1/18/2007

- INFO - Festivals of Japan

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Matsuri
quoted from About.com

"Matsuri" is a noun, derived from a verb, "matsu" meaning "to wait" or "to invite" or in a wider sense "to be submissive". In such a feeling of worship and esteem something superhuman is waited and invited. It could be earth, water or the sun, empowered to grow plants. It might be a thunder, storm or earthquake for violent actions to be displayed beyond human control. In plains, mountains, rivers and seas there are "kami" or guardian deities to be feared in worship. The moon and stars in heaven would also be objectsof worship. More characteristically in Shintoism in Japan, spirits of the deceased are worshiped to seek lesson and requests from ancestors, which are to regulate one's conducts and to be handed down to descendants. To express such worship and to gain understanding between the worshiped and the worshiper "matsuri" are performed.

There are certain prerequisited to a "matsuri" as originally observed. The worshiped would request a pure and clean place to be invited to and a proper sign to indicate its location. It must be in darkness for the worshiped to sit on the prepared seat of "matsuri". The worshiper on the other hand should have such a pure and clean site of "matsuri" prepared and fresh food ready to be offered to the worshiped. For presiding a "matsuri" the worshiper must condition himself be observing a taboo, purifying himself by bathing in water and concentrate himself in spirit. Such preparation for a "matsuri" takes longer in time, as the "spiritual rank" of the worshiped is higher. Those high in ranking are called "kami" or deity goods.

The worshiper in a "matsuri" is required to be a descendant of the worshiped, and when not related in blood, a spiritual line is assumed. The concept of spiritual relations was adopted in later years in the system of "ujigami" parish, in which people in a region were made proteges of the shrine governing the locality. The head of a tribe or family would preside the "matsuri" and a "miko" maiden would act as a medium to hear words of the "kami" in presence.

The original purpose of a "matsuri" to learn what a "kami" had to tell was gradually changed to the one-way request to the worshiped made through "prayers". The selection of persons for regular perfromance of "matsuri" came into existence, though there are still some localities where the "matsuri" is presided by those chosen in rotation from among local villagers.

The annual schedule of "matsuris" seems to have been set early in the history of Japan. At the beginning of a year "matsuris" are are observed to pray for and celebrate in advance over a good harvest. In spring the start of an agricultural season is reported to "kami" in "matsuri". The summer "matsuri" is a prayer for stamping out noxious insects and the autumnal "matsuri" is designed to be a thanks-giving affair.

More and more non-scheduled, extraordinary "matsuris" came to be observed, as the ages advanced, upsetting their old established procedures, for they could not be prepared for, as in case of the regular "matsuris". One important consequence of such irregular "matsuris" was the alleviation of taboos.

The first step in a "matsuri" is the arrival of the "kami" which is usually seen at night. Then the offering of food and wine is made to the seat of the "kami". The offering would include staple grains, fish and vegetables, cooked and prepared as though to threat guests at home. After the service the food is shared by all in a tradition, handed down from the days of the mixed dinner party of gods and men.

During the course of a "matsuri" a dance may be performed as a means of spititual concentration for the worshiper. The prayer to the worshiped is a practice seen in the loss of power or techniques to receive words from "kami". As suggested by the sharing of the offering after the "matsuri" is to place the worshipers as close in spiritual ranking with the worshiped as possible.

Another cause for "matsuri" to be observed apart from the mass of people is found in the procession of "kami" to the place of "matsuri", which became more elaborate. it was easier for masses to enjoy as onlookers than to go through the taboo requirements for suffering.

Matsuri Today
Having lost the religious significance, "matsuri" today are enjoyed by participants and onlookers more for what used to be only additive to their essential meaning. some of them provide shrine proteges with opportunities for recreation and amusement and some others demonstrate scenes of interest in the name of tradition.

It is intended now to describe some of the things you may, as onlookers, come to see in "matsuris". The foregoing information of the historical backgrounds of "matsuri" festival in Japan is hoped to be for your better appreciation of "matsuri" scenes.

.. .. .. Mikoshi

In the "matsuri" of a shrine the "kami" is moved to the place of service on a "mikoshi" palanquin, which is usually described as a miniature shrine or portable shrine in English. A "mikoshi" should not be taken for a shrine beyond the sense that there is a "kami" inside in a "matsuri" procession. It had better be called a sacred palanquin to be more closely identified.

A "mikoshi" consists of a roof, body and stand. It may be lacquered in black with many metal decorations on the surface and square, hexagonal or octagonal in shape. The possible origin of "mikoshi" is said to be found in the Nara Period, when the "kami" of the Hachiman Shrine in Usa was invited on a purple palanquin to Nara for the constructin of the "Daibutsu" Great Statue of Budda.

A "mikoshi" on its way the place of "matsuri" service is carried by young men who are not supposed to provide the "kami" with a smooth, fast ride. Instead they make it in a zigzag, swaying in all directions and pushing the "mikoshi" up and down, often very violently to amuse the "kami". The movement of a "mikoshi" is considered to be directed by the will of the "kami" beyond the control of those shouldering it.

Without a "mikoshi" a "matsuri" lacks proper atomospheres. Though a "mikoshi" is only a means of transportation for the "kami" to the place of service and non-essentioal an element in the "matsuri" from the religious point of view, it has been made to bring a highlight to the festive occasion. The only religious excuse for making the "mikoshi" more elaborate in style in more gorgeous a procession is to please and amuse the "kami".

In some "matsuri" festivals, "mikoshi" of several shrines are brought together. In some others the "mikoshi" is carried into a river or sea for the "mikoshi washing". Still in other "matsuris", "mikoshis" are brought into contests of one kind or another, often causing blood to shed. A "mikoshi" in procession is sometimes seen running into homes. Such accidents are regarded as lucky omens by some and worried about by others as penalties for the lack of faith.

.. .. .. Dashi

In the original meaning a "dashi" is a landing mark for the "kami". What is called a "dashi" today is a colorfully decorated festive float which is equipped with a "dashi" for the "kami" to land. Festive floats are found in two types; "hoko" on wheels to be pulled and "yama" to be carried on the shoulders, as well and gorgeously displayed in the Gion Matsuri of Kyoto. In other words a "dashi" is combined with a "hoko" or "yama" to make up a moving seat of "kami".

The annual "matsuri" is indeed a highlight in community life in Japan. Particularly in summer, when more "matsuris" are observed that other seasons of the year, people are out fully to enjoy fold dances and other amusement programs in addition to carrying the "mikoshi" and "dashi".

There are many strange and queer "matsuri" in the country. Young men would brave the freezing winter weather in shorts in a hustling contest for good luck charms at various shrines. In some others, participants speak against each other in all insulting words to decide a lucky winner. Still other are held in darkness and silence for a solemn religious session, often to end in an undesirable state of manners. There are many others, reflecting local colors and traditions.

© http://gojapan.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http%3A%2F%2Fmothra.rerf.or.jp%2FENG%2FHiroshima%2FFestivals%2F24.html




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matsurigoto 政

The importance of a matsuri, a festival for the appeasement of the deities, can also be seen in the word matsurigoto, a word that originated in the performance of religious festivals by the emperor or regent and soon became identical with "governing" in general.

- quote
The rule of the state was referred to as matsurigoto, a word very close to that for religious ritual - matsuri - that was used to refer to both government and worship. The Emperor and the court had very clear religious obligations, ceremonies that had to be carried out meticulously to make sure that the kami looked after Japan and its people.

These ceremonies (which soon included as many Buddhist and Confucian elements as they did Shinto) became part of the administrative calendar of the Japanese government. This court liturgical calendar continued to play a major part in Japanese government until virtually the present day.
. . . bbc.co.uk/religion/

- quote
The word matsurigoto is an ancient word used to refer both to government and worship, reflecting the attitude that humans should follow the will of the gods in political life. This idea is expressed in the term saisei itchi, meaning "unity of worship and rule."
Saishi is the Sino-Japanese word for matsuri, while saigi means the ceremonies held during matsuri, and saiten encompasses the entire matsuri, both the ceremonies and the community celebration.
- source : kokugakuin.ac.jp




- Festival (matsuri) - in itself is a kigo for all summer.
matsuri 祭, natsu matsuri 夏祭り


. Festival Floats - mikoshi, yatai, danjiri, hikiyama, hoko .


