Every 24th of August is the Gangara Fire Festival (Gangara Himatsuri or Gangarabi)--Ikeda's most traditional annual event. Ikeda is a city in Osaka prefecture and is one train station away from us.
A torchlight procession goes up to Atago Shrine on Mt. Satsuki. There are also 2 fires that are lit called Daimonji and Dai-ichimonji. The Daimonji is lit on the west side and the Dai-ichimonji is lit on the south side of Mt. Satsuki. These fires are considered sacred and are the symbols of prayers for inner satisfaction and world peace. I could see the Daimonji from the entryway of our apartment.
Today was beads class, this was a necklace that I finished using the netting stitch.
You know that grape flavoring that is used for candies and sodas?
That's what these grapes, called Delaware, taste like.
In Japan, most people do not eat the skins of fruits because it is thought that many farms use a LOT of pesticides in order to perfect their fruits. If you ask me, a lot of times the skins are very bitter and hard.
This 99% cacao is made by
Vernost Kachestvu, a Russian confectionery. I bought it to try 99% dark chocolate. I'm glad there are only 6 pieces, it is very chalky in taste, really salty and doesn't taste anything like the chocolate I love!
These grapes are in season now. They are called "Delaware". According to something I read on the internet, they originally came from Delaware, Ohio. If you've ever tasted grape candy, that is what these taste like.
This bunch was about 6 inches long and 298 yen (about US$3). It may seem kind of pricey, but that is the usual cost for these. They are sweet and delicious.
