Shimotonbetsu JHS's Annual School Festival

	The first taiko performance of the day: Manabu (I think) and the entire 7th grade class. That would be Mina, Chinami, and Daisuke in the back.
	The second taiko performance: Emi, Takumi, Chinami and Tomoya
	Shimotonbetsu and Usotan Elementary Schools combined for a play. The boy on the left is a cellist working hard to become good. Not sure what all the animals who come into his house and beg for a performance are doing though. This one's one of the 1st graders dressed as a bird.
	And an older boy dressed as a tanuki (racoon-like animal?)
	A pair dressed as mice who say "Chuu~" (That's what Japanese mice say) at the end of every sentence.
	For whatever reason, there was some dancing by the water wheel at the end of the play
	Next, the entire junior high formed a chorus.
	And then a band
	Next the elementary kids had their own band. See those intruments they're playing? Those are pianicas. That's right, the bastard child of a harmonica and a piano. Only in Japan. Or rather, if anywhere else, I don't want to know.
	Pianicas and recorders... you can imagine the sound.
	Then they got serious and added some xylophones, a keyboard, and a BassMaster.
	And, of course, the Soran dance. That's Ai in the middle facing the camera if you were curious. I think this may be the first picture of mine she's in.
	And a side shot of the final pose.
	Yet more taiko: this time a big one. From left to right it's Daisuke, Fumiya, Chika, Manabu, Sena, Tomoka, and Mina
	Next group: Shinnosuke, Erika, Michi, and Yui
	Then the Elementary Schools's Soran dance
	And finally, a play. Emi, Manabu, Sena, and Michi were apparently dolls of some sort brought to "life" and given a choice of whether they wanted to be born into the real world with a complete knowledge of the major events in their life beforehand.
	Shinnosuke, the god in white, was the one in charge who told them their fortunes.
	Michi's fortune was apparently to lose the use of his arms, hence the title and terminal line of the play (yes, in English) "Goodbye My Arms" ... yeah, I know.
	The actors line up to take their bows.
	A quick pose for the camera at the end of the show. Everyone was smacking Shinnosuke on the head to see the baby powder fly out. It should also be noted that Yui makes a scarily convincing business-type mother, and Emi can throw hysterical fits on command.
	Everyone lines up for the final speech/bow.
	Oh, and the final song. Here's the elementary group.
	And the 9th grader group.
	And finally the 7th/8th grader group. I love being able to piggy back on other's shots.
	And a last taiko performance, like last year. Sitting in the middle is a good way to get your ribcage thoroughly rattled.

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