 Last additions - Sagicho Matsuri Festival 2018 左義長まつり |
Line for the bus back to Omi-Hachiman Station.Oct 02, 2018
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They run around the burning float.Oct 02, 2018
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Since they burn multiple floats at the same time, you can't photograph them all burning.Oct 02, 2018
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The larger floats are burned from 8 pm. They burn 5 or 6 floats at a time until 10:30 pm. Miyauchi-cho float. 宮内町Oct 02, 2018
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Honmachi float arrive at the shrine for the fiery festival climax.Oct 02, 2018
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Dai-Juikku float in the shrine at night. 第十一区 Oct 02, 2018
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Shichikukai float. 紫竹会Oct 02, 2018
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Oct 02, 2018
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Oct 02, 2018
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No one cares about the damaged dogs because the floats would all be burned in the end. It's a fire festival and a variant of the dondo-yaki fire festival that burns New Year's decorations in mid-Jan. The fire supposed to make you young again.Oct 02, 2018
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At 6 pm, the children's floats are torched first. Sanwakai children's float is set afire.Oct 02, 2018
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Ikeda-machi float. 池田町Oct 02, 2018
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Oct 02, 2018
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Shichikukai children's float. 紫竹会Oct 02, 2018
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Shichikukai children's float. 紫竹会Oct 02, 2018
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Dai-ikku float. 第一区Oct 02, 2018
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Lots of straw on the ground, serves up lots of dust.Oct 02, 2018
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Uwai-cho float. 魚屋町Oct 02, 2018
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Uwai-cho float vs. Dai-ikku. 魚屋町Oct 02, 2018
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Dai-ikku float. 第一区Oct 02, 2018
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Oct 02, 2018
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Oct 02, 2018
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Oct 02, 2018
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Miyauchi-cho float won 3rd place in the float design competition. 宮内町Oct 02, 2018
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Oct 02, 2018
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Uwai-cho float takes a fall. 魚屋町Oct 02, 2018
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Oct 02, 2018
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Dai-niku float's dog with no head. 第二区Oct 02, 2018
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Dai-niku float takes a fall. 第二区Oct 02, 2018
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Oct 02, 2018
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Jukku-kai float takes a fall. 十区会Oct 02, 2018
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Jukku-kai float at the shrine. 十区会Oct 02, 2018
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Float leader directing the float bearers carrying the float. Jukku-kai float. 十区会Oct 02, 2018
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Oct 02, 2018
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Oct 02, 2018
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Uwai-cho float partying. 魚屋町Oct 02, 2018
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Ikeda-machi float. 池田町Oct 02, 2018
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Shichikukai float at battle. 紫竹会Oct 02, 2018
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Oct 02, 2018
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Oct 02, 2018
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Oct 02, 2018
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Dai-Juikku float's Tosa dog. 第十一区 Oct 02, 2018
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Ishin-cho float. 為心町Oct 02, 2018
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Oct 02, 2018
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Oct 02, 2018
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Oct 02, 2018
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Oct 02, 2018
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Oct 02, 2018
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Suwai-cho float is stuck against the wall. 仲屋町Oct 02, 2018
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Shinmachi-dori float. 新町通りOct 02, 2018
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Shichikukai float. 紫竹会Oct 02, 2018
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Oct 02, 2018
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Oct 02, 2018
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This clashing (or crashing) of floats is called "kenka" (fight). It lasts until 5 pm in front of the shrine (parking lot).Oct 02, 2018
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Oct 02, 2018
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Oct 02, 2018
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The float battles are prone to damage the float decorations. A few dogs lost their heads or broke their legs in the battles. All those intricate works of art, only to be soon destroyed. But no one really cares.Oct 02, 2018
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Oct 02, 2018
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Cute doggie pouches. Suwai-cho. 仲屋町Oct 02, 2018
