 Most viewed - MIE 三重県 |
Lookimg like a castle turret is this water sluice gate management building.76 views
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76 views
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Kaze-no-miya Shrine 風宮76 views
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Kaze-no-miya Shrine 風宮76 views
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75 views
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Site of Kanbe turret.75 views
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The second floor is a small exhibition room and small windows.75 views
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Sakura Matsuri poster74 views
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Next to Shichiri-no-watashi was Kuwana-juku's Waki-Honjin.74 views
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Shichiri-no-watashi at Kuwana, Mie. This is where travelers arrived by boat after crossing the ocean for four hours from Miya-juku near Atsuta Shrine in Aichi. 七里の渡し72 views
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The 28-km ocean crossing from Miya-juku to Kuwana took about 4 hours. It was often perilous with rough waters. 71 views
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Meiwa is a rural town (pop. 22,500) next to Ise and the site of the Saiku Palace (斎宮) where the Ise Jingu Grand Shrines' High Priestess (Saio princess) resided during the 7th–14th centuries to conduct ceremonies at Ise in place of the emperor.69 viewsThe Saio princess was an unmarried, young Imperial princess closely related to the Emperor, usually a daughter or sister. She was appointed (by divination with a turtle shell that was burnt) to be the High Priestess of Ise Grand Shrines to represent the emperor when conducting official ceremonies at the shrine a few times a year to pray for national peace and prosperity. Each time a new emperor was enthroned, a new Saio princess was appointed as the High Priestess and she traveled from Kyoto to live in the Saiku Palace in Meiwa. The journey, called "Saio Gunko," took 5 nights and 6 days through Kyoto and Shiga Prefectures and her entourage was several hundred. For about 660 years from 673 to 1334, over 60 Saio princesses served at Ise Grand Shrines. Many of them were age 5 to 15, and the oldest was 32. They served for varying periods of time, from 1 to 31 years. The High Priestess conducted prayers at the shrine for the peace, protection, welfare, and prosperity of the nation. As this sign indicates, Meiwa and Saiku is a Japan Heritage Site.
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Shichiri-no-watashi made Kuwana properous and busy with travelers. This is a Shichiri-no-watashi marker.66 views
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Ibi River65 views
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Meiwa holds the two-day Saio Matsuri (斎王まつり) festival annually on the first full weekend in June to reenact part of the Saio procession traveling from Kyoto to the Saiku Palace.63 viewsOn June 2–3, 2018, the 36th Saio Matsuri was held in Meiwa. It also happens to be the town's 60th anniversary. The festival is held near Saiku Station (Kintetsu Yamada Line) in the area where the Saiku Palace was located. It's now a large park-like area. On the festival's first day (Festival Eve) at 3:30 pm, the Misogi-no-Gi Ceremony is held at a small stream where the Saio dips her hands into the water for purification. Then they move to an outdoor stage near Saiku History Museum to conduct an evening ceremony and entertainment program from 5 pm to 9 pm. (In the case of rain, the event will be canceled.)
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Mikimoto's Five-Storied Pagoda (御木本五重塔). Exhibited at Sesquicentennial Exposition in Philadelphia, 1926. It has 12,760 pearls.55 views
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The pearl divers are very friendly. They wave to you.54 views
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A statue of Kokichi Mikimoto and a giant pearl near Toba Station greets visitors. Erected in 1993 to mark the 100th anniversary of Mikimoto's success in pearl cultivation.52 views
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Lake Biwa pearl mussel (Hyriopsis schlegelii イケチョウガイ) endemic to Lake Biwa.52 views
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The pearls are removed from the innards with this machine.52 views
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Miss International pearl crown52 views
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Mikimoto Pearl Crown52 views
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Pioneers of pearl cultivation.52 views
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Fujita Masayo who pioneered freshwater pearl cultivation at Lake Biwa.52 views
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Liberty Bell, exhibited at the 1939 New York World's Fair. Has 12,250 pearls and 366 diamonds.51 views
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Bridge to Mikimoto Pearl Island.50 views
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Embedding the nucleus into the oyster.50 views
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Fujita Sukeyo, Fujita Masayo, and Mikimoto Kokichi.50 views
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Instruments for embedding the nucleus into the oyster. Like a dentist.49 views
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Harvesting49 views
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View from the museum's 2nd floor.49 views
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At the G7 Summit in 2016, the world leaders wore a lapel pins made of pearls.49 views
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Toba Station49 views
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Mikimoto Pearl Island is full of monuments.48 views
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Freshwater pearl cultivation48 views
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The same lapel pin worn by the leaders was on sale for ¥24,300.48 views
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Rock garden outside Mikimoto Kokichi Memorial Hall48 views
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JR Toba Station48 views
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Mikimoto Pearl Island47 views
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Air and water temperatures in Jan.47 views
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They drop into the ocean one by one with their floating buckets.47 views
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A narrator explains what the divers are doing and what they caught.47 views
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Buttons from oyster shells.47 views
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Hyriopsis cumingi47 views
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Portrait of G7 summit leaders at ise-Shima.47 views
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Gift shop at Toba Station.47 views
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Bridge to Mikimoto Pearl Island.46 views
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The pearl divers arrive on a small boat.46 views
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Diving for shellfish.46 views
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The removed pearls are washed.46 views
