A little bit of awesome to get you through the week.

I found an email from the nice young man from Moscow this morning, as well as a public post to the Tousando about the re-enactment event in eastern Siberia (that's right, Siberia!!!) his group attended. Be sure to click on the link to the spectacular photographs inside the forum thread.
http://tousando.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=events&thread=3410&page=1

EDIT: This just in from Alex, in response to my email: Mad cows running for the sounds of the horagai. Akunoya building... Brave ashigaru pursuing the cows with the bamboo spears . :)
And it was beautiful. Sunrise on the lake. Mountains. You should see it! What about visiting our next festival?

Oh, if only! Where's a winning lotto ticket when you really need it! I'd probably organize a bovine resistance unit.....

For my readers who need translation.

Horagai: conch shell bugle.
Akunoya: the Japanese equivalent of a pavilion, usually used for entertaining.
Ashigaru: foot soldiers, traditionally armed with spears, and later, muskets (teppo).