OSAKA--Sapkota Shristi was shy and withdrawn even before coming to Japan from Nepal.

So, it was difficult for the 23-year-old to introduce herself during the selection process for 80 participants for the all-female "Gal Mikoshi" portable shrine parade from 186 applicants.

While other candidates cheerfully expressed themselves at the top of their lungs, Sapkota could only tell why she wanted to join the parade in a low voice. 

"I was worried, so nervous and couldn't find the words," she said in fluent Japanese of the July 8 selection process. "But it was fun."

During a practical skills test, she stumbled but managed to lift two straw bags hung from a carrying pole, weighing a total of 60 kilograms.

Officially called "Tenjinsai Josei Omikoshi," the Gal Mikoshi parade is held annually as part of the Tenjin Festival at Osaka Tenmangu shrine in the city's Kita Ward.

The festival is counted as one of Japan's three largest festivals along with the Gion Festival in Kyoto and the Kanda Festival in Tokyo.

STRUGGLES WITH THE LANGUAGE

Sapkota first came to Japan when she was 15 to live with her parents, who were running a curry restaurant in Osaka after leaving her and her older sister with their relatives.

But she didn't understand Japanese at all while there was no opportunity for her to continue education at school or via other channels.

She returned to Nepal alone about two months later.

However, she keenly felt a twinge of loneliness after she was separated from her parents again. She decided to return to Japan again and started learning Japanese on her own while she helped at her father's restaurant.

At first, Sapkota could only introduce herself in a simple manner. When she was lost for words while talking with customers, she would rush into the kitchen to seek help from her parents.

She bought reference books and used other resources to study Japanese for about two years.

She then enrolled in a night junior high school and worked as a cleaner at a hotel during the day to continue her study.

Determined to learn more and land a dream job, Sapkota moved on to study at an evening high school.

She also took the five-level Japanese Language Proficiency Test and passed the exam at the second-highest N2 level, which requires test-takers to have daily conversation skills and show basic reading skills.

She said she is planning to attend a two-year college after graduating from high school.

OVERCOMING HER SHYNESS

It was a teacher at her high school who told her about the Gal Mikoshi parade.

Sapkota wasted no time in searching YouTube for videos from the past events.

She was instantly captivated by how participants loudly chanted "wasshoi, wasshoi!" while she was also intrigued about wearing a traditional "happi" coat.

The Nepalese decided to apply to be a mikoshi carrier because she wanted to grow herself.

Being the shy person that she is, Sapkota is not good at talking to others or starting a conversation.

She said she isn't content with being who she is and wants to gain more confidence.

Although she wants to try her hand at many things, she finds herself getting cold feet.

But she felt it could be a chance to change herself and also improve her Japanese language and communication skills.

While watching videos of Gal Mikoshi, Sapkota also remembered how her fellow Nepalis enjoyed local festivals, dancing and having fun together.

After passing the selection process held two weeks before the actual parade, she attended an orientation session with other Gal Mikoshi members on July 15 and wore a happi coat for the first time.

"It's a little too tight, but it has very beautiful colors," she said with a shy smile. "I also like the 'hachimaki' headband."

At first, Sapkota was seen mostly standing off by herself. 

But she joined with others in practice carrying the portable shrine, loudly chanting "wasshoi, wasshoi" and fixed the headband of another participant near her.

Although she still spoke in a slightly quiet voice when she introduced herself, she asked everyone to call her "Shri-chan" with the endearing suffix to liven up the mood.

She also approached other members to take selfies together and exchange contact information.

Sapkota hopes to acquire various languages at a two-year college or other alternatives to work at an airport in the future.

She is planning to stay in Osaka to live with her family.

"I learned a lot in Japanese while I introduced myself many times, and I also made many friends," she said. 

The Gal Mikoshi parade returned to the streets on July 23 for the first time in four years after the novel coronavirus pandemic.