I really enjoyed reading that! I’m a fan of Japanese culture from afar, and have always been fascinated by its weaving of ancient-held beliefs and modern day technology. Respect and progress. Great read — I can’t imagine having to pull those floats! My god haha.
Not to dox myself too much, but I live on the parade route. The tips of the hoko pass directly in front my balcony, and the way they sway and shudder gives you a much greater sense of the irregular nature of hand-pulling than at street height.
2019 was a strange one - I had a dozen friends over for 神幸祭, and everyone except me caught covid that day - so much for the anti-plague effect!
BTW re. the kontiki-kin - that music is played continuously for the entire month of the festival, and gets old awfully quickly. There are apparently 59 or so (?) different "songs" but I swear they all sound identical!
Agreed. I’d love to read that. (I spent about 2 weeks in Kyoto last year and was lucky enough to see a wedding procession at Yasaka shrine!) Thanks for writing this post. Very interesting.
I was there in 2012. Bit of a clusterfuck, but I think it was pretty cool. Of course, years later I went to Oaxaca, Mexico, and I have to say that the way they do parades and festivals is even much more epic and fun, though of course, very different cultural context (much older cultures though, actually).
You continue to bring back memories of my stay in Japan over 50 years ago. I traveled to see this festival with some friends and we stayed with their family members. The families graciously let me soak in the tub first since I was a guest. Now I am 80 years old and enjoy reliving those happy times.
You know a Japan from before I was born. You must have many interesting stories! Where did you stay, out of curiosity? Thank you for sharing. I’ll keep sharing, too!
I lived in a small fishing village named Akia. My husband was in the military and gone most of the time we were there. I taught English conversation as a second language at a local junior college and also as a private tutor. I was close in age to my students and two of them took me under their wings and showed me Japan. They later visited me in the United States and worked there for awhile.
I really enjoyed reading that! I’m a fan of Japanese culture from afar, and have always been fascinated by its weaving of ancient-held beliefs and modern day technology. Respect and progress. Great read — I can’t imagine having to pull those floats! My god haha.
Nice piece Hiroko!
Not to dox myself too much, but I live on the parade route. The tips of the hoko pass directly in front my balcony, and the way they sway and shudder gives you a much greater sense of the irregular nature of hand-pulling than at street height.
2019 was a strange one - I had a dozen friends over for 神幸祭, and everyone except me caught covid that day - so much for the anti-plague effect!
BTW re. the kontiki-kin - that music is played continuously for the entire month of the festival, and gets old awfully quickly. There are apparently 59 or so (?) different "songs" but I swear they all sound identical!
Agreed. I’d love to read that. (I spent about 2 weeks in Kyoto last year and was lucky enough to see a wedding procession at Yasaka shrine!) Thanks for writing this post. Very interesting.
That somen looks refreshing! I can hear that kontiki kin from here in my head. The sound of summer festivals.
Love this- a good reason to visit our favourite Japanese city in steamy summer!
Will you write something about the Bon festival?
I was there in 2012. Bit of a clusterfuck, but I think it was pretty cool. Of course, years later I went to Oaxaca, Mexico, and I have to say that the way they do parades and festivals is even much more epic and fun, though of course, very different cultural context (much older cultures though, actually).
You continue to bring back memories of my stay in Japan over 50 years ago. I traveled to see this festival with some friends and we stayed with their family members. The families graciously let me soak in the tub first since I was a guest. Now I am 80 years old and enjoy reliving those happy times.
You know a Japan from before I was born. You must have many interesting stories! Where did you stay, out of curiosity? Thank you for sharing. I’ll keep sharing, too!
I lived in a small fishing village named Akia. My husband was in the military and gone most of the time we were there. I taught English conversation as a second language at a local junior college and also as a private tutor. I was close in age to my students and two of them took me under their wings and showed me Japan. They later visited me in the United States and worked there for awhile.
This will go on my dream board. Right by climbing Fuji-san and hiking the Nakasendo trail.