Man, what a day! Seriously, I’m still reeling from it. So, I woke up in my little studio on Kameyama Street, right? The sun was shining, birds were chirping, and I thought, “Today’s gonna be chill.” Spoiler alert: it was NOT chill.
First off, I had a big order to finish. Some fancy restaurant in Yamagata wanted custom plates. Like, who do they think I am? Picasso? Anyway, I was all set to throw some clay on the wheel. But then, boom! My neighbor’s cat, Mochi, decided to take a stroll through my studio. I mean, come on! I love cats, but not when they’re stepping in my clay. I was like, “Mochi, get outta here!” But he just looked at me like, “Nah, I’m good.” Ugh!
So, I finally got rid of Mochi and started working. The wheel was spinning, and I was in the zone. You know that feeling when everything just clicks? Yeah, that was me. I was shaping these plates, feeling like a pottery god. But then, outta nowhere, my phone buzzed. It was my buddy Kenji. He’s always got some wild idea. This time, he wanted to hit up the Funagata Matsuri later. I was like, “Dude, I’m busy!” But he kept pushing.
Fast forward a few hours, and I’m finally done with the plates. They turned out pretty sweet, if I do say so myself. I was feeling proud, ya know? But then, I realized I had to deliver them to the restaurant. It was on the other side of town, near the Funagata River. So, I hopped on my bike, ready to roll.
Now, let me tell you about the streets of Funagata. They’re a mix of old-school charm and modern vibes. I zipped past the old wooden houses on Kameyama, then hit the main drag, where all the shops are. I swear, I could smell the yakitori from a mile away. My stomach growled, but I had no time to eat. Plates first, food later, right?
As I was biking, I hit a bump and almost lost my balance. I yelled, “Whoa!” and nearly dropped the plates. My heart raced. I was like, “Not today, gravity!” Finally, I made it to the restaurant, panting like I just ran a marathon. I handed over the plates, and the chef was all smiles. He loved them! That made me feel like a rockstar.
But then, as I was leaving, I saw a street performer on the corner of Funagata’s main square. This dude was playing the shamisen, and it was beautiful. I stopped to listen, and for a moment, all my stress melted away. I even tossed him a few yen. It was one of those moments where you just feel connected to the city, ya know?
But then, outta nowhere, it started to rain. Like, seriously? I was drenched in seconds. I sprinted to the nearest café on Shirogane Street. I ducked inside, soaked but laughing. I ordered a hot matcha latte, and the barista was super chill. We chatted about the Matsuri, and I was like, “I might just go after all!”
After a while, the rain let up, and I decided to check out the festival. I rode my bike back, and the streets were buzzing. Lanterns everywhere, people laughing, food stalls lining the streets. I felt that electric energy. I grabbed some takoyaki and it was heavenly. I mean, who doesn’t love fried octopus balls, right?
As I wandered around, I bumped into Kenji. He was dressed like a samurai or something. I couldn’t help but laugh. We ended up joining a group of locals doing traditional dances. I have two left feet, but I didn’t care. We were all just having a blast.
By the end of the night, I was exhausted but happy. I rode home, the moon shining over Funagata, and I thought about how wild the day had been. From cat chaos to pottery triumphs to festival fun, it was a rollercoaster.
So yeah, that was my day in Funagata. Crazy, emotional, and totally unforgettable. Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!