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Regional Festivals - From Hokkaido to Okinawa

. Regional Festivals - LIST .


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Some Links - gojapan.about.com

Japanese Festivals: January - April
Japanese Festivals: May - August
Japanese Festivals: September - December

Japanese Fall Festivals

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More about - Japanese Festivals -


Girei Bunka Gakkai 儀礼文化学会
Society for Ritual Culture
source : http://www.girei.jp/index.htm



Regional Cultural Assets Portal - Bunka Shisan
Japan Foundation for Regional Art-Activities

A LONG list of 358 festivals with many details

source : bunkashisan.ne.jp/search
There is also a Japanese side.




Many photos about festivals
http://blog.zaq.ne.jp/mama115mama/


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External LINKS

1月お祭り予定表 to 12月お祭り予定表
festival list from January to December
source : www.maekawa.co.jp




Nihon no matsuri 日本の祭り - with Yoshimura Sakuji 吉村作治 !
- source : dydo-matsuri.com/blog/yoshimura

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Festival Listing - January
- source : Japan Times 2014 -



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Buddhist Ceremonies and Events, a topical Saijiki

.. .. .. From the World Kigo Discussion Forum

Some events in January in Japan

September Festivals as Kigo

Festivals of October around Tokyo

Japanese Festivals, Autumn

Japanese Festivals With many links



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1/17/2007

BACKUP . Food and Festivals

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Temple and Shrine Festivals and Food




BACKUP November 2010




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Some Japanese temples and shrines have special festivals, where food is in the center.
The ones listed here are all kigo for haiku, since they are performed on special occasions during the year.

This LIST is part of Ceremonies and Festivals of Japan
SAIJIKI


A temple is a place for Buddhist worship.
Temple, Buddhist Temple (tera, -ji) Japan

A shrine is a place for Shinto worship.
Shrine, Shinto Shrine (jinja, miya, guu) Japan

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Cooking soup with big radishes
usually in a temple
kigo for mid-winter


Daikodaki (daikotaki) 大根焚 Cooking large radishes
Temple Sansen-In, Kyoto, Feb. 10 - 13
三千院の初午大根焚き, 年2月10日~13日
..... Daikon, Radish


Joodoo-E Ceremony 成道会 Daikodaki 大根焚
cooking radish soup, Jodoe

At Temple Senbon Shakado, Daihoo-Onji 大報恩寺 Kyoto
CLICK for more photos
5000 radishes are cooked and served in 10.000 portions for two days to the parishers to celebrate the death day of Buddha on December 8, when Shakyamuni Buddha reached the final nirvana.
A bowl of soup costs 1000 Yen.


Since the Kamakura period, monks write special sanskrit letters on the radishes to ward off evil.
On December 8. A ceremony "to bring winter to Kyoto".
「 千本釈迦堂・大根焚きと応仁の乱の痕跡を求めて 」
千本釈迦堂京都市
CLICK here for PHOTOS


demons in distress ...
a bowl of steaming soup
brings good luck

Gabi Greve, December 8, 2008
It was a very cold morning this year in Kyoto and the steam curling out of these many little bowls rising in the air could well frighten away anyone with a bad conscience.



念仏や兵戈無用の成道会
nenbutsu ya heika muyoo no joodoo e

praying to Amida Buddha !
on the day of nirwana
we need no weapons


Haiku by : Uuu 烏有(ウユウ)


Daikotaki at temple Sanpo-Ji, Nichiren-sect
三寳寺 (さんぽうじ)Kyoto


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Benten, Benzaiten 弁天 / 弁財天 and food

Botamochi Jizo ぼた餅地蔵 Jizo Bosatsu, Botamochi rice cakes

Chinowagayu, chinowa-gayu 茅の輪粥 rice porridge
chi no wa kayu, served on the last day of the sixth month.

Godairiki Mochi at Temple Daigoji 五大力餅 Kyoto


Nikkoo Goohan-Shiki 日光強飯式Gohanshiki.
Ceremony of eating large bowls of rice

Gesai no on kayu 解斎の御粥 End of mourning rice gruel

Hassaku no iwai 八朔の祝 Hassaku Harvest Festival.
hassaku gama 八朔釜. Rice Gruel, O-bana no kayu 尾花の粥

Botamochi Rice Cakes (Botamochi) "Ricecakes in difficult times" Gonan no mochi 御難の餅 (ごなんのもち)

Honen Matsuri (Hoonen Matsuri 豊年祭) and "sex" food


Kayu 粥 Rice Gruel and related ceremonies during the year
for example
gruel at the tenth night, juuya gayu 十夜粥(じゅうやがゆ)
"Gruel for Priest Chi-E", Chie gayu 智慧粥
offering gruel to the poor, kayu segyoo 粥施行(かゆせぎょう)


Azukigayu 小豆粥 (あずきがゆ) Rice gruel with small soybeans *..... rice gruel on the 15th, juugonichi gayu 十五日粥(じゅうごにちがゆ)
and a few more kigo with rice gruel:mochi put in rice gruel, kayu bashira 粥柱 (かゆばしら)"rice gruel stick" kayuzue 粥杖 (かゆづえ)kayu no ki 粥の木(かゆのき)..... kayugi 粥木(かゆき)fukuzue 福杖(ふくづえ)..... iwai boo、祝棒(いわいぼう)divination with rice gruel, kayu ura 粥占 (かゆうら)

Hagatame はがため Teeth strengthening Ceremony (hagatame) ..... rice cakes for strengthening the teeth


Hochoshiki, hoochooshiki 包丁式 Kitchen Knife Ceremony
God of Cooking, Iwakamutsukari no Mikoto and Knife Rituals.
磐鹿六雁命。April 18

Hooroku Jizo ほうろく地蔵 with an earthen pot on his head and Mibu Kyogen 壬生狂言

Juuhachi Gayu 十八粥 Rice Gruel

Kayutsuri 粥釣, 粥つり かゆつり "Fishing for rice gruel"


Kenpai Shiki 献盃式 Ceremony of drinking Rice wine (sake) sake in memory of Shinran Shoonin
Toso 屠蘇, ritual rice wine


kiganmai 祈願米 "consecrated rice" kigan mai
eingesegneter Reis und andere Speisen

Kyuuri fuuji きゅうり封じ / 胡瓜封じ cucumber service


Mamori, omamori, o-mamori お守り Talismans, amuletts and food


mayudama 繭玉 (まゆだま) "cocoon balls"
Mochi or dango for the New Year celebrations of the Silk protecting deities


Mitarashi dango dumplings and Shimogamo Shrine Kyoto.
御手洗団子(みたらしだんご) 下賀茂神社


. sen dango matsuri 千団子祭(せんだんごまつり)festival of the one thousand dango dumpings
at temple Mii-dera
and other kigo/ceremonies with DANGO dumplings


Shirumori Jinja 汁守神社 Shrine Shirumori, the protector of soups
Ukemochi no Mikoto 保食命. and
Meshimori jinja 飯守神社 Protector shrine of cooked rice


Shishigatani Kabocha Kuyoo 鹿ヶ谷かぼちゃ供養 Pumpkin memorial service, at Temple Anraku-Ji in Kyoto



Yakimochi Fudoo Son 焼き餅不動尊in Gunma


Zenbonzuki 千本搗 Ceremony of preparing 1000 rice cakes.....
at the temple Mizumadera (大阪府貝塚市水間寺)
In honour of the Venerable Gyooki


Zuiki matsuri ずいきまつり(芋茎祭) Vegetable Decoration Festival
Kitano Tenmangu, Kyoto in October



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Buzen Kagura, at the Shrine Kibune Jinja
貴船神社, 豊前神楽


Iwado Kagura of Buzen, 岩戸神楽 Kyushu
kifune shrine
During the autumn performance of four months every day at the Kibune Shrine, dances are performen on the request of the people.

