 Most viewed - Sagicho Matsuri Festival 2018 左義長まつり |
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Line for the bus back to Omi-Hachiman Station.354 views
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A week before the festival, we visited the studio of two of the Sagicho floats. This is one of them at Miyauchi-cho. 宮内町343 viewsEach float is named after the district that it represents. It could be one or more neighborhoods in the city. A volunteer group for each float takes 2 months to make the float at their studio.
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Held during the weekend in mid-March, the Sagicho Matsuri is a dramatic parade and clashing of 13 or 14 colorful Sagicho floats. On the first day at 1 pm, 14 Sagicho Festival floats gather at Himure Hachimangu Shrine near Hachiman-bori Canal.288 viewsThe festival has 13 handmade floats featuring the year's Chinese zodiac creature. 2018 is the Year of the Dog, so all the Sagicho floats have a dog. Short bus ride from Omi-Hachiman Station. These festival photos were taken on March 17–18, 2018.
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I asked the float's leader about the cost. I was told that they spent ¥200,000 for edible float materials and ¥800,000 for festival expenses even with free labor.277 viewsThey work on the float in the evenings after work or school. They solicit donations from neighborhood residents and sponsors.
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Dai-niku float 第二区272 views
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Cuttlefish slices and little silvery fish. Ikeda-machi float. 池田町264 views
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Miyauchi-cho float 宮内町264 views
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263 views
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Miyauchi-cho float 宮内町262 views
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Sanwakai float. 参和会259 views
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Honmachi float 本町255 views
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Dai-niku float 第二区254 views
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253 views
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Shinmachi-dori float. 新町通り253 views
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Ikeda-machi float. 池田町252 views
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Dai-Juikku float. 第十一区252 views
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251 views
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Dai-Juikku float's Tosa dog is a fighter. 第十一区248 views
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Jukku-kai float. 十区会247 views
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247 views
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Shinmachi-dori float. 新町通り246 views
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At 6 pm, the children's floats are torched first. Sanwakai children's float is set afire.245 views
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Shinmachi-dori float. 新町通り244 views
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Float leader directing the float bearers carrying the float. Uwai-cho float. 魚屋町242 views
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Another festival highlight are the cosplayer float bearers. Long before cosplaying became a fad in Japan, the festival had costumers. 241 viewsAccording to legend, warlord Oda Nobunaga disguised himself lavishly when he joined in the festival. Modern people took that as a hint and started cosplaying in the festival decades ago.
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Shichikukai float. 紫竹会241 views
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Jukku-kai float. 十区会241 views
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On Sat., the first day of the two-day festival, there is a procession from 2 pm. It is led by these shrine officials and the shrine priest on horseback.241 views
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Shinmachi-dori float. 新町通り241 views
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Shichikukai float. 紫竹会240 views
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240 views
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Suwai-cho float. 仲屋町239 views
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Shichikukai children's float. 紫竹会238 views
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Honmachi float 本町238 views
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Honmachi float 本町238 views
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238 views
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The larger floats are burned from 8 pm. They burn 5 or 6 floats at a time until 10:30 pm. Miyauchi-cho float. 宮内町237 views
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Sanwakai float approaching the shrine. 参和会236 views
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Dai-niku float sold this hand towel and mini Sagicho for ¥500. 第二区235 views
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Uwai-cho float vs. Dai-ikku. 魚屋町233 views
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This is the base for the dog. All edible materials. Notice the flower's yellow stamen in the center.232 views
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This is in front of the shrine where all the floats gathered and lined up. Judges examined the floats to determine the winning float designs.232 views
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Ishin-cho float. 為心町232 views
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Dai-ikku children's float. 第一区232 views
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Suwai-cho float is stuck against the wall. 仲屋町231 views
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We visited another Sagicho float studio at Suwai-cho. 仲屋町230 views
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All the floats gather at Himure Hachimangu Shrine. Sagicho Festival,230 views
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Miyauchi-cho float 宮内町230 views
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Honmachi float 本町230 views
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Shichikukai children's float. 紫竹会229 views
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228 views
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This is in front of the shrine where all 13 floats gathered and lined up. Judges examined the floats to determine the winning float designs.227 views
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Suwai-cho float. 仲屋町 (Visited this float's studio a week before.)226 views
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Dai-Juikku float's Tosa dog. 第十一区226 views
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The float battles are prone to damage the float decorations. A few dogs lost their heads or broke their legs in the battles. All those intricate works of art, only to be soon destroyed. But no one really cares.226 views
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Since they burn multiple floats at the same time, you can't photograph them all burning.226 views
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Sanwakai children's float. 参和会225 views
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Jukku-kai float. 十区会225 views
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Azuchi Castle on Jukku-kai float. 十区会225 views
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Some drinking and partying on the side.225 views
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Shrine priest on horseback and behind him on another horse is the mayor of Omi-Hachiman who serves as the Honorary Chairman of the Sagicho Festival.225 views
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Cute doggie pouches. Suwai-cho. 仲屋町225 views
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No one cares about the damaged dogs because the floats would all be burned in the end. It's a fire festival and a variant of the dondo-yaki fire festival that burns New Year's decorations in mid-Jan. The fire supposed to make you young again.225 views
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Miyauchi-cho had almost finished their float. They just had to assemble the parts. The main piece is the dog of course.224 views
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Ishin-cho float. 為心町224 views
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224 views
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Ishin-cho float. 為心町224 views
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The dog fur is made of jute fibers (黄麻). Very realistic. They had only one person meticulously put on most of the dog's fur.223 viewsThey could've had a few people help, but then the fur would look uneven because each person would do it differently. But they still wanted to train the younger folks to do it, so the trainees were allowed to put fur on the less noticeable spots on the dog.