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Mikimoto Kokichi 46 views
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Toba Station46 views
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Toba Castle is a short walk from Toba Station.46 views
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About the castle wall.46 views
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They are actually shellfish divers. They don't dive for pearls.45 views
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Akoya oysters45 views
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Making the nucleus to be inserted into the oyster.45 views
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Making the nucleus to be inserted into the oyster.45 views
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To weigh the pearl45 views
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Room exhibiting jewelry made of natural pearls.45 views
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Room exhibiting jewelry made of cultured pearls.45 views
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Mikimoto Kokichi Memorial Hall45 views
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Shiroyama Park at Toba Castle.45 views
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Entrance to Mikimoto Pearl Island.44 views
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Statue of Mikimoto Kokichi.44 views
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I went in Jan. so almost no one was here.44 views
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Lake Biwa pearl mussel (Hyriopsis schlegelii イケチョウガイ) endemic to Lake Biwa.44 views
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Formation of natural pearls.44 views
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The oysters' innards embedded with pearls are taken out of the shell and dropped through a hole into a bucket below. 44 views
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To drill holes into the pearl.44 views
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Walking path around the island.44 views
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Ticket booth for boat rides to nearby Dolphin Island.44 views
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Scenic views on the way to Toba.44 views
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About Toba Castle's main tenshu tower.44 views
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Entrance to the bridge to Mikimoto Pearl Island. Pay admission first.43 views
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Spectator stand for pearl diver demonstrations.43 views
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Ama divers at Mikimoto Pearl Island43 views
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Making the nucleus to be inserted into the oyster.43 views
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Embedding the nucleus into the oyster.43 views
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Posing with top-ranking court ladies called the Naishi (内侍) working at the Saiku Palace. They have fancy umbrella bearers called furyu-gasa. 風流傘43 views
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Saiku Heian-no-mori Park recreates one of the many rectangular blocks of the Saiku Palace area. This one reconstructs three buildings used by the head of the Saikuryo, the government office of the Saiku Palace. 43 viewsThe left building is the Nishiwakiden, center is Seiden (main building), and right building is the Higashiwakiden. The buildings are only approximations of what they actually looked like. Only the size could be determined from pillar holes, but not the actual apperance. This is where the Saio Matsuri festival's Departure Ceremony is held.
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Bridge to Mikimoto Pearl Island.42 views
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Pearl Museum is a comprehensive museum about pearl cultivation mainly in Japan.42 views
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Embedding the nucleus into the oyster.42 views
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Only a small percentage of harvested pearls are perfect.42 views
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To measure the pearl's size.42 views
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Special Exhibition Room displaying pearl crowns in Jan. 2017.42 views
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G7 Summit was held in Mie (Ise-Shima) in 2016.42 views
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About Mikimoto Kokichi Memorial Hall42 views
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Mikimoto Kokichi Memorial Hall42 views
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Boat for Dolphin Island.42 views
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Only a few stone walls and a well remain. No buildings. It was once the administrative center for the Toba Domain. The last occupants was the Inagaki Clan.42 views
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About the well.42 views
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Go up these stairs for Toba Castle.41 views
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Warawame (童女) daughters of the Imperial family or nobility. They wear chihaya costume. 千早41 views
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Posing with top-ranking court ladies called the Naishi (内侍) working at the Saiku Palace. They have fancy umbrella bearers called furyu-gasa. 風流傘41 views
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This main building is the Seiden dating from the 9th century used to conduct important ceremonies by the head of the Saikuryo and to welcome official messengers from Ise Grand Shrines and Kyoto.41 viewsNormally open to the public, free admission. 正殿
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After the festival is over, be sure to visit the Saiku Historical Museum nearby. See this album.41 views
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Floor plan of Pearl Museum.40 views
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Mikimoto Kokichi Memorial Hall40 views
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Toba Castle site is on a small hilltop overlooking Mikimoto Pearl Island.40 views
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Shiroyama Park at Toba Castle.40 views
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About Shiroyama Park at Toba Castle.40 views
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Way to the Honmaru.40 views
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The Saio princess wears a juni-hitoe (12-layer) robe reserved only for female Imperial family members or women marrying into the Imperial family.40 views
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Toba Station39 views
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Part of the castle site is Shiroyama Park with nice views of the pearl island. 39 views
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Shiroyama Park at Toba Castle.39 views
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About Toba Castle.39 views
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Site of Toba Castle's main tower.39 views
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Posing with the Emperor's Messenger who is the highest ranking person in the procession. (Konoe Tsukai). 近衛使39 views