One dance is BON 盆神楽, the tray.
A priest/dancer/acrobat takes two flat plates filled with rice grains of this harvest and dances around, suddenly lifting the two plates vertically in front of his face and turning so fast that not one grain of rice is spilled on the ground! Turns to the left, to the right ... many times up and down with the rice plates. Even both plates balanced in one hand, lifting it up too and spins round like crazy not to loose one grain.


Three Gods Dance 三神神楽
This dance involves daifuku mochi, rice cakes filled with sweet bean paste anko.
The God of the Mountains is asked by the God of the Sea and the God of the Village (sato no kami 里の神) to share this food with all, so he breaks the bun into many small parts, gives a bite to an onlooker and smears the bean paste on his/her cheek for good luck in the coming season (fuku o tsukeru).

In another dance 立神楽  not related to food, the performer climbs up a bamboo pole of 10 meters, picks up some prayer flags from there and comes down sliding on a rope, performing acrobatic tricks on the way down.


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Things found on the way



my Library

宗教や神話の影響を受けた食文化
and
Basics about Japanese Food


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HAIKU




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Related words

***** Ceremonies and Festivals of Japan
SAIJIKI


***** WKD : Regional Dishes / WASHOKU

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Gods, deities (kami to hotoke)

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The Deities of Japan and Haiku

The discussion started with a translation of

kami no kao ... literally: the face of God

猶みたし 花に明行 神の顔
なほ見たし花に明けゆく神の顔
nao mitashi hana ni ake yuku kami no kao

How I long to see
among dawn flowers,
the face of God.

Matsuo Basho
Tr. Lucien Stryk

Hitokotonushi 一言主 , the God of One Word



Shinto deities and hokku by
. Matsuo Basho 松尾芭蕉 - Archives of the WKD .


. shinbutsu 神仏 kami to hotoke .
shinbutsu shūgō 神仏習合 syncretism - shinbutsu bunri 神仏分離 separation


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すゝしさや神と佛の隣同士
suzushisa ya kami to hotoke no tonaridooshi

this coolness !
Gods and Buddhas
side by side



御佛に尻むけ居れば月涼し
mihotoke ni shirimuke oreba tsuki suzushi

to the honorable Buddha statue
I turn my backside and there is
the coolness of the moon


. Masaoka Shiki 正岡子規 .
Tr. Gabi Greve





In Japan, a variety of deities are known, usually peacefully side by side, starting with ancient animistic believes of "Gods of Mountains, Waterfalls, Rocks" and so on, leading to the concept of KAMI in Shintoism and later the influence of Buddhism with its manyfold HOTOKE.

Christianity came with the Portugese Missionaries, so we have
Deus sama デウスさま
Jesus, Iesu sama イエスさま
(the pronounciacion GODDO ゴッド is seldom used when talking about God.)

God of Christianity キリスト教の神
Lord of Heaven, ten nushi 天主
Father, Son and Holy Ghost
父(なる神)と子(なるキリスト)と聖霊;三位一体(the Trinity)

GOD in the dictionary

Was God the real creator?
Peter Conrad



To distinguish the Christian God, with a capital letter, from the other gods of other religions, we can use the capital G ! In German, we can distinguish between Gott and Gottheiten, deities.

But in the haiku above, would the last line be poetically translated as:
the face of the deity ??
Yet, just reading "face of God", would not a good Christian imagine the old man with a beard? This is a problem of translations, having been disucssed ... HERE ! ...


To complicate matters, many Buddhist deities have their Japanese counterpart, or vice versa.

Even now, many traditional homes have a special shelf for the kami (kamidana 神棚) and an alcove for Buddhist souls of the ancestors (butsudan 仏壇).
Weddings often take place at a Christian church, although the participants are not Christian believers at all, but they love the ceremony that goes with it.


Hotoke 仏,佛 does not only refer to a Buddhist deity, but also to the dead body of a person.
Dead body, deceased person, corpse (hotoke) Japan Death Poems, Death Haiku


This whole Saijiki is devoted to the many ceremonies and festivals around these various deities.

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Shintoism

Amaterasu Oomikami (Omikami) 天照大神
and her Buddhist counterpart
Dainichi Nyorai 大日如来 The Great Sun, Center of the Universe

Bimbogami, Binboo Gami 貧乏神 God of Poverty


For the rice planting society of old, these two where most important:

God of Water, Mizu no Kamisama 水の神様, Suijin-sama 水神様

Deities of the Fields and Mountains. Ta no Kami 田の神, Yama no Kami 山の神

Waterfalls and Fudo Myo-o 不動滝 worshipped as the deity himself, a Buddhist Deity in an animistic setting, Fudo Myo-O is a borderline case, where the mountain asceticism has developed its own view of the divine.

Omodaru, Ayakashikone and Dairoku Tenma O 第六天魔王


Haniyasu 波邇夜須毘古神, the God of the Feces
Haniyasu and his female counterpart were produced from Izanami's feces.


God of the Great Water (Omizunu) 淤美豆奴命


The place of worship is called
Shrine, Shinto Shrine (jinja, miya, guu) Japan


In haiku, we even have to note a months where
the Gods are absent (kami no rusu).

The Road to Izumo, where the Deities meet.


Festivals for the Japanese Gods (matsuri)

Ritual Dances for the Japanese Gods, Kagura Dance 神楽


Introducing Shinto Deities
Mark Schumacher


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Buddhism




getting older -
even the gods
need glasses



In the Buddhist pantheon, we distinguish between four great groups of deities:

Nyorai GroupTathagatas: Enlightened Beings

Bosatsu Group Bodhisattvas: The Compassionate Ones

Myo-o GroupWisdom Kings

Tenbu GroupDevas: Celestial Beings


Read more about ..... Japanese Buddhist Deities
Mark Schumacher


Mark as a great photo dictionary on these deities, so check it out.


I have referred to a few here on my own pages of Japanese deities, so please look at my index HERE !


Daibutsu and Hotoke ...
Big Buddha Statues and Stone Buddhas in Haiku



Through the many haiku of Issa, most of you will know

Amida Buddha 阿弥陀如来 Amitabha and the

Amida Prayer (Namu Amida Butsu 南無阿弥陀仏)


Enma Ten, Enma Oo (Emma): The King of Hell閻魔天、閻魔王 has also been the subject of haiku.

Fudo Myo-O, The Wisdom King Acala 不動明王

HOTEI and the seven gods of good luck 布袋と七福神

Jizo Bosatsu 地蔵菩薩
Discussion about the translation as "Saint Jizo" in the haiku of Issa.


The place of worship is called
Temple, Buddhist Temple (tera, -ji) Japan


Temple Eihei-Ji and Cold Zen 永平寺

Temple Mokubo-Ji (Umewaka Ki)


Introducing More Japanese Temples

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Japan's Shinto-Buddhist religious medley
Read an essay by ERIC PRIDEAUX


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Taoism

Queen Mother of the West, seibo 西靈王母, 西王母
She resides in a grove with peaches which blossom only every thousand years. If you eat one, you will get eternal life.
Click HERE for some photos !



Tobosaku, the peach thief Tooboosaku
とうぼうさく 東方朔

He stole three peaches ! He is depicted as an old man, holding a peach in his hands. And he smiles in eternal life.
Click HERE for some photos !



Chokaro with the magic pumpkin, Chookaroo
ちょうかろう 張果老
When he belwe on his pumpkin, a horse came out to transport him to any place. He is always depicted with his pumpkin and the horse lurking out of it.
Click HERE for some photos !



The Holy Mountain Hermits, Sennin 仙人
Immortals who live in the mountains, ride the clouds and drink the dew. There are more than 500 known. There are also some female mountain hermits.

Hermits, Sennin 仙人
..... Three Hermits: plum, chrysanthemum and narcissus

Click HERE for some photos !


