Takayama Matsuri Festival 高山祭
|
|
|
The Takayama Festival is held twice a year, during April 14-15 and Oct. 9-10. The spring festival is held by Hieda Shrine and it is called Sanno Matsuri. The festival features twelve ornate "yatai" floats which are displayed and pulled along the streets. In a large plaza, katakuri puppets perform on a few of the floats. The festival is also dramatic at night with a float procession. The Takayama Festival procession in spring starts at Hieda Shrine. Photo shows a banner reading "Hieda Jinja." 祭行列
|
|
Hie Shrine hall. The shrine is on Shiroyama Hill. 日枝神社On Dec. 1, 2016 (JST), Takayama Matsuri Festival was inscribed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity as one of 33 "Yama, Hoko, and Yatai float festivals in Japan."
|
|
The portable shrine (mikoshi) passes through Hie Shrine's torii to join the procession. 神輿
|
|
Shrine officials in the procession.
|
|
|
|
|
Shrine maidens
|
|
Mikoshi
|
|
Shrine maidens
|
|
Shrine maidens
|
|
|
|
A middle-aged woman uses her camera phone to photograph herself. "I was here!"
|
|
Portable shrine 神輿
|
|
Portable shrine 神輿
|
|
Shrine priest
|
|
Large crowd gather to watch the karakuri puppets perform on the ornate floats. Sign says "Watch out for pickpockets."
|
|
Large crowd gather to watch the karakuri puppets perform on the ornate floats.
|
|
Only four of the 12 floats have karakuri puppets which perform. Takayama Matsuri, Gifu
|
|
The karakuri puppets first appeared on the Takayama Matsuri floats in the 18th century. They were handcrafted by artisans in Kyoto.
|
|
Japan has three basic types of karakuri puppets based on the region: Kyoto, Nagoya, and Kanto (Tokyo area). The Takayama karakuri are the Nagoya-type.
|
|
The puppets come out on a plank sticking out of the float and perform in a mini play with various stunts.
|
|
Ryuujintai Karakuri 龍神台からくり
|
|
Sanbasou Karakuri 三番叟からくり
|
|
Sanbasou Karakuri 三番叟からくり
|
|
Ryuujintai Karakuri 龍神台からくり
|
|
Ryuujintai Karakuri 龍神台からくり
|
|
Ryuujintai Karakuri, Takayama Festival, Gifu 龍神台からくり
|
|
The karakuri perfom one float at a time.
|
|
Shakkyoutai Karakuri which transforms into a lion dance. 石橋台からくり
|
|
Ryuujintai Karakuri 龍神台からくり
|
|
Ryuujintai Karakuri throwing confetti. 龍神台からくり
|
|
Street lined with floats.
|
|
Floats are displayed on the street. Takayama Matsuri, Gifu
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Superb embroidery
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Storehouse for a float. 屋台蔵
|
|
Held on April 14, the night procession is the festival's major highlight. 夜まつり曳行
|
|
The floats are lit and paraded on the streets.
|
|
|
|
On Nakahashi Bridge.
|
|
The floats cross Nakahashi Bridge.
|
|
|
|
|
|
