Track 1
HAMA House - Monkey Room
(If we want to pull in a decent crowd, then this has to be the spot… No, nevermind. Let’s wait for the survey results first.)
Following a brief knock, the door opens.
Pardon the interruption. I’ve brought the documents you asked for.
You’ve finished already? That was fast—thanks.
Your brief explanation made the project’s intent clear, so it made it easy for us to move forward.
That’s only because you’re good at reading between the lines. Though, of course, I’d expect nothing less from you, Liguang.
Thanks to you, we should be able to get a headstart on the next round of research.
…Is this for that proposal you spoke of before?
Yeah. It’s one of several options on the table right now, at least.
Still, even though you tracked down all this nationwide data for me…
…Just looking at it gets me fired up, honestly. Traditions that have survived for generations in their respective regions always seem to hide the most innovative ideas.
For example—
Yes, that’s right.
…Liguang, could it be that you’re also interested?
—in festivals, that is.
I suppose so. I occasionally have cause to personally look into the distinct characteristics of local festivals.
I knew it! To think I’d find a fellow festival enthusiast in a place like this.
Alright then. Since that’s how it is, I’d absolutely appreciate it if you lent me your aid in drafting this proposal.
A major new initiative to revitalize HAMA’s summer, mobilizing the entire community and local businesses alike—you’re just the man for the job.
If it’s part of HAMA Tours’ duties, I have no reason to refuse.
Thank you. With your help, we might as well have the strength of a hundred people. I look forward to seeing what kind of plan we come up with.
For now, let’s both look for festivals we could use as a benchmark. Then, we’ll narrow down our options from there.
A reference to Okinawa’s Paantu Festival on the island of Miyakojima. It is a sacred local ritual wherein supernatural deities covered in leaves, branches, and mud are believed to descend upon the village to smear residents, newborns, and new homes with mud to chase out evil.
A reference to the traditional Onbashira Festival of Suwa, Nagano, a historic celebration of community where locals hand-haul massive wooden pillars from the mountains down to local shrines. It takes place every 6 years.
A reference to the Yonekawa Mizukaburi Festival in Miyagi Prefecture. This event serves as a spiritual safeguard against arson and house fires, featuring local men who don sacred straw garments to act as deities, dousing the town’s buildings with water to purify and protect the community.
A reference to Honozumo, a ceremonial sumo festival hosted at Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo. Rather than a standard sports tournament, these bouts on the dohyo (that is, the arena used in sumo matches) within the shrine grounds seek to honor the spirits and offer prayers for prosperity.