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EXTERNAL LINKS

The arrangement of contents in the online Encyclopedia of Shinto (EOS) follows the general topical organization of the original Shintō jiten.
Extensive SEARCH function.
Research on Shinto and Japanese Culture.
Kokugakuin University



"Yaoyorozu no kami (八百万の神, eight-million deities)—in Japanese the number "eight-million" is often used to imply infinity.
Wikipedia

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Quote

Written by Jane Hirshfield in an essay, "The Myriad Leaves of Words," from her book, "Nine Gates: Entering the Mind of Poetry" (Paperback, HarperPerennial, 1998):

"It is impossible to understand Japanese poetry without knowing something of the Buddhist and Shinto culture from which it springs.

Shinto's ethos of omnipresent, indwelling spirits underlies every natural image. The 'kami', or gods, of Shinto belief inhabit not only the mountain passes of the actual countryside but also those of the poems-- each bent pine tree, seaweed-filled bay, even wind, is charged with an abiding and informing presence of its own.

Japan's earliest literary works, mythological accounts of the country's origins that link the imperial family to the age of the gods, are almost purely Shinto in feeling. But by the eighth century, Japanese poetry had become soaked through with a deeply Buddhist sensibility as well."
Commented by Larry Bole

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God Hachiman 八幡

"Hirai is a Shinto priest who studied the history of religions at Chicago with Joachim Wach. One day he took us to see a famous temple at Ise. Someone in our group, an American philosopher, told him: I see the temples, I attend the ceremonials, the dances, I admire the costumes and the courtesy of the priests -- but I don't see any theology implied by Shintoism.

Hirai reflected a second and answered:
"We have no theology. We dance."

-- Mircea Eliade

Hachiman Cult in Japan
Ross Bender


. WKD : Hachiman Shrines and their festivals .

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HAIKU


涼しさや門も夜さりは仏在世
suzushisa ya kado no yosari wa butsu zaise

cool evening--
at my gate the age
of Buddha returns


Kobayashi Issa

Yosari is an old word that denotes evening time; Kogo dai jiten (Shogakukan 1983) 1707.
Butsu zaise refers to the period in which the historical Buddha was living on the earth. Issa feels as though this evening of perfect cool air has returned him to that ideal time. I rearranged the elements of the haiku somewhat in my translation. Following Issa more literally, we have:
"cool air--/ at the gate, too, an evening/ of Buddha in the world."

David Lanoue

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神々と 逢える冬の 散歩道
kamigami to aeru fuyu no sanpomichi

winter walk -
the gods of Japan
at my side

© Gabi Greve, February 2006 Look at more here !


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© by Geert Verbeke, October 2007


*****************************
Reference

***** WKD Library: Buddhism and Shinto in Japan
Michael Hoffman, March 2010


***** Kojiki in Pictures - Shinto Manga 古事記 の漫画


***** Ceremonies and Festivals of Japan

***** . Amulets and Talismans from Japan . 



. Introducing Japanese Deities

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. Japan - Shrines and Temples .


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1/16/2007

National Holidays Japan

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National Holidays of Japan


Jan.1 New Year's Day - shoogatsu
Jan.14 Coming-of-Age Day - seijin no hi

Feb. 3 Beginning of Spring - setsubun
Feb.11 National Foundation Day - kenkoku kinenbi

Mar.20 Vernal Equinox Day, Spring equinox - shunbun no hi

Apr.29 Showa Day (former Greenery Day)

May.3 Constitution Day - kenpo kinenbi
May.4 Green Day (Greenery Day) - midori no hi
May.5 Children's Day - kodomo no hi

Jul.21 Marine Day - umi no hi

August 13 - 15 - O-Bon

Sept.15 Respected-for-the-Aged Day - keiro no hi
Sept.23 Autumnal Equinox Day - shubun no hi

Oct.10 / 13 Health Sports Day - taiiku no hi

Nov.3 Culture Day - bunka no hi
Nov. 15 Seven-Five-Trhee - shichi go san
Nov.23 Labor Thanksgiving Day - kinro kansha no hi

Dec.23 Emperor's Birthday - tenno no tanjobi

Dec. 31 New Year's Eve - omisoka





source : web.mit.edu



. WKD Kigo Calendar - the 12 Months .
Here you find them with their hyperlinks to the details.



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Jewish Holidays

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Jewish Holidays

***** Location: Worldwide in Jewish Communities
***** Season: See below
***** Category: Observance


*****************************
Explanation

http://www.ou.org/holidays

Rosh HaShanah
1-2 Tishrei
Yom HaShoah
27 Nisan


Tzom Gedaliah
3 Tishrei
Rosh Chodesh Iyar


Yom Kippur
10 Tishrei
Chodesh Iyar


Sukkot
15-20 Tishrei
Yom Hazikaron
4 Iyar


Hosha'anah Rabah
21 Tishrei
Yom HaAtzmaut
5 Iyar


Shmini Atzeret
22 Tishrei
Lag BaOmer
18 Iyar


Simchat Torah
23 Tishrei (In Israel: 22 Tishrei)
Yom Yerushalayim
28 Iyar


Hanukkah - Chanukah -
Festival of Lights and Feast of Dedication
25 Kislev - 3 Tevet
Rosh Chodesh Sivan



Rosh Chodesh Tevet
The Month of Sivan


Asarah B'Tevet
10 Tevet
Shavuot
6-7 Sivan (In Israel: 6 Sivan)


Tu B'Shevat
15 Shevat
The Month of Tammuz


Fast of Esther
13 Adar
Fast of Shiva Asar B'Tammuz
17 Tammuz


Purim
14 Adar
The Three Weeks
17 Tammuz - 9 Av


Shushan Purim
15 Adar
The Month of Av


Rosh Chodesh Nisan
Fast of Tisha B'Av
9 Av


Chodesh Nisan, The Month of Nisan
Tu B'Av
15 Av


Passover
15-22 Nisan (Israel: 15-21 Nisan)
Rosh Chodesh Elul


From Ruin to Renewal
Elul


Sefirat HaOmer
16 Nisan - 5 Sivan

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Passover, or Pesach (from: פֶּסַח in Hebrew, Yiddish),
Tiberian: [pɛsaħ] , Modern Hebrew: /ˈpesaχ/ Pesah, Pesakh, Yiddish: Peysekh, Paysakh, Paysokh) is an important Biblically-derived Jewish festival. It is the first of Judaism's Three Pilgrimage Festivals (שלוש רגלים), the other two being Shavuot ("Pentecost") and Sukkot ("Tabernacles").



The Jewish people celebrate Passover as a commemoration of their liberation over 3,300 years ago by God from slavery in ancient Egypt that was ruled by the Pharaohs, and their birth as a nation under the leadership of Moses. It commemorates the story of the Exodus as described in the Hebrew Bible especially in the Book of Exodus, in which the Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt.
© More in the WIKIPEDIA !


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Worldwide use


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Things found on the way



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HAIKU



Hannukah menorah-
grandpa recites three blessings
on the first night


Angelee Deodhar
India, 2013

Hanukkah in the WIKIPEDIA !

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Passover moon
over Jerusalem Old City -
church bells!


- Shared by Freddy Ben-Arroyo -
Haiku Culture Magazine, 2013



light between
heaven and earth...
paschal moon


- Shared by Pat Geyer -
Haiku Culture Magazine, 2013

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little boy picks a fight
over his toddler brother --
Passover!


- Shared by Brinda Buljore -
Haiku Culture Magazine, 2013



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Related words


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1/15/2007

Kari Grohn Photo Tour

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Kari Visited Japan

source : Kari Grohn, Finnland


Kari Gröhn, a Finn, visited Japan years ago.

