Gion-matsuri (Gion festival) July 5th 2014
This is the festival at Yasaka shrine in Kyoto (another name is Gion shrine) and one of the most famous Japanese summer festival. Most Japanese summer festival started for the purpose of preventing epidemic and praying for sound health. Gion festival, originated in 863 for the epidemic prevention, has a long history and after overcoming various difficulties, it has grown up as the honorable event of Kyoto citizens.
The festival begins on July 1st and lasts for a month. There are 32 gorgeous and artistic festival floats mounted with decorative halberds which are prepared by the citizens of each district or local residents worshipping Gion shrine.
Festival floats, some of them are as heavy as more than 10 tons, are dragged by large number of citizens in traditional fashion. By parading streets in such a way, each float representing each district competes with one another in appearance and performance.
There are around 10000 shrines all over Japan and those shrines have their own traditional and characteristic summer festivals. Most of those festivals are not as famous as Gion festival, none the less they are just as especially important as Gion festival for respective residents or worshippers.
(bs.fuji.co.jp)
