Finally...and Bean Scattering Day in Japan

Yes, finally I've finished translating the new script for the film yesterday. Or more precisely speaking I finished at 6:00am this morning!! I was told that I had to finish my translation to make it for a meeting, they had have organised this morning. Apparently, this meeting is a kind of audition for famous Japanese actors/actresses, ( can't say who for the moment!). Of course, they will ask for the Japanese version of the script so I understand it....

But I ended up eating my dinner in my hotel room due to the lack of time. It was only 14 hours left to complete it since I heard about it. By the way I was just wondering where is my sleeping time tonight?? That's a part of the business again in the (mainland) Chinese film industry, of course not in Japan, because usually the popular actors have already booked their schedule for 2 years ahead, especially for TV dramas.

Anyway here I am. I completed one tough mission and slept for a few hours from this morning to noon. In a way I thanked the Chinese production for the lack of organisation beforehand, because I'm being trained by them in this way and I can stretch my limits and ability every time! It was the first time for me to finish translating a film script in just 6 days. Yeah, I was working for almost 24 hours in the last day, so it's not exactly 6 days, but now at least I know I can do it. I usually stop translating things when my brain starts to refuse to work. Yesterday was the exception. I had to complete it by the deadline and I've done it!!

and... I went for a walk nearby and came to Kagurazaka 神乐坂.

 I haven't been out of the hotel for a few days. I was just walking between my hotel room and a Chinese restaurant downstairs in this hotel. I needed fresh air today.  

Surprisingly, I never came here when I lived in Tokyo for 7 years. Very nice atmosphere, a bit like Asakusa. It's like a traditional area but pretty fashionable and  convienient to eat. There are a lot of earthy restaurants and bars.

and what I found was a shrine...

and a lot of people are gathering somehow...

Did you know it's "Setsubun" aka "Bean Scattering Day" today in Japan. It's a special ritual to cleanse away all the evil of the former year and drive away disease-bringing evil spirits for the year to come by scattering beans by priests. People are waiting for the beans!!

some of the performers sing on stage before the ritual, they say...

I noticed a lot of people are gathering inside the shrine...

They are handing out a free amazake, which is a sweet alcohol made from fermented rice.

Wow, such a big iron pot.....

a nice sweet taste....

very atmospheric....

I was waiting for a bean, but they announced the show will start in an hour's time and the bean scattering will be after the show. Oh my God!! I thought it was lucky to bump into and participate in the Japanese traditional ritual while I was just in Japan, but I won't wait here for a hour...... Well, I've taken some pictures here and will go back to the hotel now, maybe next year if I'm in Japan........ :-)