Image search results - "ito" - JAPAN PHOTOS by Philbert Ono

Image search results - "ito"

Sadly, the Tokyo Jidai Matsuri no longer held. It used to be held annually on Nov. 3 (Culture Day) in Asakusa, Tokyo.the Tokyo Jidai Matsuri (Festival of Historical Periods) is a parade tracing the history of Tokyo with over 1,600 people dressed in the respective period's costume. This is the lead float playing music. It took about an hour for the parade to reach Kaminarimon Gate.

Lead Float: Edo festival music played by children. Kodomo Edo-bayashi yatai
先導　子供江戸囃子屋台

Welcome to IbarakiTrain platform of Kairakuen Station.

This page is a complete English guide to all the groups that appear in the parade. The parade assembles behind Sensoji Temple and starts at 1:30 pm from Nitenmon gate. The procession then goes down Umamichi-dori street, passes by Matsuya Department Store.先導　子供江戸囃子屋台

Train platform of Kairakuen Station

From Matsuya Department Store, the procession turns right into Kaminarimon-dori street which passes in front of the famous, giant red lantern called Kaminarimon Gate. Lead float with Edo festival music played by children. 先導子供江戸囃子屋台

Train platform of Kairakuen Station

Lead float with Edo festival music played by children. The names of the children playing are written on the red lanterns hanging above. Kodomo Edo-bayashi yatai 先導子供江戸囃子屋台

Plum Blossom Queen at Kairakuen StationShe was passing out maps of the garden. It was a nice touch to see two of these kimono beauties greeting us.

Tokyo Jidai Matsuri Banner and Tekomai geisha. From top to bottom, the banner reads, "Tokyo Jidai Matsuri." It marks the official and real start of the festival parade. The first Tokyo Jidai Matsuri was held in 1989. 東京時代祭本旗The first Tokyo Jidai Matsuri was held in 1989. Slight changes in the festival have been made since. Instead of two oiran courtesans, there is only one now. And at the end of the parade, the Asakusa Revue of showgirls used to be the anchor. But they are now gone.

東京時代祭本旗、手古舞

Bird's eye view of Asakusa with Kaminarimon Gate (big red lantern) and Nakamise arcade.

Plum Blossom Queen

Tekomai geisha existed since the Edo Period. They served as side entertainment at festivals. They only sing traditional chant-like songs called kiyari originally sung by lumberers hauling wood. 手古舞These tekomai did not sing, so they might not be real. When they sing, they hold a fan to their mouth.

手古舞

Green roofed Nakamise path to Sensoji temple in Asakusa.

Entrance to garden via Tokiwa Shrine. One of Japan's three most famous gardens, Kairakuen is especially noted for thousands of plum blossom trees which bloom in Feb. and March.One of Japan's three most famous gardens, Kairakuen is especially noted for thousands of plum blossom trees which bloom in Feb. and March.

Tekomai geisha costume is partially masculine with trousers instead of skirts. Their right shoulder is "exposed" showing a flower design. They carry a red paper lantern imprinted with their names and use their right hand to drag a wand."Asakusa" is written on her lantern. 手古舞

Kaminarimon Gate (big red lantern) and intersection in Asakusa.

Tokiwa Shrine, MitoDedicated to Lord Mitsukuni Tokugawa, the second lord of Mito, and Nariaki Tokugawa, the ninth lord of Mito and the one who built Kairakuen Garden.

Tekomai geisha

Nakamise

Bonsai plum treesI bought one of these once and the flowers smelled good before they withred away. The tree also died soon afterward.

Magistrate Procession 奉行

Tokyo Skytree

Crowd at Higashi-mon East GateThis was the defacto main gate and most crowded since it is closest to the train station.

A magistrate (bugyo) in Edo could be a regional governor or government minister.

Tokyo Skytree

The 25th Asakusa Yabusame horseback archery was held on April 21, 2007 at Sumida Park.

Itoh Chube'e Memorial House (Itoh Chube'e Ki'nenkan). Itoh Chube'e (1842-1903) was the founder of Itochu Corporation and Marubeni, two of Japan's largest trading companies, in 1858. MAPThis house displays his former residence and some of his possessions. A short walk from Toyosato Station, the house is open to the public on Tue., Thu., and Sat. Free admission.

Map of Kairakuen, a garden built in 1841 by Tokugawa Nariaki (1800-1860), the ninth Lord of Mito. It is one of Japan's three most famous gardens.

Magistrate Procession 奉行

Parallel to Sumida River, the archery course is straight and narrow, stretching from the Tobu Line bridge to Kototoi Bridge.

Entrance to Itoh Chube'e Memorial House

Pinickers

Magistrate Procession. Bowing to Asakusa Temple.

The course has three targets which the archers will shoot arrows at.

