Almost 100 International Visitors to Nakamachi’s Japanese Culture Event, Day 2!
![Almost 100 International Visitors to Nakamachi's Japanese Culture Event, Day 2!](https://i1.wp.com/visitmatsumoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/37295030886_07e7b52c2b_z-590x443-1-1.jpg?resize=590%2C443&ssl=1)
![Nakamachi japanse culture event day 2](https://i1.wp.com/visitmatsumoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/37295030886_07e7b52c2b_z.jpg?resize=590%2C443&ssl=1)
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.
![Diligent origami folders](https://i1.wp.com/visitmatsumoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/37295017936_531da37ce3_z.jpg?resize=590%2C443&ssl=1)
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.
![Photo shoot on a rickshaw!](https://i2.wp.com/visitmatsumoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/37295023606_02de643c75_z.jpg?resize=590%2C443&ssl=1)
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!).
![The Konpira Fune-Fune game in front of Itoya](https://i2.wp.com/visitmatsumoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/36672670183_b74825462d_z.jpg?resize=590%2C443&ssl=1)
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!
![Visitors trying out the stilts - part of the old-fashioned Japanese toy corner](https://i1.wp.com/visitmatsumoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/37085596900_8572f8e95b_z.jpg?resize=590%2C443&ssl=1)
Let’s hope we see more events like this coming up again in Matsumoto!
* A report of the 1st day is here.