Onbashira Matsuri (Kami-sha Yamadashi) 御柱祭 上社 山出し
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The Onbashira Festival's main event takes place at four different times in early April and early May, centering on Chino city and Shimosuwa town. It is the festival of Suwa Taisha Shrine consisting of the Kami-sha Shrine and Shimo-sha Shrine.
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Both the Kami-sha Shrine (in Chino and Suwa cities) and Shimo-sha Shrine (in Shimosuwa town) consist of a pair of shrines. So there are actually a total of four shrines involved in the festival.
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Held every 6 years (1998, 2004, 2010, etc.), this festival brings new logs from the mountain forest to all four shrines where they are erected. Each shrine receives four logs, so a total of 16 logs are cut and hauled to the shrines.Only a rope keeps the log from going down.
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The hauling of the logs from the forest to a resting place near the shrine is called Yamadashi. The hauling route and schedule for the Kami-sha and Shimo-sha Shrines are different.
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The Yamadashi log hauling for the Kami-sha Shrine was held during April 2-4, 2004. Along the hauling route is a slope where the log is slid down while men ride on it.
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These photos show the slope for the Ki-otoshi (Log Drop) along the log-hauling route to Kami-sha Shrine in Chino and Suwa.
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This log drop is one of the highlights of the festival.
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This is one log about to go down the slope. A total of 8 logs will go down this slope.
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The log is dragged to the edge of the top of the slope.
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The log is tilted upward.
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At the bottom of the slope is a huge crowd watching the spectacle, Ki-otoshi or Log Drop, Onbashira-sai Festival.
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Ki-otoshi or Log Drop, Onbashira-sai Festival.
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The slope is near the train tracks.
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Each log is preceded by flag bearers.
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Another log coming to the slope.
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The ax man is ready to cut the rope.
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In one swing, he cuts the rope.
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The rope snaps and the log slides down the slope.
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Another log comes to the slope.
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A total of 8 logs are slid down this slope.
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Everything is very ceremonial.
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Another obstacle along the route to the Kami-sha Shrine is this river.
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This river crossing, called Kawa-koshi, is another highlight of the festival. 川越し
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川越し
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