This evening we helped the preparations for Shimobun’s Tanabata festival by engaging in shiwake.  The setting: Shimobun elementary school gymnasium.  Driving to Shimobun along the river the sky was a beautiful pink.  I wondered if Adam’s tanabata wish might come true…  Arriving at the school, we could hear chattering and laughter.  The gym was busy, filled with piles of colourful objects and bright lights.

Lots of fascinating plastic shapes.  It was quite a spectacle.

Nose to the grindstone.  Each separate pile of objects on the white plastic bags needed one of everything.  Our job was to distribute various coloured paper wishes to each pile.  There were around 200 piles (thats a lot of piles – ouch).  Other people added plastic objects, balls, chains to each pile; the result, each pile was identical having one of everything.

I’m sure those basketball hoops are lower than normal…

Bags are ready to be transported.  That basketball hoop is definitely pretty low.

A cup of cha and some sweet snacks as a reward.
Mutsumi, Eri and I have been working on a float for tanabata.  We just finished it this afternoon.  Looking forward to seeing it floating, from bamboo.