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| The writer with a Japanese cosplay participant |
Festivals have become a norm in Uganda for the past few months such as the Uganda Rolex, the glorious Kampala carnival, the beer festival, the Uganda film festival, the post-independence manufacturers’ festival at the UMA show grounds.
Festival
what does it mean in for starters, give me a few seconds to explain before I
get back to my festive moods.
Festival
refers to a series of performances of music, plays, films/ movies organised in
the same place once a year for the public.
Now
that what a festival is in order, let’s get back to the Uganda – Japan festival
that happened on the 3rd of December being a Saturday.
Uganda – Japan Festival
An
event organised by the Japanese Embassy of Uganda held at the lovely YujoIzakaya Restaurant found on Kyadondo road Kampala.
First
things first, we thank the ambassador of Japan to Uganda for allowing this
event to happen and of course Yujo Izakaya management and staff for their
hospitality.
Now
we dive in with activities like food tasting, karate display of splendid skill
sets, making origami art crafts, Japanese wine tasting, kanji calligraphy
writings and Japanese films.
Who
doesn’t love food, if such a question is asked, believe me not but some may just
go savage on you over that silly question.
Ramen
was on the high look out for many of the goers list if Japanese popular meals
to try out, not forgetting the pork soup damn that was yummy.
Witnessing
the making of Rice cake blew me away. Boiled rice is pounded down to make the
cake continuously till the desired texture is achieved.
Many
may believe that is wasn’t tasty but trust me it was worth it.
Wine
tasting was my favouring part of the whole event, when we got the chance to sip
a few glasses of the famous Saki (a Japanese alcoholic drink made from rice).
There
she stood in a colourless short necked bulged bottle just waiting for the
drunks of Kampala. Hearing it was Saki I could not hold my tongue but ask for a
taste.
Trust
me after having about six glasses of it. Waking up to a numb cheeks the next
morning isn’t one of my profound moments but so worth it.
Six different Japanese stood right there and a
round for all was going to be in order after all this is the Japanese festival.
All had to be savoured. Lol
Kanji Calligraphy
This
got any one at the festival intrigued and interested in at least finding out
what their precious names meant in Japanese.
Graceful
as their names were being drawn on paper. The excitement among the on lookers
waiting in line was exciting itself.
Murmurs
going about what does my name really mean in Japanese got me not only excited
but scared as well.
Believe
it or not when your name meant death or calamity you should be worried. Not
that there was anyone whose name meant that.
Finding
out what my name “Hudson” mean was actually scary hoping it is something to be
worried about like anyone with a name meaning death or calamity.
If you’re still curious what my name means
please leave a comment below
Arigato Gozaimasu ( translates as Thank You Very Much)
