落とし穴外伝：夏の祭りの準備 (Part2)
"No, considering the sheer number of people, we need at least this much, or each stall will be overwhelmed. My wives alone number over twenty. Add the children to that, and then there’s all of you, right?"
"When you put it that way, it actually feels a bit sparse. I suppose it all comes down to how quickly Steve and his crew can keep things moving."
"Ah, should we consider preparing some items in advance, then?"
"We’ll have to gauge that once we see the flow of things. Now, what about the amusement stalls?"
I gestured toward the empty space on the opposite side. We had designated the right side of the shrine’s approach for food vendors, leaving the left side currently occupied by nothing more than a few scattered tents.
"When you say amusement stalls, do you mean things like shooting galleries or lotteries?"
"Exactly. You can’t have a festival without those staples."
Beyond the food, those kinds of shops are essential to the festival experience. In fact, back in the day, they used to sell small trinkets, likely incorporating elements of a flea market. And the most iconic of them all?
"First, we need a mask shop. A mask seller."
"That brings back memories. Come to think of it, you don't see those in Weed, do you?"
"There’s no demand for them."
"I’ve heard of them, but where did they actually originate?"
"Ah, if I recall, the mask sellers date back to the Edo period. As the era stabilized, they started selling 'mekazura'—masks that only covered the eyes—which amateurs used when performing skits. It seems it started with low-ranking actors putting on farcical plays."
"Huh. So, the 'Okame' and 'Hyottoko' masks came from that?"
"Okame and Hyottoko might have, but the demon masks likely have deeper roots, tied to ancient Kagura rituals. The idea was that by wearing a mask, one could embody a deity."
"I see. That makes sense. We do have those masks carefully preserved, don't we?"
"There’s also the belief that the dead and the gods wear them to enjoy the festival themselves."
"Ah..."
The two of them nodded in deep understanding. Indeed, these masks serve to conceal one's identity. And at its core, the summer festival is tied to Obon—a ritual to welcome the spirits of the departed and send them back. In other words, the ghosts and gods who visit this world use the masks to mingle and enjoy the festivities alongside the living.
"I understand the reasoning, but are you sure about this?"
"About what?"
"Well, spirits and the like usually spell trouble, don't they? I thought you’d be the type to avoid that sort of thing, Yuki."
"True, but Luna mentioned the summer festival, and I’ve told her to keep a lid on anything that shows up. It’s more dangerous to pretend they aren't there. Even Suzuhiko-hime said she’d be keeping a close watch, which is why I decided to set up the mask shop. It’s standard practice in Japan, after all. Besides, no matter how good their masks are, they can’t fool our detection systems. If they don't show up on the data..."
"Then it’s a hit, right? But how do we handle them?"
"Just leave them be. As long as they aren't causing trouble, they’re just here to enjoy the festival."
"But isn't it a classic trope for people to get dragged into the spirit world during summer festivals like this?"
"That usually only happens when the background reality is unstable or fueled by loneliness... well, I’d like to think the children don't have to worry about that. They have protection, after all. The only real issue is Taiki and his group... but they’ll manage somehow."
"Hey! That was suddenly very dismissive!"
"Are we just supposed to fend for ourselves!?"
"Just figure it out. Anyway, besides the mask shop, we need to prepare the shooting gallery, the lottery, and the water balloons."
I decided to skip the goldfish scooping, as it involves handling living creatures. They tend to die off far too quickly for my liking. And so, I continued to push forward with the preparations for the summer festival.
There are many types of stalls at a summer festival, but I’ve always felt that the mask seller is the most unique among them. Of course, some places even go as far as setting up haunted houses.
What kind of unusual festival stalls have you all encountered?