Shinto Wood Banging Guy

The People in Japan
The Shinto Wood Banging Guy

"What the hell is that noise?" hungover gaijin-sama

*For more posts similar to this one, see The People in Japan

It's gonna happen sooner or later. You'll be kicking back on your futon on a Saturday morning. Probably nursing a hangover when this strange sound will permeate through the amazingly thin anti-weatherproof windows of your apartment. 

Plink-plink

Is someone next door building something? Or are some kids banging on something outside? It's an odd sound. Can't quite place it. What IS that?!?!? Is it getting closer? Yeah. It's getting louder. Good God! Make it stop! Wait. It's wood. Sounds like one of those wooden xylophones I used to play when I was in grade school, but different.

What the hell is that noise?  

What is it? Enough, I'm gonna look out the window. Wait. Is that a voice. It's a guy chanting something. Hmm. OK, I've got the window open but I don't see anything. Wait, what's that? That's it! There he is! What the heck is he wearing..........

Hey!! What's he doing at a sumo tournament? 

Here is the sound the Shinto Wood Banging Guy makes. The pervasive sound of the wood slapper in the background is what will be coming down your street sooner or later if you spend enough time in Japan.

After you figure out what the sound is and where it's coming from, it becomes one of those things about living in Japan that becomes familiar and pleasing. 

The second time you hear it, you'll probably think to yourself, "Hey, it's that wood banging dude again. Awesome!" Or, maybe not. Whatever.

The Real Wood Banger

And I can't help seizing this opportunity to tell you about how Japan likes to take things to extremes; especially Wood Banging..............

Do you have a question about Japan or a topic that you are interested in that you haven't found on this blog? If so, please tell me about it in a comment. I will get a post up about it as soon as possible. Thanks for reading!!