Today, Hama-rikyu was celebrating the new year with several events. One of the events going on was the "Suwa-Ryu Houyou Jyutsu", which means "Suwa-style Falconry Method". The traditional meaning of "Houyou" (falconry) is to hunt by using hawks, but in today's event, they were showing an exhibition of how trained hawks can fly according to the instructions of the trainers.
In the beginning, it was pretty boring because the trainers and the hawks were just walking in circles.
However, there was a meaning to this, which was to get the hawks used to the environment they are in. Hawks, supposedly, are very naive, sensitive animals which may get intimidated easily. Supposedly, the trainers have to make sure not take their hats off in front of the hawks, in order to not scare them.
After they finished walking in circles, it was announced that one group of 1 hawk and 2 trainers will leave the park, to head to the Dentsu Building nearby, to prepare for the main event of the exhibition: the hawk will fly from the top of the building, to the park!
While we were waiting for that group to head over to the building, we watched some small shows. For a hawk to fly from the instructors hand to the tree nearby, for a hawk to fly to an audience's hand to another audience's hand. By the way, there is a cultural saying in Japan, that it is good luck to see a hawk in the first dream of the new year. Although this exhibition is not technically a dream, many audience gathered to see this "lucky exhibition" featuring the hawk.
After several small shows went on, the group which left for the Dentsu Building was ready. After several counts, amazingly, the hawk was able to fly towards the park from such a far distance.
However, maybe because there were many black crows challenging the hawk to a turf war in the air, the hawk was not able to fly immediately to the nearest tree, and it kept flying to other trees.
Finally, after several tries, the hawk was able to fly back to the trainer, and the show ended.
Although it is not the season for major flowers to bloom, there were still some flowers to enjoy.
Also a nice cup of matcha to enjoy in the relaxing tea house.
However, there was a meaning to this, which was to get the hawks used to the environment they are in. Hawks, supposedly, are very naive, sensitive animals which may get intimidated easily. Supposedly, the trainers have to make sure not take their hats off in front of the hawks, in order to not scare them.
After they finished walking in circles, it was announced that one group of 1 hawk and 2 trainers will leave the park, to head to the Dentsu Building nearby, to prepare for the main event of the exhibition: the hawk will fly from the top of the building, to the park!
While we were waiting for that group to head over to the building, we watched some small shows. For a hawk to fly from the instructors hand to the tree nearby, for a hawk to fly to an audience's hand to another audience's hand. By the way, there is a cultural saying in Japan, that it is good luck to see a hawk in the first dream of the new year. Although this exhibition is not technically a dream, many audience gathered to see this "lucky exhibition" featuring the hawk.
After several small shows went on, the group which left for the Dentsu Building was ready. After several counts, amazingly, the hawk was able to fly towards the park from such a far distance.
However, maybe because there were many black crows challenging the hawk to a turf war in the air, the hawk was not able to fly immediately to the nearest tree, and it kept flying to other trees.
Finally, after several tries, the hawk was able to fly back to the trainer, and the show ended.
Although it is not the season for major flowers to bloom, there were still some flowers to enjoy.
Also a nice cup of matcha to enjoy in the relaxing tea house.
