Last additions - Sagicho Matsuri Festival 2007 左義長まつり |

Then a torch touches a few places to set it afire.Jul 14, 2009
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But it is soon repaired to see another fight.Jul 14, 2009
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Three floats ablaze. 奉火Jul 14, 2009
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The remaining floats are set alight one after another until 10:40 pm.Jul 14, 2009
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Straw all over the ground.Jul 14, 2009
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The children's float returns to the shrine.Jul 14, 2009
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Jul 14, 2009
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Another "kenka" (fight) starts. けんかJul 14, 2009
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At 8 pm, five floats are set on fire at one time by a torch such as this one.Jul 14, 2009
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The front of the torii is a good viewing spot.Jul 14, 2009
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Each float is pushed until they clash.Jul 14, 2009
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Lost geta clog. The confetti is from the Dai-ikku float with the sakura theme. Supposed to be cherry blossom petals.Jul 14, 2009
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At this stage, the fire is quite hot. Sagicho Matsuri, Omi-HachimanJul 14, 2009
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More floats return to the shrine to be burned.Jul 14, 2009
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Running around the fire while chanting.Jul 14, 2009
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They keep pushing until one of them topples over.Jul 14, 2009
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WinnerJul 14, 2009
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First, sake is sprinkled over the float.Jul 14, 2009
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Later, the other floats return to the shrine by 8 pm.Jul 14, 2009
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Push!Jul 14, 2009
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Then they usually spin around until one float topples over.Jul 14, 2009
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Near 5 pm, the floats start to leave the shrine and head back home.Jul 14, 2009
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The crowd is drawn to the fire for warmth. It was a cold, windy day.Jul 14, 2009
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WinnerJul 14, 2009
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Beware of flying sparks and the wind which can blow the flames toward you. Of course, the fire dept. with fire hoses were on hand just in case.Jul 14, 2009
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Sign of defeat as this float badly lists to one side.Jul 14, 2009
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At 6 pm, the Shinmachi-dori children's float is set afire.Jul 14, 2009
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The kids then run around the fire while chanting "Masse-masse!"Jul 14, 2009
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A real mish-mash.Jul 14, 2009
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In the left corner is Jukku-kai... 十区会Jul 14, 2009
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And in the right corner is Uwai-cho, ready to rumble. 魚屋町Jul 14, 2009
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After a loud dragging noise, they clash and lock their antlers.Jul 14, 2009
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Both sides push and push...Jul 14, 2009
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The two children's floats separate.Jul 14, 2009
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PeoniesJul 14, 2009
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Children's float from Shinmachi-doriJul 14, 2009
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Each float also has someone with wood clappers.Jul 14, 2009
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This float won the top prize for float design. The banner reads "Yusho" (Champion). From Dai-juikku district. 第十一区Jul 14, 2009
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If you missed it, there's always another float fight to watch.Jul 14, 2009
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Here we go...Jul 14, 2009
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Tapioca, chewing gum, rock salt, and dried cuttlefish are among the edible materials here.Jul 14, 2009
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Uwai-cho float. 魚屋町のだしJul 14, 2009
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Honmachi float leaving Himure Hachimangu Shrine. Sagicho Festival, Omi-Hachiman, Shiga. 本町のだしJul 14, 2009
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On the first day (Sat.), the floats are paraded along the streets near the shrine and undergo judging for best design. The floats are works of art and made of edible materials mounted on a straw and wood base all to be set afire in the end.Jul 14, 2009
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On the second day of the festival, the floats clash with each other. Sagicho floats pass through the torii of Himure Hachimangu Shrine, near Hachiman-bori Canal.Jul 14, 2009
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Sagicho Matsuri, ShigaJul 14, 2009
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This float won the top prize for float design.Jul 14, 2009
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Float bearers push the end of the float to try and topple the other float. Each float clashes with various other floats during the afternoon on Sunday.Jul 14, 2009
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On Sat., the first day of the two-day festival, there is a procession from 2 pm. It is led by these shrine officials and the shrine priest on horseback.Jul 14, 2009
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Suwai-cho float. 仲屋町Jul 14, 2009
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Gate of Himure Hachimangu Shrine which holds the Sagicho Festival. 日牟禮八幡宮Jul 14, 2009
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The sake cup has numerous little bead-like things. All edible.Jul 14, 2009
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Shinmachi-dori Children's float passing through Shinmachi, Omi-Hachiman's old merchants quarters. 新町通りこどもJul 14, 2009
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This clashing (or crashing) of floats is called "kenka" (fight). It lasts until 5 pm.Jul 14, 2009
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Life-like boar, all edible materials.Jul 14, 2009
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This float won 2nd place.Jul 14, 2009
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Unlike the next day when the floats will clash with each other, here and within the shrine.Jul 14, 2009
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Spectators in front of Hakuunkan watch the floats. Local police estimate 38,000 people came to see the festival this day.Jul 14, 2009
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Another Shichikukai float, but for children.Jul 14, 2009
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Floats go through the torii and head for Himure Hachimangu Shrine.Jul 14, 2009
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The yellow thing is made of corn.Jul 14, 2009