Entrance to Itoh Chube'e Memorial House

Plum blossom-viewing picnickers

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.He then built a small temple for the statue and the brothers converted to Buddhism. The temple eventually became today's Sensoji Temple (also called Asakusa Kannon Temple). Because of the temple, Asakusa developed and prospered and the two brothers and landlord are considered to be the founders of Asakusa.

Next to Sensoji Temple is Asakusa Shrine dedicated to these three men now deified. Asakusa Shrine holds the annual Sanja Matsuri in May, one of Tokyo's biggest festivals. Three portable shrines dedicated to these three men are carried around the streets of Asakusa. "Sanja" means three shrines or gods.

檜前浜成（ひのくまのはまなり）・竹成（たけなり）の兄弟の網に一体の小さなご仏像がかかりました。
東京のあけぼの　浅草観音示現

Raised dirt along the archery course.

Front garden

Red and white plum blossoms

First, the horses, archers, and attendants parade along the entire course.

Front garden

Wooden targets

Maid's room

White plum blossoms, the most common variety, and with the sweetest aroma.

Golden Dragon Dance. 浅草のよろこび金龍の舞

Archer

Inside entrance. The house was occupied by Itochu company founder Itoh Chube'e and his son, Chube'e II.

According to legend, three days after the golden Kannon statue was found, a golden dragon descended from heaven and danced. The mountain name of the temple is Kinryu-zan, meaning Golden Dragon Mountain. (Most temples have a mountain name.)

Yabusame archer

Shopkeeper's desk

Osaka-zuki red plum blossoms 大盃Osaka-zuki

大盃

Golden Dragon Dance was first performed in 1958 to commemorate the reconstruction of Sensoji's main worship hall. 浅草のよろこび金龍の舞

Shopkeeper's desk

Plum tree grove, about a week too early.

Golden Dragon Dance. No smoke or fire came out of the mouth. The dragon is 15 meters long, weighing about 80 kg. It has a bamboo frame, covered with cloth. Eight men use poles to manipulate the golden dragon.

Shopkeeper's desk

Fantastically-shaped plum tree

Golden Dragon Dance

Butsudan Buddhist altar in a butsuma (Buddhist altar room).

Cherry blossom pathUeno Park is one of Tokyo's major spots for cherry blossoms. Not very picturesque, but there are a lot of trees and people. The cherries at adjacent Shinobazu Pond are more picturesque.

Konan Shomu plum blossom 江南所無Prunus mume Kounanshomu

Golden Dragon Dance

Deer skin

Tokonoma alcove and scroll. 奥の間

Trees in full bloom

Plum Blossom Queens in Kairakuen, Mito

Golden Dragon Dance

Setting up the wooden target.

In 1998, the house was donated to a local foundation. In 2002, the house was opened to the public.

Plum Blossom Queens in Kairakuen, Mito

Golden Dragon Dance musicians

Bull's eye. This is the third and last target along the course. It is quite difficult to hit all three targets, especially the last one.

Exhibits of Itoh Chube'e II, the son of the founder Chube'e (1842-1903).

Ariwara no Narihira (825-880) comes to east Japan　在原業平　東下り

The horseback archer raises his bow and arrow high in the air as he nears the target.

Bust of Itoh Chube'e II (1886-1973), his walking sticks, bag, and shoes.

Plum trees and Lake Senba

Ariwara no Narihira (825-880) comes to east Japan在原業平　東下り

Kitchen

Plum trees and Lake Senba

Ariwara no Narihira (825-880) comes to east Japan. He was a Japanese waka poet and aristocrat. He was one of six waka poets referred in the preface in kana to Kokinshu by Ki no Tsurayuki. A woman portrays him. 在原業平東下り

Dancers under the cherry blossoms in Ueno Park, Tokyo

Arrow in mid-air. Asakusa Yabusame.

Plum trees and Lake Senba

在原業平　東下り

Rock musicians

Dead on!

Kitchen

在原業平　東下り

The archers return to the starting point.

Stove 炊事場

Torano-o plum blossom (Tiger's Tail) 虎の尾

Forces of Minamoto no Yoritomo (1147-1199), the founder and the 1st shogun of the Kamakura Period, who ruled from 1192 until 1199. He is said to have prayed at Asakusa Temple for victory over the Taira Clan to become shogun. 源頼朝　隅田川陣営源頼朝　隅田川陣営

Reserved flower-viewing spacePeople come early in the morning and stake out a prime picnicking space for their company or group to gather later in the day or in the evening.

Western-style bath from the early 20th century. Very unusual at the time. 西洋風バスルーム

Pine trees and plum trees

Minamoto no Yoritomo (Hatakeyama Shigetada). His prayers for victory were answered. 源頼朝　隅田川陣営 (畠山重忠)

Reserving flower-viewing spacePeople come early in the morning and stake out a prime picnicking space for their company or group to gather later in the day or in the evening.