The following places are covered:
(In no particular order, this is just a memor for my BLOG, Gabi)

Ryoanji

Bakabayashi Shishimai, Ikebukuro
Bugaku, Ise Jingu Ohara Shosuke-san
Eiheiji Zen Temple Kintaikyo Bridge Iwakuni
Mt. Fuji Shitenno
Usshaibo Okotsubutsu
Isshinji Osaka
Hagi-yaki
Yamaguchi Amanojaku and Kobo Daishi at Hashikui-iwa
Omihachiman Fire Festival
Hirosaki Kikusui Matsuri Sakata Matsuri
Kamimai
Nukihoshiki Sakamoto Nenbutsu Odori Tokyo Jidai Matsuri
Ama
Kashikojima, Mie
Sacred Deer of Nara
Shirakawago Shishimai
Soga no Kasayaki Matsuri
Mugiyabushi
Shirakawago
Uwatsuhiko Jinja Akimatsuri
Saijo Matsuri
Hozoin-ryu Sojutsu
Izawanomiya Otauesai
Omishima Otauesai Niihama Taiko Matsuri Takibiraki Mt Takao
Nada Kenka Matsuri Yudate Shinji Saigusa Matsuri Izumo Taisha Reisai
Kamakura Daibutsu Menkake Gyoretsu Kusajishi Yabusame
Hasutori Gyoji
Kaerutobi Gyoji Tagawa Kawawatari Ohara Hadaka-
matsuri Ueno
Tenjin-matsuri
Yasuraisai Hoyoketaisai Sannosai Nikko
Nukihosai Toji Saga
Nenbutsu Kyogen Baikasai
Yasaka Shrine Reisai
Oni Mifune-matsuri Hikone-matsuri

Yokote Kamakura-matsuri Nanokado
Hadakamairi Shotokutaishi
Ohitakisai Ushi-matsuri
Namahage Daruma Otsu-matsuri Otsunahiki
Matsumoto Castle Hotakadake Uesugi Yukidoro-matsuri Inukko-matsuri
Ogimachi-Shirakawago
Ainokura-
Gokayama
Kaminashi-Gokayama Hida-
minzokumura
Kushimatsuri
Shichigosan
Oiran Dochu
Nihon Ningyo
Tokyo Jidai Matsuri
Kanikakunisai
Shirasagi no Mai
Shirabyoshi no Mai

Taikoh-hanamigyoretsu Momijimatsuri Hiwatari
Kinryu no Mai
Takekiri-eshiki Gokonomiya
Kamo-mitoshiro-noh Ohitaki

Himukai Reisai
Kemari
Sumo
Ningyo Kuyo
Shiretoko
Rishiri
Hakodate
Okumakabuto-
matsuri

Tanada
Hakkoda
Jodogahama
Hiraizumi
Hoshasai
Fushimiinari
Hoshasai
Atsuta Jingu
Maibara Boys' Kabuki
Kurama Himatsuri

Tamaseseri
Doyadoya
Seijinshiki
Osunafumi
Kanjiro Kawai
Tojinbo & Oshima
Gichuji & Rakushisha
Mochitsuki

Sado
Mibu Kyogen
Toyama Chindon
Miyajima Bugaku
Ise Daikagura
Shirone Otako
Gassen
Awa Odori
Oki Rengemai

Hinoemata Kabuki
Sakanbe & Niino
Moriyama Himatsuri
Toka Ebisu
Jidai Matsuri
Nagahama Boy's Kabuki
Yukata Matsuri
Takachiho Yokagura

Kuromori Kabuki
Mibu no Hanataue
Chagu Chagu Umakko
Nijugo-bosatsu



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Related words

. Festivals - INFORMATION

***** . WKD : Main Index  


BACK : Top of this Saijiki

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Naked Festivals Japan

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Naked Festivals (hadaka matsuri 裸祭り)

***** Location: Japan
***** Season: Various, see below
***** Category: Observance


*****************************
Explanation

Naked Festival, Naked Man Festival, Naked Men Festival ...
they come in many variations here in Japan.
Fertility was (and still is) the most important aspect of human life, and the many festivals relating the the phallus and fertility symbols are just one expression of its importance.

. Fertility - the Emperor plants rice .


Some festivals are also listed among the "fire festivals" (hi matsuri), see LINK below.
Others are a kind of "tug of war" ( tsunabiki 大綱引き) of long ropes or "mud throwing and mud wrestling".

quote
For most of us, a chilly January morning conjures up images of snuggling under blankets in flannel pajamas, sipping hot chocolate by a cozy fire, or schussing down the slopes in snug Gore-Tex jumpsuits and puffy goose-down parkas. But for a large number of questionably sane individuals in Japan, it seems that getting naked in public with a few hundred of their closest friends is the only way to spend the day.

Read more here:
© Getting Naked...In Japan...In January
by Celeste Heiter

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CLICK for more ENGLISH links CLICK for more PHOTOS !


Naked festivals (hadaka matsuri 裸祭り)
are quite popular and have a long tradition in Japan.
Most of them are kigo for spring or the new year season.

For a sample of more photos from these festivals :
CLICK HERE !!!



amazon.com: Naked Festival: A Photo-Essay
by Tamotsu Yato (Author)
Yukio Mishima (Introduction)




The "naked" men wear different types of loincloths or straw skirts to cover them, some even start off completely naked.
Take a look !

PHOTOS : koshimino 腰蓑

PHOTOS : rokushaku 六尺

PHOTOS : sarashi ittan 晒一反(さらしいったん)

PHOTOS : shimekomi 締め込み

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Japans Sexual Gods:
Shrines, Roles and Rituals of Procreation and Protection

Stephen Turnbull



- quote June 2015 -
Japan's Sexual Gods is an exciting original work about the deities represented by phalluses and female sexual objects in Japanese shrines. Their roles in procreation and protection, their rituals and festivals are described in detail along with unique location photographs.
source : books.google.co.jp


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In alphabetical order of the Japanese place names or festivals.


Akabira Fire Festival, Akabira himatsuri
あかびら火まつり, 赤平火祭り

Akabira town 赤平市, Hokkaido
Third weekend in July
Photos



Aoshima Shrine Festival, Hadaka mairi
青島神社はだか参り

Miyazaki Town - Naked Shrine Visit
January 15
Takes place during the daytime on the beach, facing wave-shaped rocks called "Ogre's Washboard".
Local people and worshippers of the shrine dip into the sea to pray for safety and a good harvest in the coming year.
. Aoshima Jinja 青島神社 Aoshima Shrine .



Arai Shrine Naked Festival, Arai Jinja Hadaka Matsuri
荒井神社
January 7



Ariuji Shrine Naked Festival 有氏裸祭り
Ariuji Shrine 有氏(ありうじ)神社, Kamiizumi-mura, Kodama-gun, Saitama prefecture
November 19 有氏神社
Photos
In the late morning, ten men in loincloth throw "red festival rice" (sekihan) at the crowds that gather at the shrine's compound. From olden times, they say that those who bring this rice back home will be immune to all diseases.



Ashibetsu Summer Health Festival,
Ashibetsu Kenka Yamakasa 芦別健夏山笠
Hokkaido, Ashibetsu town 芦別市
Third weekend of July
Photos
Dance of 1000 people, "Yosakoi" dancing, and carrying of a huge float thruogh the town. Some large rice sacks represent the deities of the festival.

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Bandai Naked Festival, Bandai Gyooji 盤台行事
at shrine Ariuji Jinja 有氏神社. 児玉郡神川町下阿久原, Saitama prefecture
November 19
Photos


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Chichibu Sweet Ricewine Festival,
Amazake Matsuri
甘酒まつり

Chichibu Town 秩父市
July 25
Photos
sweet sake, sweet rice wine



Choshoji no Aragyoo 長勝寺の荒行
Religious austerities practiced by Buddhist monks at the temple Chosho-Ji
Kamakura, 鎌倉、長勝寺(ちょうしょうじ chooshoo ji)
February 11
CLICK for more photos About thirty young monks, wearing white loincloth, who have been training at another temple in the mountains of Kanagawa for the past four months, splash cold water over themselves at a special place for this ritual, the "water purification place, "Suigyo-jo 水行所 " . First they recite the sutras. This is a very important ceremony of the Nichiren sect.


