Photographs from a small group of islands
With their bright colours and comedic clobber, some Japanese scarecrows are simply a bit silly. Others, however, aren’t anywhere near as appealing; quite possibly putting off both passersby and the pests they are there to protect against. And whilst admittedly they do sometimes seem serene.
They also appear sad,
sullen,
as well as suitably sinister.
With the odd one even appearing almost semi-sentient.
Sort of.
With August throwing up a positive flurry of local festivals, it offers the perfect opportunity for those participating to cast aside concerns about the economy as well as the coming months, and instead get dressed up and do a bit of dancing.
Preferably with a plethora of other people.
In perfectly choreographed positions.
With fun,
and the odd flourish,
very much the order of the day.
And such painstakingly prepared pandemonium isn’t just for parents either, as kids, whilst needing considerably more concentration,
can still manage most of the moves.
Although for some at least, such merriment is more than a little too much.
When it comes to culinary concoctions, I’m competent at best, and even that meagre boast may well be challenged by those who’ve had the misfortune to tentatively munch on one of my meals.
Yet that said, even if the cupboards were bare apart from a bit of bread, I’d still balk at buying this far from appealing frozen feast of ham and egg.
A lousy looking lunch that arguably takes laziness, or indeed a total lack of talent, to new levels of lowness. Although it does, to be fair, save itself somewhat with that succulent soupçon of spinach.
