Steps

Fire Festival

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October 25th 2004
This festival, one of the three main ones in Kyoto, was rather interesting. However, I think that the Japanese people enjoyed it quite a bit more than I did. I only stayed for the beginning. I think that it's more enjoyable for Japanese people, in part, because their culture is related to the festival. I couldn't figure out what was so exciting about carrying torches, personally. They were cha ... read more

Asia » Japan

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In 1603, a Tokugawa shogunate (military dictatorship) ushered in a long period of isolation from foreign influence in order to secure its power. For 250 years this policy enabled Japan to enjoy stability and a flowering of its indigenous culture. Fol... ... read more