Bathroom sink

Plum tree grove

Minamoto no Yoritomo 源頼朝　隅田川陣営

Built in 1935, a memorial for Itoh Chube'e in Kurenai Park. くれない園

Reserved flower-viewing space for the evening.People come early in the morning and stake out a prime picnicking space for their company or group to gather later in the day or in the evening.

Plum tree and train

Hojo Masako (1156-1225), wife of Minamoto no Yoritomo, worships at Asakusa Temple. As the wife of the first shogun and mother of the second and third shoguns, she was a powerful lady. 北条政子浅草寺参拝

Memorial marking Itoh Chobe'e's house, right near Itoh Chube'e's house. Chobe'e was Chube'e's older brother and co-founder of Marubeni Corporation.

Monument proclaiming Kairakuen as one of Ibaraki's 100 Best Sights

Hojo Masako worships at Asakusa Temple. 北条政子　浅草寺参拝

This is the second target at the center of the archery course. This is where the biggest crowd was.

Trash

Poem monument

Hojo Masako worships at Asakusa Temple

Toward the Tokyo National Museum

Woman archer misses her target.

Tokyo Jidai Matsuri 三社大権現祭礼　船渡御

Tokyo National Museum

The crowd favorite was this high school girl. See the arrow pierce the wooden target.

Closeup of white plum blossom

White Heron Dance, called Shirasagi no Mai, was revived in 1968 by the Asakusa tourist federation. Originating from the Heian Era, the dance was depicted in a picture scroll owned by the Sensoji Temple. 白鷺の舞It shows the dance being performed for peace when the temple completed a major renovation.

The dance troupe consists of 3 warriors, 1 baton twirler, 1 feeder, 1 grand-umbrella holder, 8 white herons, 19 musicians and guardian children in traditional costumes of the Heian Period.

It is one of the highlights of the festival. It is also performed on other occasions in Asakusa.

白鷺の舞
三社大権現祭礼　船渡御

Closeup of red plum blossom

The scroll showed the White Heron Dance being performed for peace when the temple completed a major renovation. 白鷺の舞

It is one of the highlights of the festival. It is also performed on other occasions in Asakusa.

白鷺の舞
三社大権現祭礼　船渡御

Local high school girl proudly rides back to the starting point amid applause.

This White Heron Dance troupe consists of 3 warriors, 1 baton twirler, 1 feeder, 1 grand-umbrella holder, 8 white herons, 19 musicians and guardian children in traditional costumes of the Heian Period.

Woman archer

White Heron Dance is one of the highlights of the festival. It is also performed on other occasions in Asakusa. The dance was revived in 1968 in Asakusa to mark the Meiji Period Centennial. It has been performed annually on Nov. 3 ever since. 白鷺の舞

Plum grove

White Heron Dance, Shirasagi no Mai. The eight white herons represent four male and four female herons.

Path to natural spring

White Heron Dance rear view

This is the first target which is near the starting point. Love it when the target shatters like that.

Natural spring (cold water)

The White Heron Dance originated in Kyoto over 1,100 years ago to purge the city of an epidemic.

The wooden target boards have an envelope of confetti stuck on the back so it explodes when the target breaks apart.

Bamboo grovePine trees, bamboo, and plum blossoms are called Shochikubai in Japanese. This trio of trees is most famous.

White Heron Dance in front of Kaminarimon Gate.

Bingo! Also see my YouTube video here.

Omote-mon GateThis supposed to be the front gate.

White Heron Dance

Kobuntei Villa has exquisite Japanese-style paintings on paper sliding doors. Kobuntei was damaged by the March 2011 Tohoku earthquake and was closed until early 2012 for repairs.

White Heron Dance

Right after hitting the first target, the archer starts to pull out another arrow for the next target.

Kobuntei Villa was originally built in 1842 by Tokugawa Nariaki (1800-1860), the ninth Lord of Mito. It was his summer villa.

Sarutahiko, Guardian of the earth. 猿田彦三社大権現祭礼　船渡御

Don't climb up any trees or step into the azalea bushes please. この叔父、つつじに入っちゃダメですよ。

Kobuntei Villa, fusuma sliding door with painting of plum trees

White Heron Dance

Kobuntei Villa, fusuma sliding door with painting of azalea

Binzasara Dance from Asakusa Shrine. This dance also originated in Asakusa by farmers who celebrated the completion of a tea house in Asakusa near the Asakusa Sensoji Temple. It is now a dance to celebrate a good harvest. びんざさら舞

びんざさら舞
三社大権現祭礼　船渡御

Kobuntei Villa, fusuma sliding door with painting of fall leaves

The Binzasara is a musical instrument made of 108 strips of white cedar wood strung together at the top. It is held on both ends and shaken in a wave motion to make a sharp wood clapping sound. It is also accompanied by drums as seen here.びんざさら舞
三社大権現祭礼　船渡御

Kobuntei Villa

Binzasara Dance三社大権現祭礼　船渡御

Also at night, Ueno Park is hugely popular for hanami.

