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

Image search results - "prince"

Otsu Prince Hotel, the main venue of the 11th Shiga Kenjinkai International Convention held Nov. 12-14, 2007.

Convention Hall Omi at Otsu Prince Hotel. 第11回滋賀県人会世界大会のメイン会場。

Entrance to convention hall at Otsu Prince Hotel. Every few years, all the Shiga Kenjinkai in Japan and overseas gather for a convention for a few days.

Reception counter. The 11th Shiga Kenjinkai International Convention was held in Shiga for the first time in 16 years. There are currently 71 Shiga Kenjinkai groups in Japan and overseas.

Main venue at the convention hall. A Shiga Kenjinkai is a group or association of people having ties to Shiga Prefecture who now live outside Shiga.

There is at least one Shiga Kenjinkai in all the prefectures in Japan, and around 15 Shiga Kenjinkai overseas. The hall was lined with banners of many Shiga Kenjinkai from Japan and overseas. Ehime, Brazil, Osaka, etc.

Toronto, Nagano, Hakodate, Argentina, and Kochi. Outside Japan, there is a Shiga Kenjinkai in Brazil, Peru, Mexico, Canada (Toronto, Vancouver, and Alberta), Argentina, USA (Seattle, California, and Hawaii), Hong Kong, Indonesia, UK, France, and Germany.

Kita-Kyushu, Southern California (Nanka), and Hiroshima

Western Canada, Yamaguchi, and Miyagi

Saitama, Kanagawa, France, Matsumae

Japanese-English interpreting was provided

Opening ceremony started at 10:30 am on Nov. 13, 2007.

Otaka Tokio, Chairman of the National Federation of Shiga Kenjinkai, delivers a welcome message. 大高時男

Dehara Itsuzo, Shiga Prefectural Assembly Chairman

A representative for Mekata Makoto, Chairman of the Shiga Prefecture City Mayors' Association and also the mayor of Otsu.

Natsuhara Satoru, Chairman of the Shiga Prefecture Town Mayors' Association and also the mayor of Taga town.

The Lieutenant Governor of Shiga (substituting for Governor Kada who was hosting the Emperor and Empress visiting Shiga) bestows awards to people who have long contributed to promoting Shiga.

Chairman Otaka gives letters of appreciation to Shiga Kenjinkai members for meritorious service. In the afternoon, the keynote speech was given by Donald E. Devaney who talked about historical ties between Shiga and the U.S. (photography was not allowed).

In an adjacent hall was the "Social Salon" with exhibits by most of Shiga's cities and towns and by various Shiga Kenjinkai. Many tourist pamphlets (mostly in Japanese) were provided.

Hikone's exhibit in the Social Salon, featuring red samurai armor from the Ii clan.

National high school soccer tournament award from Yasu. (Yasu High School won the national title in Jan. 2006.)

Exhibit by Takashima city.

Pamphlets and CDs (including Lake Biwa Rowing Song in English) from Takashima city. 琵琶湖周航の歌英語版CDも展示

Overseas Shiga Kenjinkai exhibits.

Shiga Kenjinkai from Canada and Mexico.

Niigata Shiga Kenjinkai exhibit included stuff from Hokuriku region. Web site here.

Exhibits by other Shiga cities.

Shiga Prefecture exhibited some plastic fish.

Biwa masu trout above, and nigorobuna crucian carp (funazushi) on bottom.

Caffy, official mascot for the Sports Recreation event in 2008.

Popular Hiko-nyan from Hikone also made an appearance in the Social Salon.

Hiko-nyan is a helmeted cat, related to the Ii clan.

On Nov. 13, there was a symposium called "Shiga and Cultural Exchanges."

One panelist was a priest from Enryakuji temple on Mt. Hiei.

The Social Salon was a good place to hang out between meetings and symposiums. It also had mini presentations by several overseas Kenjinkai.

Interesting slide show by the Southern California Shiga Kenjinkai showing their activities.

A comedian from Mt. Ibuki in Maibara.

Dinner banquet hosted by Shiga Prefecture on Nov. 13, 2007.

Governor Kada Yukiko gives a welcome message in both Japanese and English. In Japan, extremely few politicians can do this. Nice that Shiga has a bilingual governor who once studied in the U.S.

Kanpai!

