 Image search results - "torch" |
On June 6, 2004, the Athens Olympic Torch Relay came through Tokyo as it has been doing at all cities in the world which had held a Summer Olympics. Starting point: Tokyo Big SightI chased the flame for Athens at several points in Tokyo.
|
|
Dignitaries at the torch relay starting ceremony.
|
|
Nagashima Kazushige substitues for his father, baseball hero Nagashima Shigeo, who was hospitalized.
|
|
An Olympic torch attendant stands by to hand over the torch. In his right hand, he holds a small lantern housing a little flame in case the main torch is snuffed out.
|
|
The Greek ambassador to Japan gives the torch to Kazushige.
|
|
|
|
About 11 am: Here we go folks, the first of 136 runners in Tokyo.
|
|
|
|
Kazushige runs on the sidewalk in Odaiba.
|
|
Ginza 4-chome, Mitsukoshi Dept. StoreDespite the rain, all these people showed up just to see the torch relay. No one knew who would pass through here. But since Ginza was a major area of Tokyo, we assumed that it would be someone quite famous.
|
|
Looking toward Matsuya Dept. Store.
|
|
Cheerleaders even...
|
|
Here they come
|
|
Police escort
|
|
Motorcycle escort
|
|
It's singer Hashi Yukio (wow).
|
|
Torch runner and famous singer Hashi Yukio passes through Ginza
|
|
Koga Toshihiko (gold medalist in judo) carries the torch to Asakusa, in front of Kaminarimon Gate.
|
|
Asakusa-style welcome for the sacred Olympic flame. (Golden Dragon Dance)
|
|
Fireman's acrobatics
|
|
Fireman's acrobatics
|
|
Koga takes the torch again to light the next torch.
|
|
Passing on the flame at Asakusa
|
|
|
|
Cheerleaders blocking our view of the torch runner
|
|
Omotesando with path coned off for the torch runner
|
|
|
Torch relay point
|
|
Bicycle cab
|
|
Olympic ring sculpture along Omotesando
|
|
Yoyogi GymnasiumTorch relay path is coned off.
|
|
Coming down Omotesando, first are sponsor vehicles
|
|
|
Photographers' truck
|
|
Torch runner at Omotesando, for Athens 2004 Olympic Torch RelayMiura Yukari, a high school student from Fukushima Pref.
福島工業高等専門学校に通い、部活動はソフトボールという三浦由香里さん。
|
|
Miura Yukari, a high school student from Fukushima Pref.Miura Yukari, a high school student from Fukushima Pref.
福島工業高等専門学校に通い、部活動はソフトボールという三浦由香里さん。
|
|
Jacket
|
|
Stage at Tokyo City Hall
|
|
The crowd waits to see who the final torch runner is.
|
|
It's Fukuhara Ai, table tennis player.
|
|
Ai-chan and Tokyo governor Ishihara Shintaro hold the torch together.
|
|
|
Ai-chan and Tokyo governor Ishihara Shintaro light the cauldron.
|
|
The governor speaks.
|
|
|
Ai-chan speaks.The frustrating thing about the torch relay was that they did not say which runner would be running where. A list of runners was made public, but there was no information about where they would run.
|
|
Hachiman Matsuri in Omi-Hachiman is Shiga Prefecture's biggest fire festival. Impressive even without the fire. Just look at these giant torches made of rice straw. There are more in front of Himure Hachimangu Shrine.
|
|
The giant torches can be as high as 10 meters. They are made on the Sunday before April 14-15 when the festival is held. So these torches have been here since Sunday. In front of Taneya.
|
|
A long bamboo pole stiffens the torches which really look like sculpture. The festival is held on April 14-15. On the 14th, they burn these giant torches one by one from 8 pm.
|
|
Torch top look similar, but they are different.
|
|
There are torches for the villages which partake in this festival. This is in front of Taneya, a local confection shop.
|
|
|
|
Very artistic and aesthetic.
|
|
|
|
These green torch will also burn. There are two of these green ones, one is male and other is female.
|
|
|
Keep away from the stone lanterns.
|
|
The torches are propped up with bamboo poles and ropes.
|
|
|
|
More torches in front of Himure Hachimangu Shrine. This is also where they hold the Sagicho Matsuri in March. MAP
|
|
Torches near Himure Hachimangu Shrine's Romon Gate. This is also one location where the film Idai Naru, Shurararabon (偉大なる、しゅららぼん The Great Shu Ra Ra Boom) was filmed. The ceremony for baby Ryosuke.
|
|
Two tall ones in front of Himure Hachimangu Shrine.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All this to pray for an abundant harvest.
|
|
|
|
In the afternoon of the 14th, people who made miniature torches can come to Himure Hachimangu Shrine and burn them.
|
|
Burning miniature torches at Himure Hachimangu Shrine.
|
|
Another tradition is to have children drag a miniature torch around a fire. In the old days, many children would be running around this fire.
|
|
Smaller torches.
|
|
This is in front of Taneya.