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Dai-Juikku float's Tosa dog is a fighter. 第十一区Oct 02, 2018
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Oct 02, 2018
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March 18, 2018: On the festival's 2nd day (Sun.), the floats are paraded from 10:30 am and arrive at the shrine by 2 pm. All the floats all gathered at the shrine again (a large parking lot) and held float battles (kenka). The floats paired up and rammed each other and pushed until the other float toppled.Oct 02, 2018
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Dai-niku float sold these hand towels for ¥500. 第二区Oct 02, 2018
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Dai-niku float sold this hand towel and mini Sagicho for ¥500. 第二区Oct 02, 2018
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Sanwakai float. 参和会Oct 02, 2018
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Sanwakai float losing strength. 参和会Oct 02, 2018
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Uwai-cho float. 魚屋町Oct 02, 2018
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Jukku-kai float. 十区会Oct 02, 2018
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Dai-niku float 第二区Oct 02, 2018
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Dai-niku float 第二区Oct 02, 2018
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Dai-ikku float. 第一区Oct 02, 2018
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Dai-ikku children's float. 第一区Oct 02, 2018
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Oct 02, 2018
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Suwai-cho float. 仲屋町Oct 02, 2018
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Shinmachi-dori float. 新町通りOct 02, 2018
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Shinmachi-dori float. 新町通りOct 02, 2018
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Honmachi float 本町Oct 02, 2018
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Honmachi float 本町Oct 02, 2018
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Honmachi float 本町Oct 02, 2018
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Honmachi float 本町Oct 02, 2018
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Miyauchi-cho float 宮内町Oct 02, 2018
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Miyauchi-cho float 宮内町Oct 02, 2018
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Held during the weekend in mid-March, the Sagicho Matsuri is a dramatic parade and clashing of 13 or 14 colorful Sagicho floats. On the first day at 1 pm, 14 Sagicho Festival floats gather at Himure Hachimangu Shrine near Hachiman-bori Canal.The festival has 13 handmade floats featuring the year's Chinese zodiac creature. 2018 is the Year of the Dog, so all the Sagicho floats have a dog. Short bus ride from Omi-Hachiman Station. These festival photos were taken on March 17–18, 2018.Oct 02, 2018
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This was the winning float design. Another Tosa fighting dog. Sure looks like a lot of work went into this. I didn't have a chance to ask what the yellow braids were made of. Dai-Juikku float. 第十一区Oct 02, 2018
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Dai-Juikku float's Tosa dog. 第十一区Oct 02, 2018
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Dai-Juikku float. 第十一区Oct 02, 2018
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Cuttlefish slices and little silvery fish. Ikeda-machi float. 池田町Oct 02, 2018
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Ikeda-machi float. 池田町Oct 02, 2018
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Shichikukai float. 紫竹会Oct 02, 2018
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Along the procession route, the floats take a break every once in a while. Shichikukai floats. 紫竹会Oct 02, 2018
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Shichikukai float. 紫竹会Oct 02, 2018
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Shichikukai float. 紫竹会 Lots of peas and beans.Oct 02, 2018
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Shichikukai float. 紫竹会Oct 02, 2018
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Shichikukai float. 紫竹会Oct 02, 2018
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Shichikukai float. 紫竹会Oct 02, 2018
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Shichikukai float. 紫竹会Oct 02, 2018
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Ikeda-machi float. 池田町Oct 02, 2018
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Cleanup crew.Oct 02, 2018
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Watch your step!Oct 02, 2018
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Shrine priest on horseback and behind him on another horse is the mayor of Omi-Hachiman who serves as the Honorary Chairman of the Sagicho Festival.Oct 02, 2018
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On Sat., the first day of the two-day festival, there is a procession from 2 pm. It is led by these shrine officials and the shrine priest on horseback.Oct 02, 2018
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Sanwakai float. 参和会Oct 02, 2018
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Uwai-cho float. 魚屋町Oct 02, 2018
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Uwai-cho float. 魚屋町Oct 02, 2018
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In front of the torii and Hakuunkan. Uwai-cho float leaving the shrine. 魚屋町Oct 02, 2018
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Suwai-cho float leaving the shrine for the procession. 仲屋町Oct 02, 2018
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Shinmachi-dori float leaving the shrine. 新町通りOct 02, 2018
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Miyauchi-cho float leaving the shrine to join the procession. 宮内町Oct 02, 2018
