Aug 5, 2010

Happy Hanzaki Matsuri!


Are you getting ready for the biggest ugly animal holiday anywhere? You might still have time to get a ticket to Japan in time for Sunday, when the village of Yubara Onsen holds its annual Giant Salamander Festival.



The festival is held every August 8 and begins with a parade led by the two GIANT giant salamander floats in the photos.

If you can't get there for the festival, they have an aquarium where you can view actual live giant salamanders year-round. And of course if it's closer, don't forget that you can celebrate the holiday with a trip to see the giant salamanders at the National Zoo in Washington, DC.

With huge, slimy enthusiasm,
-Wombat (No Relation)

Photos by Flickr user world_waif and from the blog Alt Japan, where you can read more about the festival.

3 comments:

C.B. said...

If it weren't for the foot, I would say it was a giant cow tongue.

Julia Kay said...

OK, those *are* ugly!

wombat said...

OMG, you are right about the cow tongue. I never thought of it.

They are ugly, but I love them.