Middle school boys in foxface and golden skirt-pants carrying gigantic fox heads through the streets of Tokyo? Can you think of a better way to ring in the new year?
Every December 31st at midnight, the good citizens of Oji gather at the local inari shrine to show the furry-tailed messengers of the gods a good time. Like all Shinto festivals, this one features copious amounts of sake (in this case, they’re ladling out the hot, sweet, so-unfiltered-you-nearly-have-to-chew-it brew called amazake), flutes & drums, and people dressed in period costume and sneakers. But that’s just for starters!
Wouldn’t you rather be in Japan right now?
“The Samurai’s Octopus is a truly remarkable book, one that surprised and charmed me at every turn of the page…an enchanting, fascinating journey. You’re in for a treat.”
—James Ziskin, Anthony, Barry, and Macavity Award-winning author of the Ellie Stone mysteries
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“The Samurai’s Octopus…will keep you guessing—and turning pages—all the way to the end. I couldn’t put it down!”
—Susan Spann, author of the Hiro Hattori mysteries
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Only In Japan 
I love fox masks! the fox make up is really cute too! I’ll try it for a halloween ^^
That is actually a great idea! Since we won’t be going to any of the same parties, maybe nobody will guess I’m copying you! ^^;;
haha!! let’s do that and you send me a photo, I’ll do the same. It won’t match the lovely bat shaped glasses that I bought in Tokyo though …. I left Japan on the 31st this year and arrived in Paris too tired to do anything so I missed halloween snif!!!
Love this!