Last additions - Asakusa Sanja Boat Procession 浅草三社祭斎行700年祭 舟渡御 |
New building for Asakusa Tourist Information Center.Mar 19, 2012
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Large crowd wait for the mikoshi to be carried back to Asakusa Shrine via Nakamise arcade at 6 pm.Mar 19, 2012
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SannomiyaMar 19, 2012
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NinomiyaMar 19, 2012
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Ichinomiya mikoshi in front of Kaminarimon Gate.Mar 19, 2012
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Musicians at Kaminarimon Gate.Mar 19, 2012
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Mar 19, 2012
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Mar 19, 2012
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The three mikoshi were then carried to Kaminarimon Gate in Asakusa at 5:40 pm.Mar 19, 2012
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Mar 19, 2012
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On the street in front of Komagata-do.Mar 19, 2012
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Inside Komagata-do.Mar 19, 2012
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After the mikoshi arrived back from the cruise, they held a service at this small worship hall called the Komagata-do. This marks the spot where the original Kannon statue was first worshipped before it was moved to Sensoji.Mar 19, 2012
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The mikoshi is placed in front of Komagata-do, a small temple for a Buddhist prayer ceremony.Mar 19, 2012
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Intersection near Komagata Bridge.Mar 19, 2012
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Where the mikoshi go, the crowds follow.Mar 19, 2012
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The mikoshi are carried back.Mar 19, 2012
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The mikoshi barge docks near Komagata Bridge.Mar 19, 2012
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Going under Komagata Bridge.Mar 19, 2012
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Mar 19, 2012
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Boats reach Komagata Bridge, the end of the boat procession.Mar 19, 2012
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Police boatMar 19, 2012
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Carts for the three mikoshi on Komagata Bridge, not far from Asakusa.Mar 19, 2012
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Waiting on Komagata Bridge where the three mikoshi would return from the river.Mar 19, 2012
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Where the mikoshi went, the crowd followed. They headed for Komagata Bridge where the boats would return.Mar 19, 2012
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PoliceMar 19, 2012
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Yakata-bune boatMar 19, 2012
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Mar 19, 2012
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Spectator boats.Mar 19, 2012
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Geisha boat.Mar 19, 2012
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White Heron Dancers on a boat.Mar 19, 2012
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Gods of Good Fortune on a boat.Mar 19, 2012
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Boat carrying gods of good fortune and White Heron Dancers.Mar 19, 2012
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Mar 19, 2012
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Boat carrying Golden Dragon. They didn't dance on the boat.Mar 19, 2012
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They cruised all the way to Ryogoku Bridge.Mar 19, 2012
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To reenact the boat procession, they had to work with very few records of the last time it was held in 1958. Only a few photos remained. In 1958, each mikoshi was carried by a separate boat.Mar 19, 2012
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The last time they did this was in 1958. The original Sanja Matsuri was actually a boat procession on Sumida River held in March 1312 (Kamakura Period).Mar 19, 2012
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To mark the 700th anniversary of Asakusa Sanja Matsuri Festival in 2012, a boat procession was held on Sumida River on March 18, 2012. Mar 19, 2012
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Mar 19, 2012
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Flat barge with the three mikoshi cruising on the Sumida River. It has been 54 years since the last time this boat procession was held in 1958.Mar 19, 2012
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Priests on the lead boat.Mar 19, 2012
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Tobu train line and Tokyo Sky Tree.Mar 19, 2012
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Guide boat. They sailed to Ryogoku and back.Mar 19, 2012
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Mar 19, 2012
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First they headed north to Sakura-bashi Bridge, then went south all the way to Ryogoku.Mar 19, 2012
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Large crowds lined the Sumida River banks.Mar 19, 2012
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Departing the dock with this tug pushing and another pulling.Mar 19, 2012
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And the mikoshi are off on its first boat procession in 54 years. Mar 19, 2012
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Sensoji temple priest and Asakusa Shrine priest on a boat.Mar 19, 2012
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This boat carried the Sensoji temple priest and Asakusa Shrine priest. Nice to see Buddhists and Shintoists together.Mar 19, 2012
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This boat carried Asakusa geisha.Mar 19, 2012
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This boat carried the White Heron Dancers too.Mar 19, 2012
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This escort boat carried the gods of good fortune.Mar 19, 2012
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The barge carrying the three portable shrines were to have a few escort boats.Mar 19, 2012
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Carrying Ichinomiya to the boat.Mar 19, 2012
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Mar 19, 2012
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Ichinomiya portable shrine arrives and carefully makes it way down the narrow stairway.Mar 19, 2012
