walk down to each craft orderly.
And the fifth craft takes off to check the weather in the sky and the acrobat programs are
decided by the result finally.
However, as expected, it was fewer than half the number of normal due to bad weather.
Even so, I was happy to see their “corkscrew”.
Annual visitors to Komatsu Air Show’s are about 150,000 people, but this year there were only about 72,000 people. That said, I was overwhelmed by the number of tour buses and headed back home. And I am already looking forward to next year’s show. （H.S)
Phamphlet of this year’s air show
F-15 is displayed on the apron
Less than half people of usual years but it’s pretty crowded on the apron
Before lunch time, queues of people form in front of the food stands
Rest area in the hangar is also crowed (The 1st to 3rd hangar are open to visitors)
Komatsu Base shares the runway with Komatsu Airport, so passenger airplanes also take off as usual
Formation flight of Blue Impulse(I want a telephoto lens!)
Commemorative photo corner with fighter pilots is popular
From last year’s Komatsu Air show (0:51) The fifth Blue Impulse’s takeoff is a traffic violation? That might be, but I want to see that in front of my eyes :)
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Do you know what “Yosakoi” is and when it was begun?
Simply ”Yosakoi” is a type of Japanese dance which people dance with “Naruko (clappers)”.
The name, “Yosakoi” came from an old Japanese way of saying “yosarikoi (come at night)".
”Yosakoi” was started in Kochi Prefecture in 1953.
Members of Kochi Chamber of Commerce and Industry became the act of taking the lead to come up with ideas for establishing a new festival which would be better than
“Awaodori dance” from Tokushima Prefecture.
Awaodori dancers perform without holding anything so people from Kochi Prefecture thought that in order to make something better than Awaodori dance, they should have something while performing to distinguish Kochi’s from Awaodori in Tokushima.
Finally, people from Kochi decided to have “Naruko (clappers)” for the new dance.
This was the start of “Yosakoi” dance.
Let’s watch the video of "Yosakoi" style dance in Fukui.
This is a video which I took in Fukui Phoenix Festival.
There was a festival conducted in the center of Fukui City.
While I was working, I heard some cheerful voice and music from outside the window at the office. The voice and music sounded so exciting and it was full of energy, and it made me smile.
In the morning of the festival, I could tell that it would be an extremely hot day because even it was only 9 or 10 in the morning, the sunshine was already strong. There were many people out working on closing the streets for events of the festival and setting up the stages for these events.
And in the afternoon, many visitors started coming out for the festival. Some of them were on line buying drinks and/or foods in front of hotels, restaurants and/or food stands which created festive atmosphere.
Moreover, I started seeing many people with “Yukata (informal cotton Kimono)” or colorful costumes walking around the city. Also police cars were parked and many police officers were standing on several corners of the city.
This is such an unusual scene for the city.
Some people, especially visitors from overseas might have thought that something must have happened.
Actually, there was “Yosakoi” dance festival which was about to be started soon.
When I went to a department store in Fukui City the other day,
suddenly a sentimental folk song was coming and a line of a folk dance appeared.
According to announcement in the store, they were dancers from a famous festival
“Owara Kaze-no-Bon”, which is held in Yatsuo, Toyama City from September 1st to 3rd
every year, and they came for promoting the festival.
Even in the busy department store, the dancers were bending their steps dancing slowly
along to the music.
Their yukata (cotton kimono for summer) is simple but beautiful with the vivid red color.
Not only the graceful dance but also the musical accompaniment by shamisen and kokyu
(Japanese stringed instruments) is the greatest appeal of the “Owara Kaze-no-Bon”.
“Owara Kaze-no-Bon” is one of traditional events which I would like to see one day
but visitors pour into the small mountainous area every year, so it’s very difficult
even to book a hotel there.
Maybe it’s better to participate in a bus tour to visit the festival. (H.S)