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Donto Festival, Dontozai どんと祭 どんとさい
Osaki Hachiman Shrine, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture
January 14
Burning of the New Year's decorations with a prayer for good health in the coming year. Naked men walk around the town.
Photos

LOOK !
source : www.youtube.com

Donto fire festivals are held in all shrines of Miyagi on this day, but the one of Osaki Hachimangu Shrine is the biggest.
Thousands of residents wrap white hairbands and white cloths around them, hold rice paper inside their mouthes, and carry bells and lanterns, walking on the streets barely clothed. In 2005 (17th year of Heisei), the Donto Festival was appointed as an invaluable folk/ cultural asset of Sendai.
The brightly burning sacred flame as well as the courage of the scantily dressed participants both defeat the cold weather and give this ceremony a sacred air.
source : sendai-hirose.html

大崎八幡宮 Ōsaki Hachimangū
4 Chome-6-1 Hachiman, Aoba Ward, Sendai, Miyagi

- quote -
Osaki Hachiman :
Architecture, Materiality, and Samurai Power in Seventeenth-Century Japan
Author: Schweizer, Anton



Ôsaki Hachiman (1607), located in Sendai, Japan, is one of only a handful of surviving buildings from the Momoyama period (1568–1615). The shrine is a rare example of “lacquered architecture”—an architectural type characterized by a shiny, black coat made of refined tree sap and evocative of transitory splendor and cyclical renewal. The shrine’s sponsor, the warlord Date Masamune, was one of the last independent feudal lords of his time and remains famous for dispatching diplomatic missions to Mexico, Spain, and Rome. Although his ambitions to become a ruler of Northern Japan were frustrated, his shrine stands as a lasting testament to the political struggles he faced, his global aspirations, and the cultural cloak by which he sought to advance these objectives.
- source : www.artbooks.com -

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Donzuki Matsuri ... どんづき祭 "Body throwing festival"
Niigata, Japan, at the Shibata village shrine.



Doronko Matsuri, Mud Festival, muddy festival
どろんこまつり
Mimusubi Shrine, 皇産霊神社 (みむすび)Yotsukaido, Chiba Pref .
February 25
Photos !
Also called Warabi Hadaka Matsuri 「和良比はだか祭り」
With prayers for a good harvest and the good health of children.
In the afternoon, people smear mud on each others faces.



Dotsu Shrine Fire Festival, Dootsuuguu Kodomo Eyoo
道通宮子供会陽

Okita Shrine 沖田神社, Okayama Town, Okayama prefecture
Late in February
Photos
Children in red and white loincloth fight for the "sacred stick".



. Doyadoya festival どやどや祭り Doya Doya Matsuri .
Shitennoji Osaka 大阪 四天王寺
January 14


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Enoshima Tenno Sai 江ノ島天王祭
Enoshima, Kamakura, Kanagawa prefecture
Middle of July
Photos
Mikoshi are carried in the sea.
WKD Library: Article by Ikeuchi Tai
Tenno-Sai and Ritual Space



Esa Sea Gull Festival, Esa Kamome Matsuri
江差かもめ島まつり
Eas Town, Hokkaido 江差町、六尺
First Sunday in July
Photos


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. Shrine Fukagawa Shinmei-Gu 深川神明宮 .
Fukagawa Shinmei-Gu - Big Shrine Festival
深川神明宮 例大祭

Fukagawa, Tokyo
Middle of August
Photos
Takes place once in three years, next in 2009. One of the Big Festivals in Tokyo.
Also called "Fukagawa Hachiman Matsuri" .
Reference



Fukue Naked Festival, Fukue Hadaka Matsuri
Fukue Town 福江祭り ふくえまつり, Nagasaki prefecture
January 16



Fukuno Fire Fighting festival (福野火祭り)
Fukuno Town 福野町, Noto Peninsula
January 6
Men in loincloths hold long decorated bamboo poles into jets of water from fire hoses.



Furukawa Matsuri 古川祭(ふるかわまつり)
Kita-Wakamiya Grand Festival. Furukawa-cho, Yoshiki-gun, Gifu Pref.
April 19 and 29
A spring festival.
In the late evening of the 19th, a large drum (okoshidaiko) is carried through the town by barely dressed men, while eleven exquisitely decorated decorated festival floats, are displayed in the streets during daytime. Men in loincloth wrangle around the big drum.
. Furukawa no okoshi daiko
古川の起し太鼓 (ふるかわのおこしだいこ)
"wake-up drums from Furukawa"
 
飛騨古川起し太鼓 Hida Furukawa Okoshi Daiko
Hida Town 飛騨市


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. Hakata Gion Yamagasa Festival 博多祇園山笠 .
Hakata matsuri 博多祭(はかたまつり) Hakata festival

Hakata town, Fukuoka prefecture
July 15
The Hakata Gion Yamagasa festival is a religious ritual of Hakata's grand tutelary shrine, Kushida Shrine. It is concentrated on "Decoration Floats", Kazari Yamagasa, which are covered with beautiful Hakata dolls and set up in various places around the town. As opposed to the elegant and feminine Kazari Yamagasa, the masculine "Kaki Yamagasa" is carried around the city from the 10th. The climax of the festival is the Oiyama race that starts from early morning on the 15th.
Reference



Hamaori Festival, Hamaori sai 浜降り祭
"Down-to-the-beach festival"
Samukawa Shrine, Chigasaki, Kanagawa Pref.
July 20
Photos
40 portable shrines (mikoshi) are be carried by men dressed in loincloth into the sea at Nishi-hama,Chigasaki Beach. Afterwards at seven, a Shinto ceremony is conducted at the beach, while the carriers of the portable shrines shout "Dokkoi! Dokkoi!"
Since it starts at 5 in the morning, it is also called "Dawn Festival."



Hamatama Naked Festival 浜玉裸祭り
Hamatama village, 浜玉町 Saga prefecture
July 4


ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo

Hekokaki Festival へこかき祭り
Shrine 高良大社, Kurume Town, Saga prefecture
June 1 and 2
Hekokaki Hadaka Mairi へこかき裸参り, Kawatari sai 川渡祭
Photos
Photos from Wada San !
If yuo wear something red on the two days of the festival, it will bring good luck in the following year.
Men in red loincloth purify in water to honor the god of the shrine, the old name of it was "Shrine with a well of really delicious water" Umami Shimizu Mii Jinja 味水御井神社(うましみずみいじんじゃ).
HEKO means the red loincloth. In Kurume, the red loincloth is called "Akabeko".

Cold-water ablutions,
Competing endurance
to the cold.


かんごりや がまんづよさの きそいあい
kangori ya gaman zuyosa no kisoiai

Wada San, Photos, Festivals and Haiku


ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo



Hino no Hadaka Odori 日野の裸踊 Naked Dance in Hino



Hofu Tenmangu Half-Naked Festival, Hadakambo 裸坊祭
防府天満宮, Hofu Town, Yamaguchi prefecture
November 23
防府天満宮御神幸祭
Photos
In the evening, men in loincloth brave the cold and carry portable shrines (mikoshi) through the streets of the town to Tenmangu Shrine, dedicated to Sugawara Michizane, the demi-god of literature and scholarship.




Hokai-ji Kyoto
Naked Dance, Hadaka Odori 裸踊り
法界寺(京都市伏見区、越中)
January 14
In the evening, two groups of young men push and shove each other whilst chanting.




Horane Festival, Horane Matsuri 禿鯖 (ほらね祭り)
Bungo Takata town, Oita prefecture 豊後高田市
January 1
Photos !
also called
Wakamiya Hachiman Hadaka Matsuri
若宮八幡裸祭り



Horigome Naked Festival 堀米裸祭り
Shrine Tsushima Jinja 津島神社, Matsumoto Town, 松本市島立
Last day of July, first day of June
Photos
Young boys of the grammar school take part in this ritual in honor of the "Ox-headed Deity", Gozu Tenoo 牛頭天王. It is supposed to ward off disease in the coming year. The boys of the fifth and sixth grade shout "onyaasaa", the one's of the third and fourth grade carry flagpoles and the boys of the first and second grade shout "monyaasaa".