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This brown building was the Saio's modest living quarters. Not as large as you would expect.39 views
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Kadono-osa, the security detail. They hold a tachi sword. 看督長38 views
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Posing with the Nyo-betto (女別当) who was the supervisor of the court ladies at special occasions such as the Saio procession. 38 views
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Naishi (内侍) and the Nyo-betto leads the Child Saio princess.37 views
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The Higashiwakiden is only partially walled with an earthen floor, used as a waiting room or preparation room during ceremonies. 東脇殿37 views
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The Saio gives farewell remarks before leaving her family in Kyoto for Saiku. See the video to hear what she said.37 views
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JR Kameyama Station platform.37 views
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On the second day, the Departure Ceremony is held here at the Saiku Heian-no-mori Park where a few Heian Period structures have been reconstructed. They had a large blue tarp on the ground for spectators.36 viewsSecond day is the main event. There's the Departure Ceremony and Saio Gunko Procession. The Departure Ceremony reenacts the Saio's departure from Kyoto for her journey to Saiku Palace.
At 1 pm, the Departure Ceremony is held at Saiku Heian-no-mori Park where a few Heian-Period buildings have been reconstructed. At 2 pm, the 120 people dressed in Heian-Period costumes walk in a colorful procession called the "Saio Gunko" to an outdoor stage near the Saiku History Museum. The Saio princesses are carried in their own palanquins. It's a short walk.
On the outdoor stage, they hold a ceremony and picture-taking session from 2:45 pm. Everything ends by 3:30 pm. I went to see the festival on the second day on June 3, 2018. In the case of rain, the event will be canceled.
If you want to get close, you need to arrive earlier than the 1 pm starting time. Short walk from Saiku Station.
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Large crowd sitting on the tarp and watching the departure ceremony. It's pretty hot under the sun.36 views
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Dancers called Maibito (舞人).36 views
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Saio princess in a palanquin in Meiwa, Mie Prefecture.36 views
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Posing with top-ranking court ladies called the Naishi (内侍) working at the Saiku Palace. They have fancy umbrella bearers called furyu-gasa. 風流傘36 views
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Scale model of buildings in this block called the Nai-in which was the living quarters of the Saio princess. Surrounded by a pillared fence. 内院36 views
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This might be the maid's room.36 views
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In 2018, the Saio princess was portrayed by 26-year-old Nakaho Yuri (中保 友里) from Tsu, Mie. She was selected from among 27 applicants. It was her fourth time to apply for this honor and was finally selected. 35 viewsIt's confusing that she's called the 34th Saio at the 36th Saio Matsuri. It's because the festival didn't have a Saio from the 1st festival. She served well.
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Ranryo-o court dance originally came from China and was a warrior hero dance. (舞樂蘭陵王).35 views
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Yellow banners read "Saio Matsuri" (Saio Festival).35 views
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Everyone quickly dissipated and all the food stalls closed up. It was only 3:30 pm.35 views
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Sign saying "Saiku" which was designated as a National Historic Site in 1979. 国史跡35 views
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The actual road where the Saio princess traveled to Ise Grand Shrines. Called "Kodai Ise-do" (Ancient Ise Road). 古代伊勢道35 views
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Today, Meiwa is a sleepy little town bypassed by most tourists going to Ise or Toba. Official Saiku info35 views
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Iris flower offerings followed. Leading court ladies called the Myobu (命婦), assistants who tend to the immediate needs of the Saio princess. 献花の儀式35 views
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The Child Saio princess offer an iris flower. 子ども斎王35 views
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Line of stumps indicate the position of pillars of a fence that surrounded the Saio's Palace.35 views
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People wore Heian Period (794–1185) costumes from when Kyoto was the capital of Japan. These are Saiku government officials. 斎宮十二司官人34 views
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Myobu (命婦) getting off the Seiden.34 views
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High-ranking court ladies called Uneme (釆女) chosen from an aristocratic family. They were in charge of food and drink for the princess. They give an iris flower offering.34 views
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In 2018, the child Saio princess was portrayed by 10-year-old Nishimura Manami (西村 まなみ) from Meiwa. She was selected by lot from a number of girls. Not all Saio princesses were adults, some were a child. 子供斎王34 views
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Nara Period (8th century) sacred dance (舞樂蘭陵王).34 viewsGagaku music was performed by Kogakkan University's Gagaku club seen in the background. 皇學館大学 雅楽部
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Stone monument in the Saio Woods indicating the location of the Saiku Palace. "Site of the Saio Palace" erected in On Nov. 3, 1968.34 views斎王の森
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Child Saio princess. 子供斎王34 views
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Everyone arrived here and the ceremony started with a few speeches.34 views
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Posing with top-ranking court ladies called the Naishi (内侍) working at the Saiku Palace. They have fancy umbrella bearers called furyu-gasa. 風流傘34 views
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Meiwa town has been excavating Saiku Palace digs all over the place. They found pillar holes, pottery, etc. The digs will continue for many more years. Relics are displayed in the local museum. 34 views
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High-ranking court ladies called Uneme (釆女) chosen from an aristocratic family. They were in charge of food and drink for the princess.34 views
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Way to Seki-juku.34 views
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During the Edo Period, Kameyama Castle was the Ise-Kameyama Domain headquarters and center of Kameyama-juku lodging town on the Tokaido Road.34 viewsIt still has the Tamon-yagura turret (open to the public), castle walls, and a partially reconstructed Ninomaru keep. Short walk from JR Kameyama Station (JR Kansai Line).
