Gion Matsuri Festival, Ato Matsuri (Second Procession) 祇園祭・後祭

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Gion Matsuri Festival, Ato Matsuri (Second Procession) 祇園祭・後祭

My video of the Gion Matsuri Ato Matsuri procession on July 24, 2014 held for the first time in 49 years.

The start of the Gion Matsuri Ato Matsuri yama-hoko procession on July 24, 2014. Held 1 week after the main Saki Matsuri procession on July 17.

Hashi Benkei-yama 橋弁慶山 - From the famous Noh play called "Hashi Benkei," it shows the fight scene between Benkei and Ushiwakamaru at Gojo Ohashi Bridge in Kyoto.

Kita Kannon-yama 北観音山 - Worships Yoryu Kannon (揚柳観音) to dispel illness, and Idaten, a guardian deity.

A large willow branch sticks out from the rear.

Hachiman-yama 八幡山 - Worships the god Hachiman in a miniature shrine, whose spirit was transferred from the local Hachiman-gu shrine.

Kawaramachi-dori going to Shijo-dori road.

Jomyo-yama 浄妙山

Jomyo-yama 浄妙山 - Depicts the famous 12th-century battle between the Heike and Genji Clans at Uji River in Kyoto in the Tale of the Heike. It shows warrior-monk Ichirai jumping over Jomyo to take credit as the first to engage the enemy.

Suzuka-yama 鈴鹿山 - Dedicated to the goddess Suzuka who lives in the Suzuka Mountains and eliminated the demon terrorizing local residents and travelers to Ise. She wears a gold eboshi hat.

Minami Kannon-yama about to turn at the Kyoto City Hall corner.

Minami Kannon-yama 南観音山 - Worships Yoryu Kannon (揚柳観音), which dispels illness. The large willow branch also dispels illness. Medicine balls are on the four corners.

Koi-yama 鯉山 - Shows a carp (koi) swimming up a ryumon waterfall to become a dragon. The tapestries, depicting the Trojan War, were made in Belgium in the 16th century. (Important Cultural Properties)

En no Gyoja-yama 役行者山 - Depicts En-no-Gyoja, in the middle, an ascetic who had Hitokoto Nushi (standing on left) build a stone bridge between Katsuragi and Mt. Omine in Nara. On the right is the Goddess Katsuragi.

Kuronushi-yama 黒主山 - From the Noh play called "Shiga," it shows 10th-century poet Otomo no Kuronushi looking up at cherry blossoms.

Ofune-hoko 大船鉾 - Gion Matsuri's brand new float parading for the first time today on July 24, 2014.

Costing over US$10 million, this float always appears last in the Ato Matsuri. It rejoins the Gion Matsuri after being absent for 150 years when the previous float was caught in a fire in 1864.

The new boat float (Ofune-hoko) rejoins the Gion Matsuri after a 150-year absence. It always appears last in the float procession.

Meet Gion Matsuri's new boat float, Ofune-hoko.

During the Ofune-hoko's 500-year history, it repeatedly suffered from fires, but was rebuilt each time until 1864 when it caught fire caused by a skirmish (Hamaguri Gate Rebellion 蛤御門の変) at the Kyoto Imperial Palace.Notice the boat rudder.

Gion Matsuri now has two boat floats. The boat float (Fune-hoko) in the Saki Matsuri procession is said to be going to battle, while the Ofune-hoko is on a triumphant return from battle. Both boat floats worship the legendary Empress Jingu.

The Hanagasa Parade (花傘巡行) is a parade of mostly children and women accompanied by flowery parasol floats. It starts (10 am) and ends (noon) at Yasaka Shrine. On Kawaramachi-dori road, they follow right after the main float procession.

When the Saki Matsuri and Ato Matsuri's processions were combined on July 17, 1966, the Hanagasa Parade was started on July 24, 1966 to compensate for the Ato Matsuri's procession.