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From 2 pm, the procession starts and the floats start to exit the shrine. Oct 02, 2018
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Oct 02, 2018
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Float design judge.Oct 02, 2018
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Some drinking and partying on the side.Oct 02, 2018
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Oct 02, 2018
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Great spectacle and chance to see all the floats during this time. Later in the early afternoon, they will leave the shrine for a procession around the town.Oct 02, 2018
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This is in front of the shrine where all 13 floats gathered and lined up. Judges examined the floats to determine the winning float designs.Oct 02, 2018
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Oct 02, 2018
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Grounds of Himure Hachimangu Shrine which holds the Sagicho Matsuri. 日牟禮八幡宮Oct 02, 2018
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Dai-Juikku float's Tosa dog. 第十一区Oct 02, 2018
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Oct 02, 2018
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Shichikukai children's float. 紫竹会Oct 02, 2018
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Shichikukai float. 紫竹会Oct 02, 2018
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Oct 02, 2018
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Honmachi float 本町Oct 02, 2018
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Miyauchi-cho float 宮内町Oct 02, 2018
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Shinmachi-dori float. 新町通りOct 02, 2018
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Suwai-cho float. 仲屋町 (Visited this float's studio a week before.)Oct 02, 2018
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Suwai-cho float. 仲屋町Oct 02, 2018
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Ishin-cho float. 為心町Oct 02, 2018
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Dai-ikku float. 第一区Oct 02, 2018
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Oct 02, 2018
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Dai-niku float 第二区Oct 02, 2018
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Azuchi Castle on Jukku-kai float. 十区会Oct 02, 2018
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Jukku-kai float. 十区会Oct 02, 2018
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This is in front of the shrine where all the floats gathered and lined up. Judges examined the floats to determine the winning float designs.Oct 02, 2018
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Float leader directing the float bearers carrying the float. Uwai-cho float. 魚屋町Oct 02, 2018
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Oct 02, 2018
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All the floats gather at Himure Hachimangu Shrine. Sagicho Festival,Oct 02, 2018
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Ishin-cho float. 為心町Oct 02, 2018
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Jukku-kai float. 十区会Oct 02, 2018
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Shichikukai float. 紫竹会Oct 02, 2018
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Ishin-cho float. 為心町 Oct 02, 2018
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Shichikukai float. 紫竹会Oct 02, 2018
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Another festival highlight are the cosplayer float bearers. Long before cosplaying became a fad in Japan, the festival had costumers. According to legend, warlord Oda Nobunaga disguised himself lavishly when he joined in the festival. Modern people took that as a hint and started cosplaying in the festival decades ago.Oct 02, 2018
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Jukku-kai float. 十区会Oct 02, 2018
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Jukku-kai float. 十区会Oct 02, 2018
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This one has a picture of the famous Azuchi Castle which is in Omi-Hachiman. The castle was built by warlord Oda Nobunaga in the 16th century. This festival originated in Azuchi. Jukku-kai float. 十区会Oct 02, 2018
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Jukku-kai float. 十区会Oct 02, 2018
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Jukku-kai float. 十区会Oct 02, 2018
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Oct 02, 2018
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Dai-niku float 第二区Oct 02, 2018
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Dai-ikku float's Tosa dog. 第一区Oct 02, 2018
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Oct 02, 2018
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In front of the torii gate, two floats join up.Oct 02, 2018
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Oct 02, 2018
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Dai-niku float 第二区Oct 02, 2018
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Float bearers spin around while shouting "Cho-yare" or "Masse masse!" Dai-niku float 第二区Oct 02, 2018
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Dai-ikku float. 第一区Oct 02, 2018
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They shout "Cho-yare!" or "Masse-masse!" It's related to food.「チョウヤレ」「マッセマッセ」Oct 02, 2018
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Sanwakai float decoration was very elaborate. 参和会Oct 02, 2018
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Sanwakai float approaching the shrine. 参和会Oct 02, 2018
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Sanwakai float. 参和会Oct 02, 2018
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Sanwakai float. 参和会Oct 02, 2018
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Sanwakai children's float. 参和会Oct 02, 2018