Kobuntei Villa

Binzasara Dance from Asakusa Shrine. They also throw confetti during the dance.This dance also originated in Asakusa by farmers who celebrated the completion of a tea house in Asakusa near the Asakusa Sensoji Temple. It is now a dance to celebrate a good harvest.

The Binzasara is a musical instrument made of small pieces of white cedar wood strung together at the top. It is held on both ends and shaken in a wave motion to make a sharp wood clapping sound.

びんざさら舞
三社大権現祭礼　船渡御

The trees are not well lit, but small paper lanterns make it viewable.

Kobuntei Villa

Shrine maiden and Kaminarimon Gate in Asakusa三社大権現祭礼　船渡御

Lot more people eating and drinking at night than during the day.

Kobuntei Villa, fusuma sliding door with painting of maple leaves

Sanja portable shrines on boats. Sanja means "Three Shrines." The three fishermen who found the Kannon buddha statue (the origin of Sensoji Temple) are deified by Asakusa Shrine next to Sensoji Temple. 三社大権現祭礼　船渡御This is the first portable shrine. The portable shrines used to be paraded in a boat.
三社大権現祭礼　船渡御

Ueno Park at night

Kobuntei Villa

Asakusa Shrine holds the annual Sanja Matsuri in May, one of Tokyo's biggest festivals. Three portable shrines dedicated to these three fishermen are carried around the streets of Asakusa. "Sanja" means three shrines or gods. Portable shrineSecond and third portable shrines.

三社大権現祭礼　船渡御

Kobuntei Villa

Second portable shrine. 三社大権現祭礼　船渡御

Neon lights near Ueno Park

Kobuntei Villa

Third portable shrine. 三社大権現祭礼　船渡御

Kobuntei Villa

Year 1457: Ota Dokan, initial builder of Edo Castle. 江戸開祖　太田道灌、従者・山吹娘

Kobuntei Villa

Ota Dokan, initial builder of Edo Castle. This is played by Shun'ichi Suzuki, the then governor of Tokyo. Body guards were around his float. He is dressed in a hunter's costume. Behind him is an attendant named Yamabuki.江戸開祖　太田道灌、従者・山吹娘

Kobuntei Villa, fusuma sliding door with painting of cherry blossoms

1608: Ieyasu orders Edo Castle expansion: Rock-hauling procession. Big boulders were hauled from Izu Peninsula's east coast. 江戸城築城　お石曵き

Kobuntei Villa

Edo Castle construction: Rock-hauling procession. 江戸城築城　お石曵き

Cherry Blossom Room, Kobuntei Villa

Edo Castle construction: Rock-hauling procession江戸城築城　お石曵き

Kobuntei Villa

Edo Castle construction: Rock-hauling procession. Not a real boulder.

Kobuntei Villa

Year 1590: Tokugawa Ieyasu takes up residence in Edo. His procession. 徳川家康　江戸入府

Kobuntei Villa

Tokugawa Ieyasu takes up residence in Edo. 徳川家康　江戸入府

Kobuntei suffered quite a bit of damage during the big earthquake on March 11, 2011. Repairs have started in Sept. 2011, and they hope to reopen the Kobuntei by Feb. 2012.

Lord Ii Naomasa, a right-hand man of Tokugawa Ieyasu and major ally in the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600. Based in Hikone, Shiga Prefecture. 井伊直政徳川家康　江戸入府

Year 1603: Tokugawa Ieyasu becomes Shogun. He designates Asakusa Temple as a place of worship, and he worships there himself in 1616. Behind him is his son Tokugawa Hidetada who became the second Tokugawa shogun. 徳川家康江戸入府

Tokugawa Ieyasu takes up residence in Edo and founds the Tokugawa or Edo Period that lasted until 1868.徳川家康　江戸入府

Inner palace women. 大奥御殿女中

Inner palace women 大奥御殿女中

Inner palace women

View from the top floor of Kobuntei Villa

Inner palace women

View from the top floor of Kobuntei Villa

1649: Tokugawa Iemitsu. In 1649 during his reign as shogun, Asakusa Shrine was built. 徳川家光　三社権現社再建寄進

View from the top floor of Kobuntei Villa

1635: Sankin Kotai Daimyo Gyoretsu. The daimyo was a warlord who owned and supervised a fief. Tokugawa Iemitsu started the Sankin kotai system where all daimyo were required to visit Edo annually at great expense. 参勤交代　大名行列The daimyo was a warlord who owned and supervised a fief. Tokugawa Iemitsu started the Sankin kotai system where all daimyo were required to visit Edo annually at great expense since they traveled in a large contingent.

参勤交代　大名行列