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Published: September 16th 2011August 31st 2011
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Pah rump pah pum pummmm
Drummer boy (man)
Earlier this season, I found myself at Kyoto's it event of the summer, Gion Matsuri (祇園祭り). It's only been going down for more than one thousand years - no big deal - and because of this long-running historical tradition, the festival has been designated by UNESCO as an item of Intangible Cultural Heritage. It all started in 869 (what a year, right?) when a terrible plague broke out in the fair city and swept through every province in the country. Oddly enough, the same deity who was one of the usual suspects to cause such calamities was the very same guy who would protect you from them; if only he got the respect he deserved (mommy/daddy issues anyone?). Anyway, the Gion tradition
Into the sun
Gion Matsuri
The streets of Gion were packed with people, flickering their paper fans to combat the heat, all patiently waiting for the
omikoshi 御神輿(portable shrine)
I've been told that the gods actually live inside the omikoshi, but only during festival time. I looked for the plague-causing deity as all the men marched past, but with no luck.
Fast-forward to my own local festival. Hate to say it, but it was ten times better than Gion. I'm a girl who is all about the atmosphere, and seeing as it was such a local, grass-roots kind of event that just made you feel happy and good inside, well - you really couldn't help but feel happy and good inside.
The whole neighborhood came out; even some of my students were there, totally embarrassed to see their teacher. Wearing
Sensei and Seito
I ran into one of the lovely students from my school, Karen. She was the life of the party!
Bon Odori お盆踊り
Taiko drums, mochi もち rice cakes, red paper lanterns and real people came together to remind me that Japan, like it's people, rarely professes its qualities out loud. Rather, you hardly notice its soft, gradual footsteps until they are just behind you. And when you turn around, you see that what you failed to notice is something that has been standing there all along; and that something is really quite special.
There are more photos below
Photos: 8
Displayed: 8
Displayed: 8
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Caught the travel bug when I was 15, completing two exchanges in Japan by the time I was finished with high school. After taking up a year's study of university in the UK and bouncing around Europe, I returned to the US more anxious than ever to finish my degrees and get back on the open road. I discovered the wonderful world of Working Holiday visas, first returning to the UK to do some editorial work for an up and coming fitness and lifestyle website. A few months after my UK visa expired, I traveled to Sydney, Australia on another work and holiday visa, staying down under for nearly two yea... full info
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Mikoshi past my window
Locals carry the portable shrine mikoshi past my apartment
Gimme a break
Waiting...seems like everyone did a lot of that on festival day
Older and wiser
Don't ^&*% with us
Obon Odori
Traditional Japanese dance
Shizuoka Matsuri
Stumbled upon this display by accident, but it was a beautiful presentation!
Comments
Date: 17th September 2011
Get your festival on
Loved your blog Laura. Looking forward to reading the rest! :)
From Blog: Get your festival on; 夏祭りだよ！
Get your festival on
Loved your blog Laura. Looking forward to reading the rest! :)
From Blog: Get your festival on; 夏祭りだよ！
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Lauras Mom
Patricia Liszewski
Love, love your blog! I could not access the Shizuoka video; was able to view the Gion Matsuri video! Where are the women?! Love your pictures; you look lovely in your traditional garb...keep the blog coming!
From Blog: Get your festival on; 夏祭りだよ！