 Most viewed - Taga 多賀町 |
Taga Taisha Shrine's Setsubun bean throwing on Feb. 3 (at 10:30 am and 1:30 pm) is perhaps Shiga's most prominent with three impressive demons (called oni) on stage acting as the evil oni to be chased away with soybeans.471 viewsFeb. 3 is the Setsubun Festival at many temples and shrines in Japan. It marks the beginning of spring according to the lunar calendar. So they throw beans at ogre to eliminate the evil of the previous year and bring in good fortune.
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Taume rice planters at the Taga Taisha Rice-planting Festival. 田植女410 views
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Dance by shrine maidens on New Year's Day 2005 at Taga Taisha Shrine.. Also see the 2005 video at YouTube.379 views
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Giving New Year's prayers at Taga Taisha shrine.321 views
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Throwing mochi. The mochi was bare and dry, hard as a rock. 317 views
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Good-looking woman warrior on a horse, Taga Matsuri, Shiga Pref.313 views
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Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi! (鬼は外! 福は内!)303 views
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All the while, the PA system screamed, Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi! (鬼は外! 福は内!)302 views
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Buying New Year's decorations and charms.293 views
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Taga Matsuri292 views
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Taume rice-planting girl at Taga Taisha Rice-planting Festival, Shiga Prefecture.284 views
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Taga Matsuri is held annually on April 22 at Taga Taisha Shrine. It's basically a procession of Shinto priests, children in costume, women warriors, and other people on 40 horses. These photos were taken in 2009.284 views
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Oyushiki ceremony is performed to purify the sacred rice paddies during the Taga Taisha Rice-Planting Festival. 御湯式255 views
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The shrine priests continued their bean attack on the oni.254 views
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Taume girl at the Taga Taisha Rice-planting Festival253 views
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The young shrine maidens also danced, Taga Matsuri.251 views
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Woman warrior on horseback for the Taga Matsuri, Shiga Prefecture. 女武者245 views
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Oyushiki ceremony is performed to purify the sacred rice paddies during the Taga Taisha Rice-Planting Festival. 御湯式242 views
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Singer with a tall flower hat.237 views
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Otaue odori dancer at Taga Taisha Rice-planting Festival (O-taue Matsuri).230 views
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Shrine maiden holds bells and a branch of leaves. Very charming dance.227 views
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Taga Matsuri Festival on April 22, Shiga Prefecture. 多賀まつり222 views
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The rice-planting dancers stay out of the mud. They took a break twice or so, but the rice planters had to continue non-stop.221 views
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Taga Taisha Shrine, Shiga. Taga Taisha rethatched its roof and celebrated with a festival in Oct. 2007.219 views
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Woman warrior on horseback for the Taga Matsuri, Shiga Prefecture. 女武者216 views
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Taga Taisha Shrine's torii is festooned with red banners reading " Taga Taisha O-taue Matsuri" or Rice-Planting Festival. Held on the first Sunday in June at 1 pm at the shrine. MAP215 views
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Held during Aug. 3-5 at Taga Taisha Shrine, the Mantosai or 10,000-Lantern Festival is a night festival when numerous lanterns are lit within the shrine grounds. The lanterns are for the repose of ancestral spirits.203 views
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Ito-kiri mochi, a famous local confection in Taga, Shiga.200 views
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The bean-throwers for 2009 pose for a group shot with the shrine priests.184 views
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The oni first appeared amid smoke on the Kaguraden stage and danced menacingly. They were from a dance troupe called Inbara Kaguradan in Shimane Prefecture. 鬼の舞は、島根県石見地方の因原（いんばら）神楽団が奉納。179 viewsTaga Taisha had impressive ogre (called oni in Japanese) dancers from Shimane Prefecture to act as the demons to chase away during the festival.
