Japan has no shortage of festivals. In the rural areas where farming is still king, it's quite common for a Harvest Festival to signify the end of the summer growing season and prep for the impending autumn and winter months; which can be brutal in many parts of Japan. Most foreigners (especially before video streaming) had no concept of a Japanese festival. This story talks about my first (and accidental) introduction to the festival in the Land of the Rising Sun. Many people current and alumni of the JET Programme have experienced such a feeling, though I know many villages and towns across the world have their version. I hope to meet those world travelers soon to hear the tale. 

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