This is probably the best symbolic image for the summer. Tearing down the lanterns in Tenmonkan. They were put up back in June as part of the Rakugatsugo festival celebrating the birth anniversary of Shimadzu Nariakira, one of the principal feudal lords of the 1800's in Kagoshima. Usually, this is accompanied by a 2-day event at Terakuni shrine, Shochu Street (a whole bunch of distilled spirits manufacturers promoting their alcohol, and Ogionsa (an old-style dance parade along Streetcar Street).
None of that stuff happened this year, either. Two dead summers in a row. And, as I wrote a couple weeks ago, Kagoshima is in the middle of an 8 PM curfew. All restaurants have to close their dining areas precisely at 8 PM, and stop take-out orders at 11 or 11:30 PM. All of the family restaurants I know of have completely stopped selling beer and wine. Initially, this was supposed to end on Aug. 23, when the Summer Olympics ended, but the curfew has been extended to late Sept. Sigh.
Stupid everything.
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