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Sanwakai children's float. 参和会Oct 02, 2018
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On the first day (Sat.), the floats are paraded along the streets as they go to Himure Hachimangu Shrine and undergo judging for best design. The floats are works of art and made of edible materials mounted on a straw and wood base. Sanwakai float. 参和March 17, 2018Oct 02, 2018
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When Oda Nobunaga died and Azuchi castle destroyed, people in Azuchi moved to Omi-Hachiman and restarted the festival here. Uwai-cho float. 魚屋町Oct 02, 2018
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Omi-Hachiman's Sagicho Festival originated in neighboring Azuchi-cho town where Oda Nobunaga had his magnificent castle. Uwai-cho float. 魚屋町Oct 02, 2018
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This is one of the three children's floats which are smaller than the normal floats. Uwai-cho float. 魚屋町Oct 02, 2018
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Ishin-cho float. 為心町Oct 02, 2018
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On the first day (Sat.), the floats are paraded along the streets as they arrive at the shrine and undergo judging for best design. Ishin-cho float. 為心町 Oct 02, 2018
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Materials for float-making at Suwai-cho. 仲屋町Oct 02, 2018
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Float base for the dog. Each float design has a design concept or story behind it.Oct 02, 2018
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Suwai-cho float's dog almost done. The eyes still unfinished. 仲屋町Oct 02, 2018
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The 13 floats don't coordinate their designs. They don't share their design plans with other floats.So no one knows who will make which breed of dog until the festival day. Didn't see any chihuahua nor dachshunds.Oct 02, 2018
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We visited another Sagicho float studio at Suwai-cho. 仲屋町Oct 02, 2018
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Float support made of straw was built in the garage.Oct 02, 2018
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The flower's stamen were made with these small, banana-shaped chocolate candy. As long as it is edible, they can use anything on the float, even modern junk food.Banana-shaped chocolate candy for a flower's stamen, such great imagination. Year-round, they always look at edible things and imagine what it can be used for on a Sagicho float. Compared to the old days, they now have a lot more edible choices and colors to choose from to make the float decorations.Oct 02, 2018
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This is the base for the dog. All edible materials. Notice the flower's yellow stamen in the center.Oct 02, 2018
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The float decorations are all made of edible materials especially grains (soybeans, black beans, adzuki beans, sesame seeds, etc.) and seafood (dried bonito, kelp, aoi-nori seaweed powder, cuttlefish, dried fish, etc.).Oct 02, 2018
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Oct 02, 2018
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I asked the float's leader about the cost. I was told that they spent ¥200,000 for edible float materials and ¥800,000 for festival expenses even with free labor.They work on the float in the evenings after work or school. They solicit donations from neighborhood residents and sponsors.Oct 02, 2018
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I also asked what was the most difficult thing about making the float. He said, "deciding on the float's design." Their committee members make their own designs with their computers and present them to the committee. Apparently, it takes a lot of haggling and time, but once the design is decided, the rest is pretty mechanical and easy.Oct 02, 2018
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The dog fur is made of jute fibers (黄麻). Very realistic. They had only one person meticulously put on most of the dog's fur.They could've had a few people help, but then the fur would look uneven because each person would do it differently. But they still wanted to train the younger folks to do it, so the trainees were allowed to put fur on the less noticeable spots on the dog.Oct 02, 2018
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I was told that out of the 12 zodiac creatures, making the dog was the most difficult and making the dragon was the easiest. The dog is difficult because it's the most familiar animal to humans, so people know exactly what a dog supposed to look like. People can get very critical if the dog doesn't look like what it supposed to look like. Details like the curvature of the legs, etc. So they refer to a thick photo book of all kinds of dogs to make sure everything looks real.
Making the dragon is easy because no one has seen a real dragon. So people don't know exactly what a dragon supposed to look like. It doesn't have be so exact like a dog.Oct 02, 2018
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Miyauchi-cho had almost finished their float. They just had to assemble the parts. The main piece is the dog of course.Oct 02, 2018
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A week before the festival, we visited the studio of two of the Sagicho floats. This is one of them at Miyauchi-cho. 宮内町Each float is named after the district that it represents. It could be one or more neighborhoods in the city. A volunteer group for each float takes 2 months to make the float at their studio.Oct 02, 2018
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