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The bean-throwing was fun, but potentially dangerous with people pushing you around. Taking pictures is pretty risky as well. One mochi hit my camera lens. Fortunately, no damage.169 views
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For our 500 yen donation, we got a thin towel with a nice design. It is the same one worn by the rice-planting girls. Also see the Yasu Rice-Planting Festival. お田植え祭手ぬぐい149 views
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The bean-throwers for 2009 pose for a group shot in front of Taga Taisha Shrine.147 views
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Taga Taisha Lantern Festival also had some entertainment. Also see my YouTube video here.143 views
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The Taiko Drum troupe from Asahi, Maibara pose for a photo in front of the taiko bridge at the shrine.142 views
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Taga Taisha O-taue Matsuri poster. I enjoyed the festival, but was a little shocked that we had to pay money to see it. There's no notice saying that a donation is required to see the festival. I don't mind paying, but it should be mentioned somew139 views
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Taga Taisha's lanterns come in five sizes. Each one represents a donation. The donar's name is on the lantern. The biggest lantern requires a donation of 20,000 yen.133 views
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The shrine name means, "Many Felicitations," hence its popularity during New Year's.132 views
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These people insist on praying front and center of the shrine. Even though they can easily go to the left or right side of the shrine to pray more quickly.130 views
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Direct path to Taga Taisha Shrine hall129 views
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Lanterns at night127 views
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Lantern-lit path to Taga Taisha119 views
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Dragon dance113 views
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The oni went back on stage.112 views
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Girls dressed as shrine maidens pose for a picture. They will join the afetrnoon procession and perform a sacred dance at the Otabisho.111 views
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Taga Taisha Shrine torii near Taga Taisha-mae Station. MAP109 views
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Shishimai lion dance109 views
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O-taue odori dancers107 views
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Nearing the end. However, they did not finish planting the entire paddy. They ended the festival at around 3 pm even though three of the four paddies were still unfinished.107 views
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Kids carrying mikoshi portable shrine. They went to the train station.106 views
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Near the shrine entrance are the usual food stalls.105 views
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The 70 rice planters are junior high school girls in colorful costumes. They are called Taume. 田植女104 views
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The oni costumes were gorgeous and impressive.104 views
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Entertainment with a dragon dance103 views
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Then the oni ran on the elevated hanamichi making threats to an amused crowd. MAP103 views
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The soybeans were thrown in little paper bags, so we could still pick them up and eat them even if they fell to the ground.103 views
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Road to Taga Taisha Shrine102 views
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A large crowd was on hand to catch the beans and mochi. The bean-throwing is called mame-maki. They held two mame-maki sessions that day, at 11 am and 2 pm. This was at 2 pm.102 views
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Another ceremony was held at 5 pm.101 views
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Torii with lanterns lit99 views
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There were no celebrity bean-throwers like at famous shrines/temples.99 views
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These lanterns above are the smallest ones, requiring a donation of only 1,500 yen. They are the most numerous.97 views
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Gate to shrine97 views
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Best to see my video of the shrine maidens dancing on Jan. 1, 2014.97 views
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The good guys, in the form of shrine priests, then appeared and started throwing roasted soybeans at the oni demons.96 views
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I also got hit on the shoulder while taking pictures. You should always look up and see where the mochi and beans are flying.96 views
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Taga Taisha Shrine torii95 views
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The shrine also recently got its roof rethatched. The roof looked spanking new.95 views
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Taiko drum troupe from Maibara enters the sacred rice paddy and head for the stage.95 views
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Taga Matsuri poster.95 views
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Each lantern is lit with a small lightbulb. (No candles)93 views
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These lanterns hanging in the main shrine hall must be the most expensive ones.93 views
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Muddy pants. Passers by exclaimed, "Look at their feet!"93 views
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Mantosai sign under the torii92 views
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Festival schedule, starting at 5:30 pm and ending after 9 pm.92 views
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Welcome to Taga91 views
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Entertainment on stage91 views
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Taga Taisha Shrine is a short walk from Taga Taisha-mae Station on the Ohmi Railways Line. It's Shiga's most popular shrine during New Year's.91 views
