 Last additions - Nagahama Hikiyama Festival 長浜曳山祭 |
The Nagahama Hikiyama Matsuri is held annually on several days in April, but the main day is April 15. Comprehensive documentary video showing highlights of 2016.On Dec. 1, 2016 (JST), Nagahama Hikiyama Matsuri was inscribed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity as one of 33 "Yama, Hoko, and Yatai float festivals in Japan."Jun 29, 2016
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Nagahama Hikiyama poster for an earlier year. The official festival poster changes every year and is always well designed.Jul 11, 2009
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Footwear behind a float.Jul 11, 2009
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The festival on April 15 lasts well after dark. The day's final kabuki performance starts at around 8 pm at the Otabisho.Jul 11, 2009
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At around 9 pm when the day's final kabuki performance ends, they take out the mikoshi and parade it around the Otabisho before they carry it back to Nagahama Hachimangu Shrine.Jul 11, 2009
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A hikiyama proceeds through the shopping arcade whose ceiling is high enough. Each hikiyama holds a kabuki performance four times this day.Jul 11, 2009
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They use microphones so we can hear them speak. Very authentic style, and they practiced a lot for this festival.Jul 11, 2009
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Turning the hikiyama's wheel.Jul 11, 2009
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The last kabuki performance was a dance rather than a play.Jul 11, 2009
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At the shrine, the kabuki play is performed one by one on the four floats, and not at the same time.Jul 11, 2009
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Boys act on a boat on the boat float.Jul 11, 2009
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The hikiyama floats await at the shrine as everyone arrive. The hikiyama are about 7 meters high.Jul 11, 2009
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The kabuki performances then started at around 10 am on one of the hikiyama floats. The kabuki performances are held as offerings to Nagahama Hachimangu Shrine.Jul 11, 2009
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They run around with the mikoshi, making a big ruckus.Jul 11, 2009
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As the float is pulled, flute players follow it.Jul 11, 2009
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After the kabuki play ends, they pull and turn the hikiyama float and it goes toward central Nagahama through the shopping arcade where they will perform the same play again.Jul 11, 2009
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A short distance from the shopping arcade is the Otabisho where all hikiyama floats congregate and give the day's final performance.Jul 11, 2009
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The kabuki boys are placed on the hikiyama floats.Jul 11, 2009
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The next kabuki play started on another hikiyama. Amazing how a boy can look so feminine.Jul 11, 2009
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This hikiyama is shaped like a boat.Jul 11, 2009
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Festival bannerJul 11, 2009
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The hikiyama floats were then pulled into position for the day's first kabuki performances.Jul 11, 2009
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Steering the hikiyama from behind.Jul 11, 2009
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The kabuki boys for each hikiyama float proceed to the shrine, headed by a boy holding a sacred staff with zigzag paper.Jul 11, 2009
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Kabuki performance in the shopping arcade.Jul 11, 2009
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A boy writes with a brush with his mouth.Jul 11, 2009
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Shedding real tears...Jul 11, 2009
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Pulling the boat float from the shrine.Jul 11, 2009
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This hikiyama is coming through the shopping arcade.Jul 11, 2009
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This and the following pictures were taken in another year (not in 2009).Jul 11, 2009
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Tapestry may have a western design.Jul 11, 2009
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If you missed the performance at the shrine, you can see the same performance later in the shopping arcade or at the Otabisho.Jul 11, 2009
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After the kabuki boys, processions of Naginata sword bearers also proceed to Nagahama Hachimangu Shrine.Jul 11, 2009
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Men wearing sumo aprons also arrive at the shrine.Jul 11, 2009
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Fine art work on the hikiyama's ceiling.Jul 11, 2009
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Carvings on a Nagahama hikiyama float.Jul 11, 2009
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Large crowd watching kabuki by boys at Nagahama Hachimangu Shrine.Jul 11, 2009
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Naginata sword bearers standby near the hikiyama floats.Jul 11, 2009
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A ceremony is conducted before the kabuki plays started.Jul 11, 2009
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Hikiyama float storehouse.Jul 11, 2009
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He's such a good actor that he shed real tears.Jul 11, 2009
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The sail of the boat float almost got caught on a tree branch as it was moved.Jul 11, 2009
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Otemon arcadeJul 11, 2009
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Sanbaso dancer is the first to perform.Jul 11, 2009
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The crowd watches the final kabuki performance starting at around 1:30 pm.Jul 11, 2009
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Nagahama hikiyama floats at the Otabisho. The building on the right houses the mikoshi portable shrine.Jul 11, 2009
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Portable shrine at the Otabisho.Jul 11, 2009
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Arriving at Nagahama Hachimangu Shrine. People are not allowed to cross in front of this procession.Jul 11, 2009
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Poster for the 2009 Nagahama Hikiyama Festival. For the basis festival schedule, also see my blog post.Jul 11, 2009
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These pictures were taken on April 15. In the morning, all the kabuki actors proceed to Nagahama Hachimangu Shrine, arriving by 8:30 am.Jul 11, 2009
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The Nagahama Hikiyama Matsuri's main highlight are boys age 5 to 12 performing kabuki plays on a few ornate floats at Nagahama Hachimangu Shrine and other locations in central Nagahama. MAPJul 11, 2009
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