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JR Kameyama Station platform and tracks.34 views
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My video of the Ageuma Festival at Inabe Shrine in April (猪名部神社). Watch the horse successfully jump over the barrier atop the slope. Not to be confused with the larger Tado Ageuma Festival.34 views
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Court ladies called Nyoju (女嬬) who serve in the inner palace (後宮) and take care of the Saio princess' daily living.33 views
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The Saio princess wears a juni-hitoe (12-layer) robe reserved only for Imperial family members. 33 views
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The departure ceremony included live gagaku sacred music and a Nara Period (8th century) sacred dance called Ranryo-o. (舞樂蘭陵王). 33 viewsGagaku music was performed by Kogakkan University's Gagaku club. It's a Shinto university in Ise. 皇學館大学 雅楽部
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Until the 19th century, wild irises grew extensively in Saiku's natural wetlands. 33 viewsA National Natural Monument, Saiku/Ise irises are one of Japan's few natural iris strains from which hybrids were created. Wetlands have been recreated in Saiku to grow irises.
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Saio Woods explanation as of 1968.33 views
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Naishi (内侍) coordinator of court ladies in Saiku Palace. She has a fancy umbrella bearer called furyu-gasa. 風流傘33 views
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Ladies wearing a red band across their shoulders are court ladies called Nyoju (女嬬) who serve in the inner palace (後宮) and take care of the Saio princess' daily living.33 views
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Posing with top-ranking court ladies called the Naishi (内侍) working at the Saiku Palace. They have fancy umbrella bearers called furyu-gasa. 風流傘33 views
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Child Saio princess and adult Saio princess.33 views
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Old Tokaido Road in Seki-juku. Picturesque.33 views
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High-ranking court ladies called Uneme (釆女) chosen from an aristocratic family. They were in charge of food and drink for the princess.32 views
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The procession is about to leave the starting point at around 2 pm. Purple irises is another symbol of Meiwa, probably why they hold the festival in June.32 views
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High-ranking court ladies called Uneme (釆女) chosen from an aristocratic family. They were in charge of food and drink for the princess.32 views
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Ladies wearing a red band across their shoulders are court ladies called Nyoju (女嬬). 32 views
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High-ranking court ladies called Uneme (釆女) chosen from an aristocratic family. They were in charge of food and drink for the princess.32 views
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Posing with dancers called Maibito (舞人).32 views
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Saiku government officials. 斎宮十二司官人32 views
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Flower offering by court ladies called Nyoju (女嬬) who serve in the inner palace (後宮) and take care of the Saio princess' daily living. 32 views
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Money box, probably a safe.32 views
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Kaiunro, former geisha house in Seki-juku. 開雲楼32 views
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Kameyama Castle's Tamon-yagura turret is open 10 am to 4 pm, free admission. Unfortunately, I arrived after it closed.32 views
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Kameyama Castle's Tamon-yagura turret.32 views
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Ladies wearing a red band across their shoulders are court ladies called Nyoju (女嬬) who serve in the inner palace (後宮) and take care of the Saio princess' daily living.31 views
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Palanquins for the Saio (middle), Nyo-betto, and Child Saio standby for the procession. The orignal palanquins had no wheels.31 views
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Child Saio princess. 子供斎王31 views
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Almost an hour later, the procession arrived at this park with this outdoor stage for the welcome ceremony. The Saio arrived.31 views
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