Buffet

Koto entertainment by Maiko, a well-known singer-songwriter from Shiga. 真衣子

On the morning of Nov. 14, a boat cruise on the Michigan. Narration in both Japanese and English explaining about Lake Biwa's ecology. I was unable to join this cruise, so no photos.

In the afternoon of Nov. 14 was a "Youth Session," or panel discussion by representatives of various Kenjinkai overseas. They discussed about recruiting younger members and facilitating networking among members.

Questions from the audience were also taken.

Social Salon also served green tea and sweets.

Mini presentation by the Biwako-no-Kai from Mexico.

Door prizes were given out in a drawing. There were so many prizes donated by various Kenjinkai that it took almost an hour to give them all out.

Final dinner on Nov. 14, 2007. Some wore happi coats or a kimono.

For the first hour (6 pm - 7 pm), we suffered through endless speeches by politicians. (Speeches should not be longer than 20 min. total at any event.)

Speech by Kunimatsu Yoshitsugu, Chairman of the Shiga Intercultural Association for Globalization.

Kunimatsu Yoshitsugu, Chairman of the Shiga Intercultural Association for Globalization. He is also the former Shiga governor.

Kanpai!

Food, finally! All from Shiga. Lots of fish, and funa-zushi too.

Entertainment started with taiko drumming.

Governor Kada teaches us how to dance the Goshu Ondo, a native dance of Shiga. She spoke in both Japanese and English again. Also see the video at YouTube.

Almost everyone got up to dance the goshu ondo. It's like a bon dance peculiar to Shiga. Also see the video at YouTube.

Goshu ondo

Members of the Toronto Shiga Kenjinkai dance goshu ondo.

At the end, we sang Biwako Shuko no Uta (Lake Biwa Rowing Song). The party ended at 9:30 pm.

Convention poster. More about the Shiga Kenjinkai here.

Tokyu Hotel in Akasaka.

Akasaka

The shrinking hotel. Akasaka Prince Hotel in Tokyo was being demolished from top to bottom. It used to be 39 stories high. Now it's about 10-15 stories in March 2013.

It's an enclosed demolition system starting at the top. They've kept the building's roof intact while being supported by temporary pillars using hydraulic jacks.Before they started, they first installed cranes and a suspended canopy (seen here) that slides down. This system reduces dust and noise, makes it safer for workers, doesn't affect surrounding buildings, and generates electricity with the crane lowering debris.

As the top floor is gutted and debris removed by cranes inside the building, they lower the roof, thereby shrinking the building.

The demolition started in June 2012 and was completed in May 2013. Built in 1982, the Akasaka Prince Hotel is Japan's tallest building ever to be demolished.

Trucks leave the demolition site.

Arrival at JR Torahime Station on the JR Hokuriku Main Line.

Torahime Station platform and sign

The new Torahime Station on JR Hokuriku Main Line

Built in a loghouse-style. All wood.

Torahime Station

Tiger Princess Shrine at Torahime Station. (Torahime literally means "Tiger Princess.")

In Oct. 2005, some people came here to pray for Osaka's Hanshin Tigers baseball team to win the Japan Series against the Chiba Lotte Marines who later won the series in a four-game sweep. The Tigers never won a game in the series.

Be photographed as a Tiger Princess

Inside the Italian restaurant at Torahime Station.

Bicycle parking at Torahime Station

"Torahime Tiger Princess, the Goddess of Victory"

New event space called "Coco," opened in March 2008, across from Torahime Station

Tiger Princess statue outside the Torahime Station

Tiger Princess statue

Tourist map of Torahime

Route taken by the Saio princess from Kyoto to Saiku Palace, near Ise Grand Shrines. The journey took 5 nights and 6 days, and passed through Shiga at Seta (Otsu), Kafuka (Koka), and Tarumi before going to Mie at Suzuka and Ichishi. The Saio princess stayed at a different palace each night, and three of them were in Shiga. The temporary palace for the Saio princess was called Tongu (頓宮). Only the Tarumi Tongu's former location is known today.

The Saio princess was an unmarried, young Imperial princess, often the Emperor's daughter, who was appointed (by divination) to be the High Priestess of Ise Grand Shrines in Mie Prefecture from the 7th to 14th centuries.This Ai-no-Tsuchiyama Saio Princess Procession was started in 1998.

My video of Tsuchiyama Saio Princess Procession held in 2018.

