day 296 - Aboshi Lantern Festival (cont'd)...

Old Japan meets New Japan. The young people of the district have chosen a contemporary manga character as the theme for their giant lantern in this ancient ritual.

It's a bit complicated, but bear with me... Medama Oyaji is the father of the boy Kitaro, a manga created by the famous Shigeru Mizuki. Medama Oyaji was once a fully-formed adult who perished of a disease, only to be reborn out of his decayed body as an anthropomorphic version of his own eyeball. He enjoys staying clean, and is often seen bathing in a small bowl...

Not much left of his eye/head now. Strange they should choose to destroy a character they admire. Some politician in effigy might have been better. Wakarimasen.

These beautiful large lanterns above the shrine's archway weren't smashed.

After a day of carting these massive things all around Aboshi, these teams are exhausted, but they continue  lifting, bouncing and swaying the illuminated yatai into the night...