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Taga Taisha is dedicated to Izanagi and Izanami, husband and wife deities who created the islands of Japan and many other gods such as Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess. According to the Kojiki Ancient Records, Izanagi retired in Taga, so this shrine was built.90 views
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Homes along the way are decorated.90 views
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Arched bridge leading to shrine gate.90 views
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Main shrine hall90 views
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As evening approaches, the crowd increases.90 views
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Near Taga Taisha Shrine is the sacred rice paddies divided by a cross in the middle to form the kanji "ta" (田) which means rice paddy. This is the site of the rice planting festival starting at 2 pm. A 500 yen donation is required to go inside90 views
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Washing their muddy feet.90 views
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On stage, the oni was rained upon with paper streamers.90 views
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They performed the Rich Harvest Taiko Dance (Honen Taiko Odori). 豊年太鼓踊り 国指定無形文化財88 views
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The shrine priests and taume girls return to Taga Taisha Shrine.88 views
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Approaching the main shrine hall.87 views
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The music was a mixture of taiko drums, flutes, and a gong. They performed for about 30 min. 国指定無形文化財87 views
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The paper streamers seemed like demon repellant. 87 views
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Everyone got into position as they held a wooden box full of mochi and beans.87 views
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Next, were 124 bean throwers who were born in the year of the bull. They wore a red cap.87 views
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Rice-planting dancers sit through the Oyushiki ceremony.86 views
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She pours sacred sake into the boiling pot.85 views
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The rice paddy is not in a scenic location. Being next to a busy road, it was quite noisy.85 views
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The Rich Harvest Taiko Dance (Honen Taiko Odori) is an Intangible Cultural Property. Also see my YouTube video here. 豊年太鼓踊り84 views
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It was a marvelous performance. Although I think it would've been more impressive if they performed on the ground beside the paddies.84 views
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Taume girls proceed while holding rice seedlings.84 views
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They plant the rice seedlings while walking backwards in the ankle-deep mud.84 views
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Rice seedlings in hand84 views
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Keeping the hat on seemed to be common problem.83 views
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This unfinished paddy looks pretty messy. I think they should've finished planting all the paddies before ending the festival. Only one of the four paddies was completed.83 views
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On the lower right, the guy in blue tries to shield himself from the spray of boiling water. The crowd laughed.82 views
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I feel sorry for the launderer of the costumes after they finish.82 views
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O-taue rice-planting dancers take a break.82 views
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First the shrine priest had to shoot an arrow into the crowd, then the bean throwing began.82 views
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These girls will sing the rice-planting song. 歌女81 views
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The cross at the center.81 views
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This paddy is unfinished, but looks pretty neat.81 views
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New Year's Day at a large shrine in Japan is such a spectacle.81 views
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In the morning and early afternoon of January 1 and 2, shrine maidens perform sacred dances (初神楽) on the Noh stage.81 views
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The taume girls start to plant the rice seedlings to match the tune of the rice-planting song sung by the girls on stage.80 views
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The singers stopped singing and just watched.80 views
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At around 1:45 pm, a procession of priests and the 70 rice planters entered.79 views
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Hat problem.79 views
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These two girls did away with the hat which could not stay on.79 views
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Torii in front of the train station. "Otaga-san" is the shrine's nickname.79 views
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The ceremony has a pot of boiling water.78 views
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She dips two green branches into the pot, then...78 views
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Rice seedlings await.78 views
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The boys in blue on both ends are holding a string to serve as a guide for planting the seedlings in a straight line.78 views
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The work continues, without the singing and dancing.78 views
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I was waiting for this. Sacred dances by shrine maidens who looked to be high school girls.78 views
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Spectator tents were set up on both sides of the rice paddy. There weren't so many people. Not all the benches were filled.77 views
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The taume girls enter the rice paddy at about 2 pm.77 views
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Besides the rice planters, there are rice-planting dancers who dance along the paddy's perimeter. They dance to the rice-planting song sung on stage. 御田植踊77 views