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Ichinobe Hadaka Matsuri 市辺裸まつり
Temple Hotokuji Yakushido, Shiga Pref.
January 8



Ichi no Miya Juunisha Hadaka Matsuri
十二社はだか祭り

Ichinomiya Village, 一之宮, Chiba prefecture
September 13
Photos




Itoigawa Naked Throwing, Hadaka Do-age
はだか胴上げ

糸魚川市. Fujisaki Kannon Hall 藤崎観音堂, Niigata prefecture
January 17
Photos
This goes back to the Edo period. Men of the year are thrown high into the temple hall. Onlookers shout "mekketaa!"



Iwakura Temple Ceremony Iwakura Eyo 岩倉寺会陽
Nishi Awakura Village, 西粟倉村 Okayama prefecture
Second Saturday in February
Young people fight for a ritual stick, shingi.
Photos of the Temple / Japanese reference


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Kagoshima Summer Festival, Kagoshim Natsu Matsuri
かごしま夏祭り, 鹿児島夏祭り

Kagoshim Town
Middle of July
Photos
Takes place near Shinto shrines called "June Lantern Festival" (rokugatsu doo 六月灯).
English Reference




Kanchu Suiyoku, midwinter bathing 寒中水浴
Teppozu Inari Shrine 鐵砲洲稲荷神社, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
January 12
Men wearing only loincloths pour purifying water over themselves.




Kanda Festival, Kanda Matsuri 神田祭
At Kanda Shrine, 神田神社 Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo
Middle of May
Reference
CLICK for more photos The big event is held every second year, next is 2009. 100 portable shrines gather for this festival and a procession of 300 people parades through the streets of Tokyo. One of the Big Festivals of Tokyo, retaining an atmosphere of Old Edo.





Kankosai, Festival of Welcoming the Gods 還幸祭
Saga Matsuri 嵯峨祭Shrine Nonomiya Jinja 野宮神社,
Atago Jinja 愛宕神社(京都市右京区) Atago shrine
Fourth Sunday in May
Photos
Reference
. The Atago shrines of Japan .



Katsuragake Shrine Naked Festival
葛懸神社 裸まつり
Shrine Katsuragake Jinja , Gifu prefecture
Second Saturday in December
Photos
A few hundred young men jump into the Nagara river to purify themselves. Three times, starting at three in the early morning, then at seven and at ten.
...................................................... also called:
Ike no Ue Cold Water Ablutions, Ikenoue Misogi Sai
池ノ上みそぎ祭

Photos
Ikenoue Purification Ceremony




Kikonai Cold Water Ablutions Ceremony,
Kikonai Kanchuu Misogi 寒中みそぎ祭り

Hokkaido 木古内町
January 13 till 15
. Samegawa (Samekawa) ablutions 佐女川神社 in Kikonai





Kinzanji Ceremony, Kinzanji Eyo 金山寺会陽
Temple Kinzanji, 岡山市金山 Okayama prefecture
First Saturday in February
"Naked Whirl", hadaka uzu 裸の渦
Photos
Young men in white loincloth fight for five lucky ritual sticks 副宝木.



 Kokuseki-Ji Naked Man Festival 黒石裸祭 Kuroishi Festival
Onigo Matsuri 鬼子祭り
February 11



Konomiya (Ko no Miya) Naked Festival国府宮はだか祭り
Shrine Konomiya, Inazawa Town, 稲沢市(国府宮町) Aichi prefecture
Inazawa Naked Festival 稲沢裸祭り

Inazawa Town 稲沢国府宮はだか祭り
Naoi no shinji 儺追の神事 (なおいのしんじ)
Naoi ritual for driving away evil
..... naoe matsuri 直会祭(なおえまつり) Naoe festival
..... naoi matsuri 儺追祭(なおいまつり) Naoi Festival
January 13




Kui Inari Shrine Hadaka Matsuri, O-Fuku Hiraki Sai
御福開祭はだか祭

Ceremony to open up your good luck !
Shrine Kui Inari Jinja, Mihara Town, 久井稲生神社, 三原市, Hiroshima prefecture
Third Saturday in February
Photos
Young men in loincloth fight for a ritual luck stick 御福木, sometimes more than one hour. Before the fight they jump into a river for purification and consume some sacred rice wine for extra strength.



Kurama Fire Festival, Kurama no hi matsuri
鞍馬の火祭

October 22



Kurihara Naked Barrel Shrine procession
Hadaka Taru Mikoshi 裸樽神輿, 樽みこし
栗原市
November 2 and 3
Photos
"Taru Mikoshi" is a portable shrine made of sake barrels. Many are carried by children.




Kyojoji Temple
and Shrine Hachimangu, Morioka, Iwate prefecture
Hadaka-mairi 裸参り, shrine visit paid by partly attired youths. They wear a straw skirt (koshi mino) around the hips. (koshimino 腰蓑 .. こしみの).
盛岡八幡宮(盛岡市
January 14, 15 and 26


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Mihama Naked Ceremony, Mihama Hadaka Matsuri
美浜 裸祭り, hadaka mairi
Mihama town, Aichi prefecture
December 31 toward January 1
美浜野間神社裸詣り. 上野間 Kaminoma Naked Festival
Photos
"Letting it all hang out in Mihama", they are really naked.
Young men who are turning twenty or 25 strip completely and run through town down to the beach; they plunge in the sea for purification before running back through the town, put on a loincloth and take part in the festival.




Mimasaka Hadaka Matsuri 美作裸祭り
Mimasaka Town, Okayama prefecture
Temple Anyo-Ji (Anyoo-Ji) 安養寺会陽
Second sunday in February



Mitsuke Tenjin Hadaka Matsuri
見付天神裸祭(みつけてんじんはだかまつり)

Mitsuke Tenjin Shrine, Iwata, Shizuoka prefecture
September 6 and 7
Photos
In the evening about 9, 400 young men in white loincloth proceed toward the shrine.
As soon as they arrive there, they dance the "devil's dance" (oni odori)
Later after midnight all lights are extinguished and the youths carrying a portable shrine (mikoshi) jostle each other while making their way toward Omi-no-Kunitama Shrine.
Mitsuke-tenjin Hadaka-matsuri: Reference


. Mitsuke Tenjin and Shrine Yanahime Jinja 矢奈比売神社 .


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. Nada Fighting Festival, Nada no Kenka Matsuri
灘のけんか祭り

Shrine Matsubara Hachiman Jinja 松原八幡神社, Himeji Town 姫路市, Hyogo prefecture
October 14/ 15



Nagasu Hadaka Mairi 長洲裸参り
Nagasu town, Kumamoto prefecture
January 15



Nakada Naked Festival 中田裸祭り
Toyoda Town, 豊田市, Aichi prefecture
Beginning of March
Photos



Nakatsu Naked Festival, Saisukui さいすくい
Nakatsu Town, 中津市, Oita prefecture
Late in November
Photos
Young men in white headbands and loincloth take a dip in the nearby river, try to catch little fish in a barrel and offer the fish to the gods.



Nanoka-Do Naked Festival,
Nanoka Doo Hadaka Mairi
七日堂裸詣り

Yanaizu Town 柳津町, Fukushima Pref
January 7
The small township of Yanaizu annually holds the Hadaka do mairi Festival.People from all over the prefecture gather at this small temple hall, dressed only in a white loincloth, to climb to the top of the sacred hall of Kokuzo Bosatsu. The statue of this deity is said to be the largest in Japan. They do in in defiance to the harsh cold of winter that blankets the area.
Photos !

. . . . . Naked Festival at Yanaizu



Niiza Town Naked Mikoshi 新座市 はだか神輿
Saitama prefecture, Owada Hikawa Shrine 大和田氷川神社
Last Friday in July, starting at seven in the evening
Photos
Young men wear white fundoshi and tabi socks. They carry the mikoshi along the old traveller's road of Kawagoe in a rather wild procession.



Nose Myoken-Do Naked Festival 能勢妙見堂
Suigyoo Kokuto-e, cold water ablutions  水行国祈会
Tokyo, Sumida-Ku, Temple Myokenzan Betsu-in 能勢妙見山別院
Feburary 2
Priests in white loincloth splash cold water over themselves while chanting sutras.


