2008年10月28日火曜日

Gion Festival's History


Gion Festival is started in 869, the first of Heian era, in autumn in the lunar calendar. In Shinsenon, large garden, those day’s people prayed for recovery from domestic drought. They built 66 sticks and pray for ‘Susanoo-no-Mikoto’,who is Japanese highest rank god of piece and health for peace of Japan. (In those days, there were 66 countries in Japan.) Gion Festival is written in Japanese old document in 970 at first, and festival cars were seen in 1321 at first. There were heavy fire disease for three times, 1708, 1788 and 1868. But it was revived each time. A current style began at Momoyama era or Edo era, in 1500’s. Festival cars were decorated by Nishijin brocades and foreign countries tapestries and so on in those days. But it had dangerous of war, so this festival was protected by Nobunaga Oda.

2008年10月7日火曜日

Festival



I want to introduce about Handa Float Festival. Japanese people say dashi as such a float. It is held five years apart. The day which is held this Festival, surrounding festival area's road are blocked, and young men proceed around a city pulling floats. There are 31 floats in Handa city, and they were gather in citizen park at last. This festival is received semi-cultual properties from goverment. In 1994, first held 'Float Forum of The Whole of Japan' in country. Recently, it was held on October 6 and 7 in 2007. It was commemorate of begining Handa municipal in 70 years ago. A lot of people came to Handa to see this festival and interested. The first festibal was in 1979. This festibal is used to show town planning. It is planning to held next festival in October, 2012.