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Carrying Ichinomiya to the boat.Mar 19, 2012
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A large crowd turned out to see this rare event in Asakusa. Sacred boat processions are not unusual in Japan though. Tenjin Matsuri in Osaka is a large boat procession.Mar 19, 2012
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Barge docking at Higashi Sando Sanbashi Pier. 東参道桟橋Mar 19, 2012
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A tugboat hauls a flat barge to the dock.Mar 19, 2012
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Mar 19, 2012
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A flattop barge arrives, decorated for the festival.Mar 19, 2012
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Patrol boats stand by. There was a lot of security on the river for this procession.Mar 19, 2012
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The dock on Sumida River where the portable shrines will be loaded onto a boat.Mar 19, 2012
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Tokyo Sky Tree is clearly visible from Asakusa.Mar 19, 2012
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Sannomiya mikoshiMar 19, 2012
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Ninomiya mikoshiMar 19, 2012
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Mar 19, 2012
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Ichinomiya portable shrine, followed by the two other mikoshi.Mar 19, 2012
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Tekomai geisha weren't in sync.Mar 19, 2012
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Tekomai geisha dragged a metal cane.Mar 19, 2012
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Another samurai.Mar 19, 2012
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Chigo childrenMar 19, 2012
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Sarutahiko's footwear.Mar 19, 2012
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SamuraiMar 19, 2012
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SarutahikoMar 19, 2012
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MusiciansMar 19, 2012
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White Heron Dancers. They didn't dance during the procession.Mar 19, 2012
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Mar 19, 2012
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The bird feeder.Mar 19, 2012
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White Heron Dancers. Mar 19, 2012
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This is the baton twirler (bo-furi 棒ふり) in orange pants followed by the bird feeder.Mar 19, 2012
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The bird feeder.Mar 19, 2012
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The procession on land went completely around Asakusa from 10:10 am to 12:30 pm.Mar 19, 2012
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The procession was led by the White Heron Dancers (Shirasagi-no-Mai).Mar 19, 2012
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Sannomiya or No. 3 mikoshi. The third mikoshi is dedicated to the wealthy landowner who converted the fishermen brothers to Buddhism and helped to establish Sensoji.Mar 19, 2012
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Sannomiya mikoshi. "Three Shrines," dedicated to the two fishermen brothers who found the Kannon buddha statue in Sumida River which became the object of worship that founded Sensoji Temple.Mar 19, 2012
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Ninomiya mikoshi or portable shrine No. 2.Mar 19, 2012
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Ichinomiya mikoshi or portable shrine No. 1. The biggest of the three.Mar 19, 2012
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Kiyari workmen singers.Mar 19, 2012
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Year 628: Two fishermen brothers find a golden Kannon buddha statue in Sumida River. The two fishermen were Hinokuma no Hamanari and Takenari. A wealthy landowner named Hajinomatsuchi heard about the statue and told the brothers about its religious value.Mar 19, 2012
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Festival musiciansMar 19, 2012
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Asakusa Shrine priest.Mar 19, 2012
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Sarutahiko-no-OkamiMar 19, 2012
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Sanja banners.Mar 19, 2012
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Sensoji's Golden Dragon standing by.Mar 19, 2012
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Asakusa geishaMar 19, 2012
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Mar 19, 2012
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Asakusa geishaMar 19, 2012
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Asakusa geisha on a cart.Mar 19, 2012
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Golden Dragon makes its way down Nakamise arcade.Mar 19, 2012
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Festival musicians on a cart at Hozomon Gate. 宝蔵門Mar 19, 2012
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All three mikoshi (portable shrines) ready to go at Hozomon Gate. 宝蔵門Mar 19, 2012
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The third portable shrine is moved into position at Hozomon Gate (宝蔵門) for the procession to start at 10:10 am.Mar 19, 2012
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Making room for the third portable shrine.Mar 19, 2012
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In front of Sensoji temple at Hozomon Gate, two portable shrines stand by.Mar 19, 2012
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Paper lantern out of the way at Hozomon Gate. 宝蔵門Mar 19, 2012
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Chigo children standing by in front of Hozomon Gate. 宝蔵門Mar 19, 2012
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The Golden Dragon takes after the "Golden Dragon Mountain" mountain name of Sensoji temple. 金龍山Mar 19, 2012
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I went to see the procession on March 18, 2012. Golden Dragon standing by to join the procession.Mar 19, 2012
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To mark the 700th anniversary of Asakusa Sanja Matsuri Festival in 2012, a boat procession was held on Sumida River on March 18, 2012. The last time they did this was in 1958. Mar 19, 2012
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The three portable shrines were first carried from Asakusa Shrine to neighboring Sensoji temple on March 17 where it stayed overnight. On the 18th, they were carried outside and a procession around Asakusa was held. Mar 19, 2012
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