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Ohara Hadaka Matsuri 大原はだか祭り
Oohara, Ohara Kaigan Beach, Izumi town いすみ市, Chiba prefecture
September 23 and 24
CLICK for more photos The tradition goes back to the Edo period.
Groups of youths in loincloth wade into the water and heave and shake portable shrines (mikoshi), sometimes submerging them into the sea water.
There are around 19 Shinto shrines participating in this ceremony.




Ohara Mizu-kake Matsuri, Water-throwing Festival
大原 水掛祭り

Daito-machi, Iwate prefecture
February 11
CLICK for more photosIn this special afternoon festival 200 half-naked men rush along the streets into the central part of the town after having dedicated a giant shimenawa (sacred straw festoon) weighing 72 kg, with townspeople dashing cold water over the running men.



Ohasama Naked Festival 大迫裸祭り
Ohasama Village, Iwate prefecture 大迫町(おおはさままち)
March 17




Oniyo Fire Festival, "Demons Night"
鬼夜(おによ)"

Daizenji Town, Kurume, Fukuoka
January 7.


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Saidai-Ji Temple 西大寺, Okayama
Eyoo 会陽 "Ee-yoo Ceremony"
Saidaiji Hadaka Matsuri 西大寺裸祭り
Third Sunday in February




Sanja Matsuri, Festival at Asakusa Kannon 三社祭
Tokyo
Middle of May



Shimogamo Shrine Arrow Ceremony, yatori shinji
矢取り神事

"Getting over the Summer" nagoshi shinji 夏越神事
Summer Purification Rite
Kyoto, Shimogamo Shrine 下鴨神社
Beginning of August
Photos
Reference about this famous Shrine
Reference about the Festival

. Shrine-complex Kamo Jinja 賀茂神社


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Shinzan Shrine Naked Ceremony 新山神社
Shinzan shrine naked pilgrimage festival
新山神社裸まいり : shinzan jinja hadaka mairi
Honjo, Akita prefecture 秋田県由利本荘市
January 16

. . . CLICK here for Photos !

Young men with offerings for the deity jostle throught the town and to the shrine.



新山や雪の参道裸者登る
Shinzan ya yuki no sandoo rasha noboru

naked men
climb the snowy approach –
Shinzan shrine


source : Hidenori Hiruta - Akita Haiku


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Shorinji Ceremony for Children, Shoorinji Kodomo Eyoo
松林寺子供会陽

Okayama Town, Miya no ura 岡山市宮浦
First Sunday in February
Photos
Since 1978, to show the strength and power of the local children and youngsters. Two groups fight for a ritual stick 宝木. They are normally dressed, but the upper body is naked.
The temple Shorinji itself is very old, dating back to the year 739.


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Takezaki Devil Expelling Festival, Enza sai
竹崎の円座祭, 竹崎観世音寺修正会鬼祭

Takezaki no Oni Matsuri 竹崎の鬼祭
Temple Kannon-Ji, Takezaki Town (Takesaki), Saga prefecture
January 2,3 or 6.
Photos
Four demons in red dress arrive with a sutra box and are chased away by the men in white loincloth. They also use drums and cymbals to drive away the demons, which finally leave as the music gets louder. The men get hold of the red coats and shred them.




Tamasaki Hadaka Matsuri 玉前裸祭り
Tamasaki Jinja Hadaka Matsuri 玉前神社はだか祭り

Tamasaki Shrine, Ichinomiya-machi, Chosei-gun, Chiba prefecture
September 13
Photos
A religious ceremony starting at ten in the morning at the shrine. Around one thirty two portable shrines (mikoshi), escorted by hundreds of onlookers and some Shinto priests, walk toward Tsurigasaki Beach. There nine other portable shrines from twelve other shrines in the neighbourhood assemble for the final rituals.



Tama Seseri 玉せせり (たませせり)
"gem hunting"
Tama seri Matsuri 玉せり祭(たませりまつり)

Tama tori Matsuri 玉取祭(たまとりまつり)
January 3. Fukuoka Town. 筥崎宮(福岡市東区)
Reference



Tokiwa Hachimangu Fire Ropes Festival
常盤八幡宮年縄(としな)奉納裸参り
Fujisaki Village 青森県南津軽郡藤崎町, Aomori prefecture
January first
Photos
A large rope (toshina) of four meters lenght and weighing more than 400 kilogramms is carried round town by men after cold water ablutions. They shout "saigi saigi" to keep warm. Its origin dates back to the year 1664.



Torisashi Odori , Catching Bird Dance
鳥刺し踊り

Unzan Town, Kojiro village 雲仙市, 神代町(こうじろまち) Nagasaki prefecture
Photos
CLICK for more photos Men in red loincloths wrapped around the whole body in a special fashion carrying long spears dance.
This has a tradition of 200 years at the shrine for Inari Daimyojin 稲荷大明神.


LOOK at the dance HERE !
GOOGLE for more reference


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Urasa no Doo Oshi ... 浦佐の堂押し
Naked Festival at Temple Fukoo-Ji 普光寺, Urasa, Niigata prefecture
hadaka oshi 裸押し.


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Wajima Cold Water Ablutions,
Kanchuu misogi 寒中みそぎ

Wajima Town, Ishikawa prefecture
End of January
Photos


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Yanaizu Hadaka Matsuri 柳津裸祭 Naked Festival at Yanaizu
(Yanagizu)
Held on January 7 in the town of Yanaizu, Fukushima prefecture
The naked participants, about 300 of them, have to climb the rope up to the bell (waniguchi) in front of the temple. Onlookers might throw snowballs at them.
As a prayer for good health, this festival is held for more than 1000 years now in honor of a dragon deity.



Yaya Matsuri, やや祭り(ややまつり)
庄内町千河原(ちがわら,) Amarume Town, Yamagata prefecture
Sunday close to January 15

Young boys aged five to fourteen take part in this ritual. They wear straw raincoats called "kendai ケンダイ" wrapped around the hips. They have a straw crown on their head and a candle in each hand. They perform "a hundred times worship" (o-hyakudo mairi) at the local shrine Hachiman Jinja 八幡神社.
On this day, young couples and pregnant women visit the shrine too and pray for the safe birth and the healthy growth of their children.




Yotsukaido Naked Shrine Visit,
Hadaka Mairi 裸参り

四街道市, Kumano Shrine 熊野神社
March 15
Reference
Half-naked men take part in this. They usually wear long or short underwear.
......................... also at Yotsukaido

Mud Slinging Festival , "Dairokuten Hadaka Matsuri"
Late February
Photos
Reference
For the deity "Dairoku Tema-O" 第六天魔王(だいろくてんまおう, Dairokuten Sama 第六天さま. Men wrestle in the muddy fields and throw around the mud or smear it on children.
WKD : Dairoku Tenma-O, Omodaru, Ayakashikone ... Deities



YUI TOWN : Big Drum Festival (O-Taiko Matsuri )
January 1 - 3



Yukake Matsuri, Throwing hot water 湯かけ祭り
Kawarayu Onsen, Naganohara-machi 長野原町, Gunma prefecture
January 20, early morning
Photos
Reference


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Zentsuji Naked Festival, Zentsuuji Eyoo
善通寺会陽, 善通寺裸祭り

Temple Zentsu-Ji, Kagawa prefecture
Late in February
More than 1000 naked men fight for two "sacred sticks".
This festival has a history of more than 400 years.
善通寺大会陽 More Photos


© PHOTO : www.tomatte.net


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Worldwide use


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Things found on the way


Learn more about Yakushi Nyorai, the Buddha of Healing
Mark Schumacher


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HAIKU


naked festival -
the little boy shivers
in his father's arms


Gabi Greve, 1998, Temple Saidai-Ji, Okayama


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Related words

***** WKD - Fire Festivals (hi matsuri 火祭り)

***** WKD Saijiki for Festivals and Ceremonies


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