Almost 100 international tourists and foreign residents participated in the last day of Nakamachi’s hands-on Japanese culture event! The second, and last, day of the event was held this past Saturday. This time, two big taiko drums were set out in front of the Kurassic-kan and visitors, kids and adults alike, took no time to pick up the sticks to start drumming out some powerful beats that echoed throughout the town.

Inside the Kurassic-kan, the activity tables were full with people eagerly trying to fold origami into perfect shapes and writing their names translated into Japanese characters with a brush and ink. The tea ceremony corner was also full of enthusiastic “students” who enjoyed the grace and elegance of the tea making tradition.

Matsumoto’s resident ninja and rickshaw puller were especially popular with the kids and young visitors – they got shoot down imaginary enemy ninjas with the darts they blew out of the ninja blowguns and got to experience sitting in a real, traditional rickshaw.

Personally, it was my second time at the event, but I still got to try something new! This time, the experienced shamisen player from Itoya came out to demonstrate the classic geisha game called Konpira Fune-fune. It’s a simple yet challenging game involving two players in which you have tap a cup and pillow in a certain pattern along to shamisen music without making a mistake. The music keeps getting faster and faster, so becomes harder and harder to keep your concentration (not to mention your nerves!).

Although all the activities were engaging and fun, perhaps the best part was meeting new people from all over the world and interacting with the Matsumoto locals. I met a cyclist from Andorra (that tiny country between Spain and France) who had bike all the way from Aomori, a photographer from India, tourists from Egypt, and a researcher from England. In the end, I think it was more than just an event about sharing Japanese culture – it was a great opportunity for international culture exchange for everyone!

Let’s hope we see more events like this coming up again in Matsumoto!

* A report of the 1st day is here.