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On stage, shrine maidens perform the Yuminomai Arrow Dance. 弓の舞77 views
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Washing their hands in a bucket of water.77 views
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The shrine priests and taume girls return to Taga Taisha Shrine.77 views
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After everyone is in place, on the stage, the Oyushiki ceremony is performed to purify the sacred rice paddies. 御湯式76 views
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The taume girls take their places.76 views
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Monument in front of the train station.76 views
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On Jan. 1, 2014, a steady stream of worshippers head for Taga Taisha Shrine.76 views
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Stone bridge, closed due to snow.76 views
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Sacred horse. Lot of people took photos of this since 2014 is the Year of the Horse.76 views
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Taume rice planting girls leave the rice paddy.75 views
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Closeup of the crown.75 views
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A long line to the shrine is what awaited. This was a lot more people than Jan. 1, 2005 when I visited the last time.75 views
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The procession encircle the paddies.74 views
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At 3:10 pm, they started to leave the rice paddy.74 views
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She flings the branches backward over her head, creating a spray of hot water. She did this a few times. Also see my YouTube video here.73 views
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After the Oyushiki, the singers on stage start singing the rice-planting song. 御田植歌73 views
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Now you know why some old Japanese women crouch when they walk. They used to plant rice. Of course, these days, most rice is planted mechanically.73 views
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It was then a lunch break until 1 pm. I took the time to walk around the area.73 views
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The crowd gets thicker near the shrine's entrance.73 views
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Shrine gate. Go in at left and exit on right side.73 views
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Sorry I couldn't wait in line and went to the front and prayed from the side and instead of front and center.73 views
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Money pit for monetary offerings. A few days from now, we will see happy bank employees counting the money from shrines.73 views
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Most of the snow had melted.73 views
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Priests and taume girls enter the paddy.72 views
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Girl planting rice, Taga Taisha O-taue Matsuri, Shiga Prefecture72 views
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Unfinished work.72 views
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Hope all or most of their hopes and prayers will come true this new year.72 views
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This long line lasted through most of the day. About 490,000 people worshipped here during the first three days of 2014. New Year’s prayers is called Hatsumode.71 views
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Large groups of worshippers pay a fee to attend prayer ceremonies.71 views
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Took maybe an hour to get to the shrine. MAP70 views
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Kaguraden stage where they performed sacred dances. They would dance on Jan. 1 and 2, in the morning and early afternoon.70 views
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Amazake (sweet sake, non-alcoholic) for 300 yen/cup to warm you up.70 views
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Two mikoshi portable shrines in front of the shrine await action. MAP69 views
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Shrine maidens69 views
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A fire to burn old New Year's decorations and to warm yourself up. 69 views
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Preparing gallons upon gallons of amazake (sweet sake, non-alcoholic). 300 yen/cup.69 views
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The kids wore this cushion-like padding on their backs.68 views
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One horse after another leaves the shrine.68 views
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Woman warriors arrive back too.68 views
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The main mikoshi also passes by the shrine.68 views
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The procession arrived at the Otabisho at 2:30 pm.68 views
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We are met with a welcoming committee consisting of bell ringers and the beating of a huge taiko drum.68 views
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A Shinto ceremomy was held at the shrine at 8:30 am.67 views
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Banner for Totonomiya Shrine.67 views
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The children's mikoshi arrive back at Taga Taisha.67 views
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Phoenix atop the mikoshi.67 views
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Both mikoshi also went over the steep arched bridge.67 views
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This place was also jammed. Water fountain where you wash your hands and rinse your mouth for purification. 手水舎67 views
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The afternoon procession included these two foxy ladies who supposed to be women warriors on horseback. Also see my YouTube video here.66 views
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Prayers to the mikoshi portable shrine.66 views
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The horses are readied.66 views
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At 4 pm, the procession headed back to Taga Taisha Shrine, starting with the children's mikoshi.66 views
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At Totonomiya Shrine, they held a Shinto ceremony.66 views
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