Lugging About

In Japan there is a custom of carrying portable shrines during festivals. The portable shrines are often quite large. In October, I will help carry a portable shrine in Tsu. We will have about 30 people carrying the shrine. It is very big and heavy.

In Japanese we use a special verb for carrying a shrine because it is heavy. In English we also have a special verb ‘lug’. We lug things that are very awkward or heavy.

Living in Japan, I have moved four times. Each time, I have lugged many books around with me.

Everyday I carry many teaching supplies, my Japanese dictionary, a thermos of tea, and a few other things. My bag is heavy, but I lug it everywhere with me.

We often refer to heavy suitcases as luggage.

Have you lugged a shrine? Do you lug anything heavy around?