The festival started at 11:30 am with the Saio princess carried on a palanquin arriving at a small park called Yume no Ogawa next to Ono Elementary School.

She and her entourage arrived to perform the Misogi-shiki purification ceremony. 禊ぎ式 MAP

For about 660 years from the 7th century, over 60 Saio princesses served at Ise Grand Shrines. Each time there was a new emperor, a new Saio princess would be appointed to serve at Ise.

The new Saio princess traveled from Kyoto to the Saiku palace near Ise Grand Shrines. It took 5 nights and 6 days. From 886 to 1264 (378 years), one stop along the way was Tarumi Tongu in Tsuchiyama.

This festival reenacts the Tsuchiyama leg of the Saio Princess Procession. It started at Ono Elementary School and proceeded to the site of Tarumi Tongu, one of the five temporary palaces for the Saio.

At Yume no Ogawa park, there is a small stream where the Saio princess performed the Misogi-shiki purification ceremony. 禊ぎ式夢の小川

At Yume no Ogawa park, the Saio princess performed the Misogi-shiki purification ceremony in Tsuchiyama, Shiga. 禊ぎ式

Kyoto's Aoi Matsuri Festival held in May is also a reenactment of this Saio princess procession called Saio Gunko (斎王群行).

They wear Heian Period costumes. Although Tsuchiyama's Saio festival is not as big as Kyoto's Aoi Matsuri or Meiwa's Saio Matsuri in Mie, it is still very colorful and enjoyable.

The Saio princess wears a juni-hitoe (12-layer) robe reserved only for Imperial family members. For this festival in 2009, the Saio princess is portrayed by 20-year-old Chiaki Koyama (神山千明) from Shigaraki, Koka.

After the Misosugi purification ceremony, they formed a procession again and headed for the Ono Elementary School gymnasium.

Tsuchiyama Saio Princess Procession あいの土山斎王群行

Before embarking on the journey from Kyoto to Saiku in Mie Prefecture near Ise Grand Shrine where she was to serve as High Priestess, the Saio would undergo a three-year purification period in Kyoto.

The Saio procession was one of the largest of its kind at the time, with up to 500 people.

The Saio procession heads for the gymnasium for another ceremony.

Taiko drummers

Ono Elementary School Gymnasium and a few food stalls outside. A nice festival program was also on sale for 200 yen. 大野小学校

Entrance to the gym. (If it rains, the ceremony/festival will be held in this gymnasium.)

Inside the gym for the Departure ceremony. The Saio princess arrives through the back door.

They first introduced all the people in the Saio Princess Procession.

The first (and last) character in the procession is the Kacho, an archer and the head of security. 火長

Kacho archer. (They didn't have guns yet.)

The woman in purple is a court lady called the Myobu (命婦), an assistant who tends to the immediate needs of the Saio princess.

Another Myobu, followed by a man in white who is the Hakucho (白丁), a guide and guard of the court ladies.

A pair of court ladies called the Nyoju (女嬬) who serve in the inner palace (後宮) and takes care of the Saio princess' daily living.Behind is the Torimono-toneri (執物舎人) holding an umbrella is a ceremony attendant to the emperor and Imperial family.

These four men are Kyoto (Heiankyo) government officials called Kyoshiki Kannin (京職官人).

The three girls are called Warawame (童女). They are daughters of the Imperial family or nobility and are learning the customs of the Imperial Court while living in the Imperial Palace. Played by girls from Koka.

The Saio princess was an unmarried family member of the emperor, often the daughter. Chosen by divination, she was sometimes very young, like age 8. The palanquin bearers are called Yocho (輿丁) who were chosen from the best gentlemen. 斎王

Following the Saio are more Myobu and Nyoju court ladies and the Hakucho guide in white.

Myobu and Nyoju court ladies and the Hakucho guide in white.

This is a unique court lady called the Uneme (釆女) chosen from an aristocratic family and who was in charge of food and drink. She wears a special wardrobe. She is played by Emi Oe (大江絵巳) from Kyoto.

This is the Naishi (内侍), a court lady who served in the palace of the empress (中宮). During the Saio procession, she is at the service of the Saio princess.

