For many parts of Japan, this week is the Obon season. This is the time when several generations of family members all come together in one house for a visit. Luckily for the hosts, the vast majority of these relatives are ghosts so don’t take up a lot of space.
But even though they’re ghosts it’d be rude not to lay out some food for them, and so it’s not uncommon to place some snacks or beverages on graves or family altars in the home. Among these you might find shoryo uma, little animals made of cucumber and eggplant meant symbolize animals which carry the spirits to and from the otherworld.
Traditionally these tiny animals are made by jabbing four sticks into the vegetable for legs. The result is quaint but kind of looks like something I’d slap together for my third grade art project so I could get back to playing Dragon Warrior - hardly something fit for the people who paved the way for your existence to ride in on! As such some people in Japan have begun pimping their shoryo uma to make sure their ancestors’ rides are safe, comfy, and in some cases kind of epic.
First here is a nice example of some traditional shoryo uma to give you a sense of comparison.
ＴＬに遺影が増えてきたので、皆さんがお盆に帰ってこれるように茄子とキュウリで精霊馬作っときますね http://t.co/nsSXaVQWju—
じゃがいも (@imo_bakuhatsu) August 08, 2013
These modernized shoryo uma have been growing in popularity in recent years. Last year we presented the works of Kimishin, who fashioned mobile suits and vehicles from the Gundam universe as well as a Pegasus and other mythical creatures.
This year we have some new works harvested from Twitter, such as the military-themed eggplant and cucumber set.
ナスの精霊馬も塗り終わったー！ http://t.co/BXrNs2czjV—
うぐいす コミティア109 の05b (@ume2uguisu) July 24, 2014
精霊馬、キュウリの作例塗り終わったー！ WFでは、こんな感じの精霊馬を作れるかもしれないガイドブックとキュウリ、手足を付ける用のジョイントのセットを販売しますよ。ナスも塗らなきゃ。 http://t.co/lKMgaHR66H—
うぐいす コミティア109 の05b (@ume2uguisu) July 24, 2014
These are apparently kits that can be purchased somewhere for 1,500 yen (US$15) according to the photo in this tweet.
人にやさしい精霊馬！ http://t.co/OmJOFMWGTo—
memini (@lepuscapensis) July 27, 2014
Flying is always and option, but I hear customs at afterlife airports are a real pain to get through. They’ve literally got all the time in the world and don’t mind jerking you around for a while before letting you through.
今年のお盆の精霊馬は機動性にこだわってみた http://t.co/7JcInp9Lzj—
ボサノバ和尚 (@sativa_high) August 14, 2014
Some kept with the animal theme but felt more power was needed.
“Good evening. Here is this year’s shoryo uma.”
皆様今晩は。
今年の精霊馬です http://t.co/jCfAippfXt—
すけの幽庵焼き (@suke48) August 05, 2014
“Comparing to last year’s shoryo uma, it had more emphasis on mobility and attack power. This year I wanted to add more defensive power so I included some extra armor. I also made the legs more muscular to compensate for the travel endurance last year’s lacked.”
今年と去年の精霊馬を比べてみましょう。去年の精霊馬は攻撃力と機動性を重視しました。そして今年の精霊馬は防御力を求め、各部位に装甲を施しました。更に足をがっしりとさせることにより、去年の精霊馬の唯一の欠点であった走行持続性を補いました。 http://t.co/GGfrDjE0qU—
すけの幽庵焼き (@suke48) August 05, 2014
Others went for a more realistic look with their cucumber horses.
精霊馬作った(
※削りカスはスタッフ(亀)に美味しくいただかせました。 http://t.co/QThfCWcfgW—
ハツ (@81_rephap) August 13, 2013
And then we have those who have taken the tradition to bizarre new realms.
精霊馬でご挨拶。 http://t.co/GhjwzyQJuF—
Thida Laxmi (てぃーだ) (@thidalaxmi) August 05, 2014
この精霊馬には乗りたくない． http://t.co/OxbVxo8JuS—
白水 貴 (@Takashirouzu) August 13, 2014
これも精霊馬に入るんだろうか http://t.co/fjuy3jCVuK—
774 (@na74) July 25, 2014
ゴーヤに爪楊枝で足つけて暴れ精霊馬（イビルジョー）って感じやな(,,Ծ‸Ծ,,) http://t.co/vJjJ5sAWH4—
いもうと(oｗo)コマネキ (@15369) October 10, 2013
Finally, it just wouldn’t be an Obon season without some homoerotic themed tributes to shoryo uma.
お祭り×JOJO七部！絶対七部は精霊馬の背景にしたかった！甲冑も仙台っぽくしてみました！！ http://t.co/ahHoZ7692O—
大車輪★二日目A78ｂ (@gomix1113) July 10, 2014
家庭菜園のナスときゅうりで精霊馬を作ったら、早速娘と一緒に「牧場ごっこ」をさせられた。この後スタッフが美味しく頂きます。 twitpic.com/d7ugog—
ちちかわえみぞう (@emi_haha) August 12, 2013
That’s it for this year barring any amazing last-minute entries. Join us again this time in 2015 to see what people do with cucumbers and eggplants next!
Source: Twitter, Hamusoku (Japanese)
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Origin: It’s that time of year again; when people in Japan make eggplant tanks
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