TwoCooks: Plus Two: Circus in Kitakyushu, Japan

This blog is an old entry that didn't get posted when the event occurred. This was mid to end of April. Samuel was 2 1/2 months.

Golden Week is a set of 4 holidays within a week's time celebrated in Japan. It is celebrated every year in the last couple days of April into the first week of May. Many people have off of work and travel to vacation or visit with family and friends.

This year April 29 began Golden Week with 'Showa Day.' April 29th is the former emperor Showa's birthday. Showa died in 1989. May 3 is 'Constitution Day' and on May 3, 1947, the new postwar constitution was put into effect. May 4, is 'Greenery Day.' This day is dedicated to nature and the environment. May 5 is 'Children's Day.' In Japan, they have a Boy's Festival and a Girl's Festival. The Girl's Festival is celebrated on March 3. The Boy's Festival is celebrated on this day during Golden Week. On this day, families with boys are to pray for the health and future success of their sons by hanging up streamers and putting out Samurai dolls which symbolize strength, power, and success.

During Golden Week a circus was held and it was free, so we decided to check it out. The Circus was held in Kitakyushu, which is an island near Shimonoseki. We took the train from Shimonoseki to Kokura Station. It was about a 40 minute train ride. This city has about 1.3 million people in compared to Shimonoseki that has about 300,000 people.

During Golden Week, there are many food stands in Kokura Station.

A view of the entrance to the station.

Walking to the Riverwalk from the Kokura Station to the indoor circus.

There are many beautiful sites in Japan.

The Riverwalk is a shopping, restaurant, business area all in one. This is the fountain inside the entrance.

Introduction

All of the people watching the Circus. It was a free showing twice a day.

There were no animals at this Circus, it was more dancing and acrobatics.

2 men did a routine with on this mat and see-saw, sorry didn't get a photo of them.

Eri and I. She is a church member and works at the Riverwalk in Graphic Design. She was 'working' taking photos.

From the second floor in the Riverwalk we could see outside part of the Kokura Castle. We hope to make a day trip back this summer and tour the castle.