One of the most famous and historic festivals in all of Japan is called the Fighting of the Shrines. Historically, over 1000 years ago, the current emperor of Japan observed as two portable shrines collided as they were headed opposite directions across a bridge near the community of Nada. Every year since, they have held a festival, in which the portable shrines of the different areas within Nada purposefully crash into one another. This festival is acknowledged as the most dangerous in all of Japan, as there are a number of injuries and deaths each year.
Because it is such a famous festival, the price for a tatami mat with a view can go for as much as $20,000! Luckily, our dear friends, the Kosakas, are members of this specific community, so our mat was free because their children were involved in the festival.
Cool story, while walking around in the shrine grounds overlooking the festival, we started chatting with a really sweet girl. She seemed to ask a lot questions for not knowing us all that well, but we came to find that she is a reporter with the Kobe Shinbun (Newspaper)! The next day, amongst all of the stories in and surrounding the Nada Festival, there was a blip about Katie Casey-san and Joe Casey-san, and how they were awestruck because they don't have festivals as dangerous and beautiful as this in America! Cool, huh?
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