 Last additions - Onbashira Matsuri (Kami-sha Yamadashi) 御柱祭 上社 山出し |
This river crossing, called Kawa-koshi, is another highlight of the festival. 川越しApr 29, 2007
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川越しApr 29, 2007
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A total of 8 logs are slid down this slope.Apr 29, 2007
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Apr 29, 2007
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The ax man is ready to cut the rope.Apr 29, 2007
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Another obstacle along the route to the Kami-sha Shrine is this river.Apr 29, 2007
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In one swing, he cuts the rope.Apr 29, 2007
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Another log comes to the slope.Apr 29, 2007
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Everything is very ceremonial.Apr 29, 2007
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The rope snaps and the log slides down the slope.Apr 29, 2007
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Each log is preceded by flag bearers.Apr 29, 2007
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Another log coming to the slope.Apr 29, 2007
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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.Apr 29, 2007
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The slope is near the train tracks.Apr 29, 2007
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The log is dragged to the edge of the top of the slope.Apr 29, 2007
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Ki-otoshi or Log Drop, Onbashira-sai Festival.Apr 29, 2007
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The log is tilted upward.Apr 29, 2007
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Apr 29, 2007
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This is one log about to go down the slope. A total of 8 logs will go down this slope.Apr 29, 2007
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This log drop is one of the highlights of the festival.Apr 29, 2007
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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.Apr 29, 2007
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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.Apr 29, 2007
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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.Apr 29, 2007
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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.Apr 29, 2007
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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.Apr 29, 2007
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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.Apr 29, 2007
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