 Last additions - Shichikawa Matsuri Festival 七川祭 |
My YouTube video of the Shichikawa Matsuri in 2010.Jun 06, 2010
|
|
Jun 01, 2010
|
|
At the end of the baba, they turned around, and I left the scene.Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Jun 01, 2010
|
|
They paraded the mikoshi down the horse track (baba).Jun 01, 2010
|
|
|
Jun 01, 2010
|
|
The mikoshi was hauled on a cart.Jun 01, 2010
|
|
A short mikoshi procession led by the shrine priest.Jun 01, 2010
|
|
A short prayer by the shrine priest.Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Putting on the phoenix ornament atop the mikoshi.Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Jun 01, 2010
|
|
And went to carry the mikoshi inside the Haiden Hall.Jun 01, 2010
|
|
The yakko-furi approach the steps to the shrine.Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Then they ran up the steps.Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Jun 01, 2010
|
|
They made their way up to the shrine.Jun 01, 2010
|
|
After the yabusame, the yakko-furi boys performed without the targets. This was around 3:40 pm.Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Then the remaining horses ran a few times as well, three times each.Jun 01, 2010
|
|
The horseback archer on his third run. He spread his arms while holding a bow and arrow, but did not shoot any arrows. Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Jun 01, 2010
|
|
The horseback archer on his second run. He did not shoot any arrows. Jun 01, 2010
|
|
The boys running. When you see them, you know the horse is coming so keep off the path.Jun 01, 2010
|
|
After his first run, the horseback archer trots back.Jun 01, 2010
|
|
And they run again ahead of the horse.Jun 01, 2010
|
|
The horseback archer did not shoot any arrows. (It takes a lot of skill to do it.)Jun 01, 2010
|
|
The boys walk back again.Jun 01, 2010
|
|
They were soon followed by a horse galloping at full speed.Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Jun 01, 2010
|
|
At about 2:40 pm, the yabusame horseback archery began with the yakko-furi boys running down the path.Jun 01, 2010
|
|
The banner reads, "Oarahiko Jinja."Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Jun 01, 2010
|
|
The musicians and umbrella holders go back down from the shrine.Jun 01, 2010
|
|
They pay their respects to the shrine.Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Eight horses waiting.Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Jun 01, 2010
|
|
A procession of musicians went up the steps and walked around the shrine.Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Jun 01, 2010
|
|
The horseback archer faced the shrine and gave a ritualistic prayer with a bow at 2:20 pm. He was followed by the eight horseback riders who bowed to the shrine.Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Yabusame horseback archer.Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Next, the horseback archer approached the shrine.Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Turned out that the umbrella holder was his papa whom he had missed.Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Then this cute little boy wandered in.Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Nice shoes.Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Jun 01, 2010
|
|
At 2 pm, they had a ceremony with the shrine priest and representatives from the eight former villages.Jun 01, 2010
|
|
The yakko-furi proceeded to the steps leading to the shrine and then dispersed.Jun 01, 2010
|
|
|
Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Jun 01, 2010
|
|
After a triumphant return home, the Sasaki clan would perform yabusame horseback archery with 12 horses and 12 targets as an offering to the shrine. This was the beginning of this festival.Jun 01, 2010
|
|
They performed their routine twice along different sections of this horse track to enable everyone to see it. It was about 20 min. long.Jun 01, 2010
|
|
After lunch, the yakko-furi arrived at the shrine at around 1 pm.Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Nearer to the shrine, the horse track is lined with spectator seating. Apparently, people donated money for a seat to view the procession and galloping horses.Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Oarahiko Shrine was originally established to appease the god to prevent flooding from local rivers. The Sasaki clan worshipped here whenever they went off to war and when they returned triumphantly.Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Toyoki-iri-Hiko-no-Mikoto was the son of Emperor Sujin, the 10th emperor of Japan. Portable shrine is stored in the Haiden Hall during the festival.Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Oarahiko Shrine worships Toyoki-iri-Hiko-no-Mikoto (豊城入彦命), Oaradawake-no-Mikoto (大荒田別命), and the four gods related to the Sasaki clan who ruled Omi (Shiga) in the 14th century.Jun 01, 2010
|
|
About Oarahiko Shrine in Japanese.Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Entrance to Oarahiko Shrine. The shrine was established in the 13th century. It was patronized by the Sasaki clan in the 14th century when they ruled Omi Province. MAPJun 01, 2010
|
|
First torii of Oarahiko Shrine. It's kind of far from the nearest train station of Shin-Asahi on the JR Kosei Line. Rent a bicycle from the tourist office at the train station. 大荒比古神社Jun 01, 2010
|
|
The path to the shrine also serves as the horse track (baba 馬場) for galloping horses (yabusame).Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Eight more work horses in the procession. The horses comes from the eight former villages under the shrine's tutelage. 役馬Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Yabusame horseback archer.Jun 01, 2010
|
|
The young men performing the yakko-furi come from one of the eight former villages in the area. The former villages take turns in participating in the yakko-furi procession.Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Yabusame horseback archer.Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Shichikawa Matsuri's yakko-furi dance is a Shiga Prefecture Intangible Folk Cultural Property. 滋賀県選択無形民俗文化財Jun 01, 2010
|
|
The Shichikawa Matsuri is held on the same day as the Omizo Matsuri in neighboring Omi-Takashima. So I saw the Omizo Matsuri in the morning, then rushed over to see this festival.Jun 01, 2010
|
|
Leading the procession are 12 yakko-furi men who carry the horseback archer's wooden targets. Yakko-furi were manual laborers of the samurai. 奴振りJun 01, 2010
|
|
Held annually on May 4 in Takashima, Shichikawa Matsuri is Oarahiko Shrine's biggest festival (Reisai). It starts with a procession in the shrine's neighborhood. The shrine is near Shin-Asahi Station (JR Kosei Line).Jun 01, 2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
