 Last additions - Omizo Matsuri Festival 大溝祭 |
My YouTube video of the Omizo Matsuri in 2010.Jun 06, 2010
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Tapestry on the back of Minato float.Jun 01, 2010
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They tossed mochi after this in the shrine, but I left early to see the Shichikawa Festival in Shin-Asahi. Sorry, no photos of what happened here after this.Jun 01, 2010
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Jun 01, 2010
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Jun 01, 2010
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Sculpture on Minato hikiyama float.Jun 01, 2010
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Minato hikiyama float (湊)Jun 01, 2010
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Jun 01, 2010
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Tapestry on Tomoe hikiyama float (巴).Jun 01, 2010
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Takara hikiyama float (寳). The roof ornament is very large.Jun 01, 2010
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Tomoe hikiyama float (巴)Jun 01, 2010
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Tapestry on the back of Takara hikiyama float.Jun 01, 2010
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Jun 01, 2010
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Jun 01, 2010
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Jun 01, 2010
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Tapestry behind the Isamu hikiyama float.Jun 01, 2010
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They didn't have any signs indicating the name of the float. Isamu hikiyama float (勇).Jun 01, 2010
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Each float has a tapestry on the back. This is the Ryu hikiyama float.Jun 01, 2010
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I then took some pictures of each hikiyama. This is the Ryu (dragon) hikiyama float (龍).Jun 01, 2010
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Jun 01, 2010
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The shrine priest blesses each hikiyama.Jun 01, 2010
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Finally the last hikiyama is parked along side the others.Jun 01, 2010
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Jun 01, 2010
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Turning the float at Omizo Matsuri.Jun 01, 2010
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Jun 01, 2010
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Jun 01, 2010
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Jun 01, 2010
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Jun 01, 2010
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Jun 01, 2010
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Jun 01, 2010
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All the Omizo Matsuri hikiyama arrived in succession as they ran each time. Also see my video at YouTube.Jun 01, 2010
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They ran while pulling the float into the shrine grounds.Jun 01, 2010
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Then they turned the float and parked it.Jun 01, 2010
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The floats started arriving at Hiyoshi Jinja by 10:30 am. Jun 01, 2010
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Torii at Hiyoshi Jinja Shrine. 日吉神社Jun 01, 2010
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About Hiyoshi Jinja Shrine in Japanese.Jun 01, 2010
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Steps to the shrine's hall.Jun 01, 2010
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Hiyoshi Jinja Shrine. MAPJun 01, 2010
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Jun 01, 2010
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Jun 01, 2010
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Float pullers definitely look better with happi coats.Jun 01, 2010
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Passing by the elementary school. The stone marker indicates the way to Hiyoshi Jinja.Jun 01, 2010
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The wheels are pretty small compared to other floats in Shiga.Jun 01, 2010
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Jun 01, 2010
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At the Omizo Matsuri in Shiga, I couldn't get used to the people in casual clothes pulling a traditional float. Maybe they can't afford to buy happi coats for all these people.Jun 01, 2010
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Jun 01, 2010
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Jun 01, 2010
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Jun 01, 2010
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Jun 01, 2010
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Every year, they take turns being the first float (called Hanayama 花山) in the procession.Jun 01, 2010
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Like the night before, local volunteer guides at Omi-Takashima Station gave directions and maps of the procession route. Very helpful even though there weren't too many tourists.Jun 01, 2010
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On the next morning on May 4, 2010, a nice sunny day greeted the floats. The five floats started rolling at 10 am and headed slowly for Hiyoshi Jinja Shrine.Jun 01, 2010
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Omizo Matsuri posterJun 01, 2010
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Lanterns inside Omi-Takashima Station.Jun 01, 2010
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Omizo Matsuri float passing by Omi-Takashima Station.Jun 01, 2010
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Omizo Matsuri float passing by Omi-Takashima Station.Jun 01, 2010
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Then the floats passed by Omi-Takashima Station which has a giant Gulliver statue.Jun 01, 2010
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Omizo Matsuri float passing by Omi-Takashima Station.Jun 01, 2010
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The floats have festival musicians who play the taiko drum, bell, and flute.Jun 01, 2010
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Pulling the Ryu (龍) hikiyama.Jun 01, 2010
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At around 7:30 pm, they all gathered here near the hospital and took a break. 分部神社前Jun 01, 2010
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Jun 01, 2010
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Jun 01, 2010
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The Takara and Tomoe floats pass by each other during the Omizo Matsuri.Jun 01, 2010
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Jun 01, 2010
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They made a U-turn at the Otabisho near the lake shore.Jun 01, 2010
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There were so many spectators so it was easy to move around and shoot.Jun 01, 2010
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The Omizo Matsuri is a Shiga Prefecture Intangible Folk Cultural Property.Jun 01, 2010
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I followed them to the lake shore as the sky got darker.Jun 01, 2010
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Some people wore happi coats, but many people didn't. So it didn't look as traditional as other float festivals.Jun 01, 2010
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The paper lanterns is emblazoned with the name of the float. Each name has only one kanji character. This is the Isamu (勇) hikiyama float.Jun 01, 2010
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The hikiyama float's wheels cannot turn, so they turn the float by tilting it and turning it by force. This is the Tomoe (巴) hikiyama float. Jun 01, 2010
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The floats are pretty small, compared to other float festivals in Shiga. So they are light enough to tilt when they need to turn. This is the Takara (宝) float.Jun 01, 2010
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May 3 is the Yoimiya or festival eve when they parade the five ornate hikiyama floats in the evening from 6:45 pm. They first gather in front of Ebisu-so, near Omi-Takashima Station. This is the Minato (湊) float.Jun 01, 2010
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The Omizo Matsuri is the biggest festival (Reisai) of Hiyoshi Jinja Shrine in Takashima (not to be confused with Hiyoshi Taisha in Otsu which is related) held annually on May 3-4.Jun 01, 2010
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The floats are decorated with paper lanterns lit up. They return to Ebisu-so by 10:30 pm. When I went on May 3, 2010, there were local volunteer guides at the train station distributing maps of the parade route and giving directions. Very helpful.Jun 01, 2010
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