|
|
At around 7 pm, people with taiko drums start to arrive.
|
|
A few taiko processions arrive and marched around.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At 8 pm, there's supposed to be fireworks, but due to the East Japan earthquake/tsunami, the fireworks were cancelled this year in 2011.
|
|
Some time after 8 pm, they finally lit the first torch.
|
|
Then they had smaller torches being dragged around by small groups of men and boys.
|
|
The torches leave a trail of fire.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
It seems that they gathered all the smaller torches (which they dragged around) here.
|
|
Now we see a large torch on fire. I noticed the flying embers falling on Taneya, but no problem.
|
|
|
Another giant torch is set on fire. They use long bamboo poles mounted with small torches to light the giant torch. They first light the crown of the giant torch.
|
|
They also light the mid-section of the torch.
|
|
Then the whole thing catches fire quickly. I'm not sure if they used any kerosene, but I didn't smell any.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Another torch burns. One after another, they set the giant torches on fire.
|
|
Fire monster rages hotly.
|
|
Fire monster
|
|
|
It's amazing that the small, flying embers don't start fires nearby.
|
|
Now come near the shrine with more giant torches.
|
|
Giant torch.
|
|
They light it from the top.
|
|
|
|
Soon the entire torch burns.
|
|
|
After a while, the torch falls to the ground. Of course, with ropes, they control which direction it falls. I should've brought marshmellows.
|
|
|
|
|
|
This is the second to the last torch to be burned.
|
|
|
|
|
Hachiman Matsuri fire festival, Shiga Prefecture.
|
|
Watching this festival made me think how wonderful and miraculous this thing called fire is. We worship and need it, even though it can very destructive.
|
|
|
|
|
|
It was already around 10 pm.
|
|
But there was another torch to be set afire. This one was to be the climax. They would light this torch while it is still leaning sideways, then they gradually make it vertical as it burns.
|
|
Leaning torch crown closeup.
|
|
Leaning torch. Unfortunately, I had to catch the last train home so I didn't have time to see this torch burning. Maybe next time.
|
|
Also, the next day on the 15th, they didn't bring out the usual taiko drums out of respect for the Tohoku quake/tsunami victims. Maybe I'll see it next year.
|
|
Smaller torches to be lit before the final, leaning torch.
|
|
My Hachiman Matsuri video.
|
|
On March 25, Kameido Tenjin Shrine holds the Taimatsu Torch Festival officially named "Shinkisai" (亀戸天神 松明祭り・神忌祭) at 6 pm to 7 pm.
|
|
The shrine worships Sugawara-no-Michizane, the god of learning and scholarship. So many students come and pray here to pass school entrance exams.The torch festival marks the anniversary of Michizane's death on March 25. All Tenjin and Tenmangu shrines are dedicated to Michizane. The festival started with a short ceremony inside the shrine's worship hall at 6 pm. It was followed by the torch procession.
|
|
The torch bearers were volunteers from the public who had signed up for the task. They carried bamboo sticks lit by a small bon fire.
|
|
Since the torch bearers supposed to receive good fortune from the god, there is no shortage of volunteers, including a few foreigners.
|
|
Michizane's spirit, which had been transferred from the shrine, is carried in the procession within a silk cloth barrier.
|
|
A priest holding the spirit (probably in a little box) is walking inside the silk cloth barrier (絹垣（きぬがき）). One of the priests let out a low-tone moan as Michizane passed by. Very dignified.
|
|
Gagaku musicians also played in the procession that went around the shrine grounds.
|
|
The torch bearers were monitored by firemen who carried small fire extinguishers that squirted water on the small embers on the ground and any torches that burned too close to the human.
|
|
|
|
|
The torch procession went over one of the shrine's trademark arch bridges. They walked within the shrine grounds along the main paths, through the center and perimeter.
|
|
Spectators and photographers were not allowed to be on the bridges when the procession crossed over.
|
|
The torch procession went over one of the shrine's trademark arch bridges.
|
|
They passed by the shrine and proceeded to the other side of the shrine grounds.
|
|
|
|
|
On March 25, Kameido Tenjin Shrine holds the Taimatsu Torch Festival officially named "Shinkisai."
|
|
See my YouTube video of the Kameido Tenjin Shrine's Taimatsu Torch Festival on March 25, 2016.
|
|
|
|
|
Shrine priest throws some sacred confetti to purify the path ahead of Michizane's spirit coming through in the procession at Kameido Tenjin.
|
|
Michizane's spirit goes over the taiko-bashi bridge.
|
|
|
|
The lantern bearer provides light for the priest inside the cloth barrier carrying Michizane's spirit.
|
|
|
|
The torch procession returned to the shrine's worship hall at about 7 pm. This picture looks light, but it was actually quite dark.
|
|
Kameido Tenjin Shrine torch festival
|
|
Small bon fire next to the shrine that lit the torches.
|
|
|
A ceremony was held again to transfer the spirit back to the shrine.
|
|
Main worship hall.
|
|
|
|
|
|