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This clashing (or crashing) of floats is called "kenka" (fight). It lasts until 5 pm in front of the shrine (parking lot).223 views
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223 views
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Ikeda-machi float. 池田町223 views
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They shout "Cho-yare!" or "Masse-masse!" It's related to food.「チョウヤレ」「マッセマッセ」222 views
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Uwai-cho float. 魚屋町222 views
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Shichikukai children's float. 紫竹会222 views
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I was told that out of the 12 zodiac creatures, making the dog was the most difficult and making the dragon was the easiest. 221 viewsThe dog is difficult because it's the most familiar animal to humans, so people know exactly what a dog supposed to look like. People can get very critical if the dog doesn't look like what it supposed to look like. Details like the curvature of the legs, etc. So they refer to a thick photo book of all kinds of dogs to make sure everything looks real.
Making the dragon is easy because no one has seen a real dragon. So people don't know exactly what a dragon supposed to look like. It doesn't have be so exact like a dog.
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The float decorations are all made of edible materials especially grains (soybeans, black beans, adzuki beans, sesame seeds, etc.) and seafood (dried bonito, kelp, aoi-nori seaweed powder, cuttlefish, dried fish, etc.).221 views
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Ishin-cho float. 為心町221 views
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When Oda Nobunaga died and Azuchi castle destroyed, people in Azuchi moved to Omi-Hachiman and restarted the festival here. Uwai-cho float. 魚屋町221 views
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Shichikukai float. 紫竹会221 views
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221 views
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Jukku-kai float. 十区会220 views
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Lots of straw on the ground, serves up lots of dust.219 views
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Dai-ikku float's Tosa dog. 第一区218 views
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Ikeda-machi float. 池田町218 views
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Along the procession route, the floats take a break every once in a while. Shichikukai floats. 紫竹会218 views
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This was the winning float design. Another Tosa fighting dog. Sure looks like a lot of work went into this. I didn't have a chance to ask what the yellow braids were made of. Dai-Juikku float. 第十一区218 views
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Dai-niku float 第二区218 views
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Sanwakai float. 参和会217 views
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Dai-Juikku float's Tosa dog. 第十一区217 views
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217 views
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Shichikukai float at battle. 紫竹会217 views
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Shichikukai float. 紫竹会217 views
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Dai-Juikku float's Tosa dog. 第十一区 216 views
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216 views
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On the first day (Sat.), the floats are paraded along the streets as they arrive at the shrine and undergo judging for best design. Ishin-cho float. 為心町 215 views
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Sanwakai float decoration was very elaborate. 参和会215 views
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This one has a picture of the famous Azuchi Castle which is in Omi-Hachiman. The castle was built by warlord Oda Nobunaga in the 16th century. This festival originated in Azuchi. Jukku-kai float. 十区会215 views
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Uwai-cho float. 魚屋町215 views
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This is one of the three children's floats which are smaller than the normal floats. Uwai-cho float. 魚屋町214 views
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Omi-Hachiman's Sagicho Festival originated in neighboring Azuchi-cho town where Oda Nobunaga had his magnificent castle. Uwai-cho float. 魚屋町214 views
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Suwai-cho float. 仲屋町214 views
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Shichikukai float. 紫竹会 Lots of peas and beans.214 views
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Jukku-kai float takes a fall. 十区会214 views
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214 views
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Honmachi float arrive at the shrine for the fiery festival climax.214 views
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They run around the burning float.214 views
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I also asked what was the most difficult thing about making the float. He said, "deciding on the float's design." 213 viewsTheir committee members make their own designs with their computers and present them to the committee. Apparently, it takes a lot of haggling and time, but once the design is decided, the rest is pretty mechanical and easy.
