 Most viewed - Kurayami Matsuri Festival くらやみ祭り |
Kurayami Matsuri in Fuchu, Tokyo196 views
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The festival music is called Fuchu Hayashi (府中囃子) native to Fuchu. There are two schools: Meguro-ryu (lively music west of the shrine) and Funabashi-ryu (elegant music east of the shrine).171 views
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Kurayami Matsuri: The mikoshi would spend the night at the Otabisho. At 4 am the next morning, they were carried back to the shrine by 7:30 am.167 views
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Also see my Kurayami Matsuri video taken on May 5, 2014.99 views
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The Kurayami Matsuri is Okunitama Shrine's most important festival held annually on April 30-May 6 in Fuchu, Tokyo. The main festival days are May 4 and 5. Kurayami means "pitch dark" in reference to it originally being a night festival.97 views
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Watch the video to see how they beat the taiko.97 views
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Best to watch my video of Kurayami Matsuri on May 4, 2014.96 views
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Okunitama Shrine's Honden in Fuchu, Tokyo. The shrine was established in 111 by Emperor Keiko (景行天皇). It worships six deities from Musashino Province. 96 views
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Keyaki-dori road of trees leading to Okunitama Shrine.95 views
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The giant taiko drums appeared again to purify the path for the mikoshi portable shrines.95 views
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Okunitama Shrine's torii94 views
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Local TV reporter.94 views
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The road is not that long so it was easy to see all the floats.94 views
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94 views
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94 views
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It was pitch dark because humans were not allowed to see the god's divine spirit being transferred from the shrine to the mikoshi and transported to the Otabisho rest place.93 viewsThe festival is near Fuchu Station on the Keio Line.
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Wash basin to purify yourself.93 views
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93 views
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On May 4 from 5 pm to 6 pm, large taiko drums (太鼓の響宴) were beaten on the street near the shrine.93 views
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Men standing precariously on one of the smaller taiko drums. They hold on to a rope tied to the drum. The smallest taiko is 1.29 meter wide. Up to 11 people stand on it.93 views
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The taiko drums are beaten to purify the path for the mikoshi portable shrine.93 views
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93 views
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Shishimai lion dancers.93 views
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93 views
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93 views
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Crowded path to Okunitama Shrine.92 views
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First a giant taiko drum passed by me as I was going to the shrine.92 views
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About Okunitama Shrine92 views
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The main god is Okunitama-no-Okami, god of nation-building. Same god as Izumo Taisha.92 views
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Mikoshi at the shrine await.92 views
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This unusual float named Kotobuki-cho is a danjiri float whose front end has to be lifted to turn.92 views
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They play the flute (笛), shime-daiko drum (締太鼓), large taiko (大太鼓), hand bell (鉦), and wooden clappers (拍子木). The flutist is like the music conductor who directs the music.92 views
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On May 4 during the day, they had children carrying small mikoshi. They also had twirling flower umbrellas called mando 万灯.92 views
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Sacred music gagaku musicians.92 views
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92 views
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Each mikoshi was led by paper lantern bearers.92 views
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Giant taiko drum beating like the sound of dinosaur footsteps.91 views
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The floats started to gather.91 views
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Another taiko arrives.91 views
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91 views
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91 views
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Floats on Keyaki road.91 views
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I went back to Fuchu the next day on May 5, 2014, the festival climax. Very crowded in front of the shrine.91 views
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The mikoshi bearers arrived dancing in circles.91 views
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Third mikoshi was Sannomiya 三之宮 Hikawa no Okami 氷川大神 氷川大社 埼玉県大宮市鎮座 （延喜式内 名神大社・旧官弊大社）.91 views
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The giant taiko later paraded along the Keyaki road.91 views
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Today, the festival is well lit in the evening with paper lanterns. On May 4 from 5 pm to 6 pm, large taiko drums (太鼓の響宴) are beaten on the street. 90 views
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Giant taiko ahead next to the torii.90 views
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90 views
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90 views
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The largest taiko is made of bubinga wood. They even made another taiko from the wood carved out of this trunk. 90 views
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That's how the taiko got bigger and bigger.90 views
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From 6 pm to 9 pm on May 4, 22 ornate wooden floats carrying musicians and dancers paraded on the street in front of the shrine (山車の巡行).90 views
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Comical dancers wearing masks performed on the floats.90 views
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Each float was led by paper lantern bearers followed by people pulling the float.90 views
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On May 5 at 6 pm, the festival climaxes with six large taiko drums followed by eight mikoshi portable shrines carried to the Otabisho, a short distance away pictured here.. 90 views
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The first mikoshi was Ichinomiya. 一之宮 Ono no Okami 小野大神 小野神社 東京都多摩市鎮座 （延喜式内論社・旧郷社）90 views
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Second mikoshi was Ninomiya 二之宮 Ogawa no Okami 小河大神 二宮神社（小河神社） 東京都あきる野市鎮座 （旧郷社）.90 views
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Eight mikoshi proceeded from Okunitama Shrine to the Otabisho.90 views
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The action and crowds shift to the Otabisho seen in the background.90 views
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All the mikoshi were brought here amid much fanfare.90 views
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90 views
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In the old days, they used to ram the taiko drums at each other. Since a bigger taiko was more advantageous, four neighborhoods sought to make the largest drum.89 views
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At around 6 pm, the ornate floats started to appear.89 views
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The floats carry festival musicians and dancers wearing a mask.89 views
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89 views
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Mando flower umbrella displayed in a dept store.89 views
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People couldn't cross the road.89 views
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The formal procession started with some musicians.89 views
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88 views
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On May 4, the float parade ended at about 9 pm.88 views
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88 views
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Floats would meet up and perform together for a few minutes.87 views
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Police constantly warned people about stepping back.87 views
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The floats later paraded on the tree-lined Keyaki road.86 views
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People cheer whenever they tilt this danjiri float.86 views
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