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This design won 3rd place. White sugar is one of the ingredients.Jul 14, 2009
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Dai-Juikku float. 第十一区Jul 14, 2009
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Shichikukai float. 紫竹会のだしJul 14, 2009
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Sagicho Matsuri, ShigaJul 14, 2009
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Hanafuda playing cards.Jul 14, 2009
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Introduction of all Sagicho floats: Fourteen floats from various districts of Omi-Hachiman then paraded through a circular route. This is the Dai-ikku float. 第一区Jul 14, 2009
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They bond in friendship. These photos were taken on March 17-18, 2007, year of the boar. Jul 14, 2009
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Small mushroomsJul 14, 2009
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Ball made of candy.Jul 14, 2009
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Dai-Juikku also has a small float for kids.Jul 14, 2009
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Looks like ao-nori (seaweed powder).Jul 14, 2009
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Looks like bread crust.Jul 14, 2009
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Praying at the main hall of Himure Hachimangu Shrine. 日牟禮八幡宮Jul 14, 2009
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This is a Takara-bune (Treasure Boat) design.Jul 14, 2009
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Children's floats go to battle.Jul 14, 2009
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Ishin-cho float. 為心町のだしJul 14, 2009
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Maid costumeJul 14, 2009
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Looking for a rumble.Jul 14, 2009
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Sanwakai float. 参和会Jul 14, 2009
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It is said that even Nobunaga joined the festival and danced around in disguise. Hence, you can see people in costume or in disguise.Jul 14, 2009
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They shout "Cho-yare!" or "Masse-masse!" It's related to food.「チョウヤレ」「マッセマッセ」Jul 14, 2009
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Grounds of Himure Hachimangu Shrine which holds the Sagicho Matsuri. 日牟禮八幡宮Jul 14, 2009
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Black rice, beans, and more.Jul 14, 2009
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The following photos were taken on the second day of the festival. On the festival's 2nd day (Sun.), the floats are paraded from 10:30 am and arrive at the shrine by 2 pm.Jul 14, 2009
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Ready to rumble.Jul 14, 2009
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Deer seems to have some sort of candy shavings.Jul 14, 2009
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Tiny fish form the pine tree design on the fans.Jul 14, 2009
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Many homes hang red streamers during the Sagicho Festival.Jul 14, 2009
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In front of the torii gate, two floats join up.Jul 14, 2009
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Notice the Treasure Boat.Jul 14, 2009
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Peony dish design.Jul 14, 2009
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Miyauchi-cho float. 宮内町のだしJul 14, 2009
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Shrine officials followed by chigo children carrying red paper streamers.Jul 14, 2009
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This has a chrysanthemum design which is the Imperial family crest. To celebrate the newborn prince.Jul 14, 2009
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When Nobunaga was killed and the castle destroyed, people in Azuchi moved to Omi-Hachiman and restarted the festival here. This float won 3rd place, from Miyauchi-cho. 宮内町Jul 14, 2009
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Ikeda-machi float. 池田町のだしJul 14, 2009
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Folding fansJul 14, 2009
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Boar and peony.Jul 14, 2009
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Dai-niku float in front of Hakuunkan, a classic Western-style building, now a tourist info office and exhibition gallery. Also see the video at YouTube. Sagicho Festival, Omi-Hachiman. 第二区Jul 14, 2009
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Shrine priest on horseback and behind him on another horse is the mayor of Omi-Hachiman who serves as the Honorary Chairman of the Sagicho Festival.Jul 14, 2009
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Jukku-kai float. 十区会Jul 14, 2009
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It has a cherry tree, a red sake cup, and boar. Sagicho floats depict animals from the Oriental Zodiac, and 2007 was the Year of the Boar.Jul 14, 2009
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Omi-Hachiman's Sagicho Festival originated in neighboring Azuchi-cho town where Oda Nobunaga had his magnificent castle.Jul 14, 2009
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Shinmachi-dori float. 新町通りのだしJul 14, 2009
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Sea turtle and "tancho" crane are auspicious symbols.Jul 14, 2009
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Shinmachi is where the Omi shonin merchants lived.Jul 14, 2009
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Small silvery fish, beans, and perhaps onions. Looks like very painstaking work. Sagicho Festival, Omi-Hachiman, Shiga.Jul 14, 2009
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Numerous tiny fish heads make up this flower design.Jul 14, 2009
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The float returns to the shrine.Jul 14, 2009
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Sometimes a float collapses when float bearers get too tired.Jul 14, 2009
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By 2 pm, the shrine grounds (actually a parking lot) is filled with floats and people.Jul 14, 2009
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Ao-nori (powery seaweed) was used to make the dark-green leaves.Jul 14, 2009
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Two floats clash.Jul 14, 2009
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The boar's mane is made of tiny fish. You can smell the seafood. I'm surprised that crows never swooped down on the floats to feast on them.Jul 14, 2009
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Float bearers make a circle and spin around while shouting "Cho-yare" or "Masse masse!"Jul 14, 2009
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Held during the weekend in mid-March, the Sagicho Matsuri is a dramatic parade and clashing of 13 or 14 colorful Sagicho floats. On the first day at 1 pm, 14 Sagicho Festival floats gather at Himure Hachimangu Shrine near Hachiman-bori Canal.Jul 14, 2009
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The place is packed with people. Normally, it is a parking lot. The shrine is a few minutes by bus from Omi-Hachiman Station. MAPJul 14, 2009
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From 2 pm, the procession starts and the floats start to exit the shrine. Also see the video at YouTube.Jul 14, 2009
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