On Midsummer's Day (24 June) Koumi machi and Finland Village organized the fifth Finnish style Midsummer party at the Village. This time the event attracted about 250 persons, including 15 from the Finnish community in Japan. The evening was filled with entertainment and the participants could also enjoy a lot of good food and drinks, and an original Koumi style "Juhannuskokko", the best in the world!
Also this year there were actually two kokko's, as we also had a smaller one floating on a pontoon on the lake.
IMAGES FROM THE PARTY
The party starts off with a speech by Koumi machi tourist department cheif Kurosawa-san.
Martti Varesmaa greeted the participants on behalf of the Finnish delegation and thanked Koumi machi for their great efforts in organizing this event.
Varesmaa giving one of his rare interviews to NHK and a local TV station.
Note the quick change of clothes.
A local group entertains
Food is prepared in good spirit
Army size kettle guarantees that there's enough for everybody.
Enjoying food and drinks...
Something to eat and drink for everyone.
Local hip-hop girls giving a preformance enjoyed especially by the male audience.
Band keeping up a good atmosphere.
The Finlandia Hymn performed by two opera singers almost brought tears to the eyes of the Finns....
Veli-Matti and Akiko Lahti enjoying the food.
The kokko before the "fire brigade" arrived...
Trying to sort out the histrory behind juhannuskokko.....
The main "arsonist" brought to the scene...
Getting the fire sticks ready, to the left the Kuparinen family
Eero Tammila (right) does his share.
NHK cameraman filming the Kuparinen style.
Work done and the fire start to feed itself
Ichiro Inoue and Kurosawa-san
The fire catching on in the darkening evening.
Leena Kinnunen singing Finnish songs
Eero Tammila promoting Finnish-Japanese friendship, and perhaps tries to sell a Finnair ticket..
Oh happy day...
A Finland fan with her Finnish text book.
The fire man starting to light up the floating kokko
Looks almost like an old sailship on fire....
Nice reflections on the water.
Seppo Rantanen chatting with performers
Center, Ichiro Inoue, the Village "Godfather" in Koumi.
The Bingo game is running
Are you old enough to stay up this late?
Juhannus party Japanese style
The highly appreciated dance band
All dancing....
...styles accepted!
Akio Miya showing off his talents in dancing
The Finns pondering the important things in life....
The cameraman finally made his way into a picture.
Some late night sausage grilling on the remains of the kokko.
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