2015/12/13

The festivals in Japan!!

All regions have own festivals and customs in Japan. It is interesting to see what they do. Let’s feature the most interesting festivals and hard to see in your countries.

Waraji matsuri, Fukushima city Fukushima prefecture

Screenshot from http://www.fmcnet.co.jp/waraji/lightbox/gallery.html

Screenshot from http://www.fmcnet.co.jp/waraji/lightbox/gallery.html


Screenshot from http://www.fmcnet.co.jp/waraji/lightbox/gallery.html

Screenshot from http://www.fmcnet.co.jp/waraji/lightbox/gallery.html

Waraji means sandals made from straws. Japanese people wore these long time ago. People carry this huge waraji to the Mt. Shinobu. There is Haguro shrine on top of the mountain and put it there. This is one of the Shinto rutuals.



Sendai tanabata matsuri, Sendai city Miyagi prefecture

Photo from http://www.sendaitanabata.com/outline/history

Photo from http://www.sendaitanabata.com/outline/history


 Photo from  http://www.sendaitanabata.com/outline/history

Photo from
http://www.sendaitanabata.com/outline/history

Tanabata is a Japanese Festival celebrated on July 7th, also known as the Star Festival. It is originated from the Chinese legend. Now we write our wishes on colorful strips of paler called tanzaku, and hang them on bamboo branches.
(About Tanabata: http://yolo-english.jp/tanabata-2486)

This lovely colorful festival is counted as 3 biggest festivals in Tohoku.
Beautiful decoration is outstanding! There are fireworks during the Sendai tanabata matsuri, so you can enjoy day and night.



Ohbashira matsuri, Suwa city Nagano prefecture

Photo from release.co.jp and http://matome.naver.jp/odai/2139547461953030901/2140517648121133403

Photo from release.co.jp and http://matome.naver.jp/odai/2139547461953030901/2140517648121133403


This festival is held every 7 years and specified as prefecturally-designated important intangible cultural property. Also it is counted as 3 most strange festivals in Japan.



Namahage, Ojika city Akita prefecture
Photo from http://www.oganavi.com/img/pic/024_03.jpg

Photo from http://www.oganavi.com/img/pic/024_03.jpg


Screenshot from https://www.namahage.co.jp/namahagekan/namahage.php

Screenshot from https://www.namahage.co.jp/namahagekan/namahage.php

Namahage is specified as Important Intangible Folk Cultural Properties of Japan.
According to wikipedia, Namahage in traditional Japanese folklore is a demonlike being, portrayed by men wearing heftyogre masks and traditional straw capes (mino) during a New Year’s ritual of the Oga Peninsula area of Akita Prefecture in northern Honshū, Japan. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namahage



Gion matsuri, Kyoto city Kyoto prefecture

Photo from sango-kc.blog.eonet.jp and http://yomanakya.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/gion_matsuri.jpg

Photo from sango-kc.blog.eonet.jp and http://yomanakya.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/gion_matsuri.jpg

Photo from http://blog-imgs-32.fc2.com/s/a/k/saketarou/100717gionmaturi28.jpg

Photo from http://blog-imgs-32.fc2.com/s/a/k/saketarou/100717gionmaturi28.jpg


Gion Matsuri takes place annually in Kyoto and is one of the most famous festivals in Japan. It goes for the entire month of July and is crowned by parade, the Yamaboko Junkō on July 17 and July 24. The name of the festival came from Kyoto’s Gion district. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gion_Matsuri)


Nabe kanmuri matsuri, Yonehara city Shiga prefecture

Photo from manoeriwagner.up.n.seesaa.net and  http://matome.naver.jp/odai/2139547461953030901/2140517648221134403

Photo from manoeriwagner.up.n.seesaa.net and
http://matome.naver.jp/odai/2139547461953030901/2140517648221134403

Photo from http://www.ex.biwa.ne.jp/~nabekama/photo110.html

Photo from http://www.ex.biwa.ne.jp/~nabekama/photo110.html

This photo was taken almost 100 years ago.
Eight, 8 years girls wear Kariginu that is the clothes in Heian period and the pot, then walk down from Otabisho to the Chikuma shirine.


Fukuotoko erabi, Nishinomiya city Hyogo prefecture

Photo from  http://livedoor.blogimg.jp/wave1995/imgs/e/c/ecde85d4.jpg

Photo from
http://livedoor.blogimg.jp/wave1995/imgs/e/c/ecde85d4.jpg


Photo from https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%A5%BF%E5%AE%AE%E7%A5%9E%E7%A4%BE#/media/File:Nishinomiya-jinja02st3200.jpg

Photo from https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%A5%BF%E5%AE%AE%E7%A5%9E%E7%A4%BE#/media/File:Nishinomiya-jinja02st3200.jpg



“Lucky men” race is held at Nishinomiya shrine in Hyogo. Women also can join this race. Running for 230m at 6:30am. The first 3 people are called as Lucky men in that year.



Kanamara matsuri, Kawasaki city Kanagawa prefecture
Photo from http://matome.naver.jp/odai/2139547461953030901/2140517648221134803

Photo from http://matome.naver.jp/odai/2139547461953030901/2140517648221134803





This festival is held in Kanayama Shirine in April, Kawasaki city Kanagawa. This shape is men’s symbols. The festival has started since Edo era that prostitutes in Kawasaki prayed to avoid sexual disease and prosperous their business.

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