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Jukku-kai float. 十区会213 views
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Jukku-kai float at the shrine. 十区会213 views
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Sanwakai float. 参和会212 views
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Honmachi float 本町212 views
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212 views
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Dai-niku float sold these hand towels for ¥500. 第二区212 views
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212 views
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Float support made of straw was built in the garage.211 views
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From 2 pm, the procession starts and the floats start to exit the shrine. 211 views
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211 views
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Dai-niku float takes a fall. 第二区211 views
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In front of the torii gate, two floats join up.210 views
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Shichikukai float. 紫竹会210 views
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Great spectacle and chance to see all the floats during this time. Later in the early afternoon, they will leave the shrine for a procession around the town.210 views
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Shichikukai float. 紫竹会210 views
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Dai-ikku float. 第一区210 views
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Ishin-cho float. 為心町 209 views
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Cleanup crew.209 views
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Sanwakai float losing strength. 参和会209 views
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Dai-niku float 第二区208 views
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Jukku-kai float. 十区会208 views
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Grounds of Himure Hachimangu Shrine which holds the Sagicho Matsuri. 日牟禮八幡宮208 views
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Shichikukai float. 紫竹会208 views
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208 views
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Uwai-cho float. 魚屋町208 views
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Sanwakai children's float. 参和会207 views
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Shichikukai float. 紫竹会207 views
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Materials for float-making at Suwai-cho. 仲屋町206 views
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Dai-ikku float. 第一区205 views
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March 18, 2018: On the festival's 2nd day (Sun.), the floats are paraded from 10:30 am and arrive at the shrine by 2 pm. 205 viewsAll the floats all gathered at the shrine again (a large parking lot) and held float battles (kenka). The floats paired up and rammed each other and pushed until the other float toppled.
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Uwai-cho float. 魚屋町205 views
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The 13 floats don't coordinate their designs. They don't share their design plans with other floats.204 viewsSo no one knows who will make which breed of dog until the festival day. Didn't see any chihuahua nor dachshunds.
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Suwai-cho float's dog almost done. The eyes still unfinished. 仲屋町204 views
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Dai-niku float 第二区204 views
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Shinmachi-dori float leaving the shrine. 新町通り204 views
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203 views
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Shichikukai float. 紫竹会203 views
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Uwai-cho float partying. 魚屋町203 views
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Uwai-cho float takes a fall. 魚屋町203 views
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Miyauchi-cho float leaving the shrine to join the procession. 宮内町201 views
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Shichikukai float. 紫竹会201 views
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Miyauchi-cho float won 3rd place in the float design competition. 宮内町201 views
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Float bearers spin around while shouting "Cho-yare" or "Masse masse!" Dai-niku float 第二区200 views
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Dai-Juikku float in the shrine at night. 第十一区 200 views
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Shichikukai float. 紫竹会199 views
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In front of the torii and Hakuunkan. Uwai-cho float leaving the shrine. 魚屋町199 views
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199 views
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The flower's stamen were made with these small, banana-shaped chocolate candy. As long as it is edible, they can use anything on the float, even modern junk food.198 viewsBanana-shaped chocolate candy for a flower's stamen, such great imagination. Year-round, they always look at edible things and imagine what it can be used for on a Sagicho float. Compared to the old days, they now have a lot more edible choices and colors to choose from to make the float decorations.
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Dai-ikku float. 第一区198 views
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Dai-ikku float. 第一区198 views
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Suwai-cho float leaving the shrine for the procession. 仲屋町198 views
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197 views
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On the first day (Sat.), the floats are paraded along the streets as they go to Himure Hachimangu Shrine and undergo judging for best design. The floats are works of art and made of edible materials mounted on a straw and wood base. Sanwakai float. 参和196 viewsMarch 17, 2018
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Sanwakai float. 参和会196 views
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Float leader directing the float bearers carrying the float. Jukku-kai float. 十区会196 views
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Dai-ikku float. 第一区196 views
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Float design judge.194 views
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Dai-niku float's dog with no head. 第二区193 views
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Jukku-kai float. 十区会189 views
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Ikeda-machi float. 池田町189 views
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Float base for the dog. Each float design has a design concept or story behind it.188 views
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Watch your step!173 views
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