The woman on the right is the Onna Betto (or Nyo-betto) (女別当) who was the supervisor of the court ladies at special occasions such as the Saio procession. The lady behind her is another Nyoju court lady. And in the end is the Zoshiki (雑色) handym

These four are the Beiju (陪従) gagaku (ancient court music) musicians who played for Imperial visits and the Saio procession. (During the festival, they never played anything and there was a separate gagaku troupe.)

The last person in the procession is the Kacho guard.

Placard holders called Waranbe (童部).

Festival committee chairman gives a speech.

Mayor of Koka gives a speech. (Tsuchiyama is in the city of Koka.)

The gagaku musicians were from the Shiga Gagaku-kai troupe.

Saio princess on a pedestal. The woman in the green kimono behind her was always with her, helping her with her kimono as she moved about.

Those people in the Heian Period sure knew how to make distinguished people look distinguished.

A dance by the Warawame child attendants.

Group picture. About 80 people participated in the procession.

Posing for a photo.

The Tsuchiyama Saio Princess Procession left the gymnasium at around 1:30 pm.

Bearer of a sign saying, "Saio."

Coming through an avenue of pine trees on the old Tokaido Road. The procession is led by a patrol car with a speaker blaring out a Saio song.

The Saio is actually on a wheeled cart.

Saio princess going to Tarumi Tongu in Tsuchiyama, Shiga.

Saio princess of the Ai-no-Tsuchiyama Saio Gunko Matsuri festival in March.

Back of the archer.

The first break was at the Ichiba Kumin Hiroba square.（市場区民広場）

Ichiba Kumin Hiroba square.（市場区民広場）

The procession arrived at about 2 pm.

The Saio princess makes her way to her place. I wondered why the others didn't bow to her as she passed by.

Saio princess and child attendants.

Saio princess in juni-hitoe kimono.

A nice performance area for a dance performance.

The Dochumai was performed. 道中舞

They danced to recorded music.

Afterward, the Saio goes back into her palanquin.

They actually carried her to the wheeled cart.

The Saio princess in her palanquin. Notice that the palanquin's screens on all four sides are rolled up.

Saio procession through the town. I was surprised to see so few spectators even though this was really a gorgeous procession.

Marker for the site of the former Tarumi Tongu palace.

Another stop was made at the Maeno Community West Hiroba Square (前野集会所西広場) in front of Chianji (Chianzenji) Temple (地安禅寺).

Saio arrives at Maeno.

They gathered at Maeno Community West Hiroba Square (前野集会所西広場) at about 2:40 pm.Panorama shot.

The backdrop was quite dramatic with the temple gate.Chianji belongs to the Obaku-shu Chinese Zen sect. It also has a connection to the Imperial family.

The Saio princess was poised as always, despite the winds and sun and the heavy costume.

Placard bearers

Again they danced the Dochu-mai. Same one as at the last stop.

Saio goes back to her palanquin.

They carry her to the wheeled cart. Modern men are too weak to carry such a heavy palanquin.

Tsuchiyama is famous for tea. We saw a number of tea fields along the procession route.

Saio and tea plants.

Saio passing by tea field.

Route to the Tarumi Tongu palace site.

The Saio Gunko procession proceeds through tea fields on the way to Tarumi Tongu.

Saio princess in Tsuchiyama, Koka.

About Tarumi Tongu. (垂水頓宮) Tongu means temporary palace. There were five of them for the Saio princess between Kyoto and the Saiku palace in Ise.

Only the location of the Tarumi Tongu in Tsuchiyama is known today. The exact locations of the other Tongu palaces are unknown, but two others were in Shiga, called the Seta (勢多) and Kafuka (鹿深) Tongu.

National Historic Site of Tarumi Tongu. From 886 to 1264 (378 years), a total of 31 Saio princesses lodged at Tarumi Tongu. 垂水頓宮 In 1935, the Japanese government sent a team of scholars to Tarumi and they found solid evidence of the Tarumi Tongu beg located here. Remains of the palace's earthen walls and wells were found in this area. In 1944, this area designated as a National Historic Site.

Entrance to Tarumi Tongu. The five Tongu palaces were built anew for each Saio procession and then dismantled after the procession was completed. Therefore, there is no remains of the palaces, making it difficult to pinpoint the exact location.

Inside Tarumi Tongu. Today, it is just a small forested area with a monument. The names and dates of all 31 Saio princesses who stayed in Tarumi Tongu are known today.