Just added it. Will do so for all subsequent posts. I have one ready for the Kamakura Great Buddha card. I am gathering my pics of Nikko for a card from there. The Mt. Fuji ones will most likely not be paired with any photo I have taken from the same spots. I suspect the view from many of the exact spots are blocked by high rises and that few are easy for me to get to. I do have photos I have taken of this iconic mountain, but I doubt they’ll be from the same spot.
I cannot answer specifically for this festival but historically they were at the least daughters of families that support the shrine. They would have been dancers for various rituals and may have been employed on the shrine grounds. Not sure if these girls dance or if this shrine have dancers this young, but I have seen girls dressed similarly dancing at other festivals. This shrine is large and they may still have the dances. If not, then they are just dressed as dancers for the procession.
I can't find a direct reference for why it's green, but there are mentions that they also perform a ceremony of releasing captive animals (放生会 / houjou-e) on the evening of the last day so it could signify harmony with nature. Alternatively it could also have evolved out of it before being plain white with indigo patterns of grasses and flowing water (青摺 / aozuri) used in purification rites.
I have been to the festival 3 times, twice for the mounted archery only once for the procession and dances. There is something they do with crickets I think on the third day but I don’t know what.
Very nice and interesting! Thanks for doing this--and I love how you integrated the postcard!
Stand by for more! Working on one down the road from this bridge.
Wonderful. May I ask you to also link to the ESPC?
https://espc.substack.com/
Thanks & cheers!
Just added it. Will do so for all subsequent posts. I have one ready for the Kamakura Great Buddha card. I am gathering my pics of Nikko for a card from there. The Mt. Fuji ones will most likely not be paired with any photo I have taken from the same spots. I suspect the view from many of the exact spots are blocked by high rises and that few are easy for me to get to. I do have photos I have taken of this iconic mountain, but I doubt they’ll be from the same spot.
If you can identify the spot you might be able to find a google streetview image. At least as a contrast that shows all the buildings
That may work for some but probably not all. Many of the Mt. Fuji pics he sent are from trails.
Very interesting! What is the significance of the girls in the green and red outfits?
I cannot answer specifically for this festival but historically they were at the least daughters of families that support the shrine. They would have been dancers for various rituals and may have been employed on the shrine grounds. Not sure if these girls dance or if this shrine have dancers this young, but I have seen girls dressed similarly dancing at other festivals. This shrine is large and they may still have the dances. If not, then they are just dressed as dancers for the procession.
Sure are beautiful outfits either way.
Thanks for the interesting write-up and beautiful imagery!
Seems like there's also a cleansing ritual at the beach the day before, for those willing to get up around 4 o'clock.
Looking forwards to the future chapters!
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I got curious about the green ceremonial robe (千早 / chihaya) worn by the dancers for the 8 maidens dance (八乙女舞 / yaotome-mai):
https://www.yoritomo-japan.com/gyoji-maturi/hatiman-reisai.htm
I can't find a direct reference for why it's green, but there are mentions that they also perform a ceremony of releasing captive animals (放生会 / houjou-e) on the evening of the last day so it could signify harmony with nature. Alternatively it could also have evolved out of it before being plain white with indigo patterns of grasses and flowing water (青摺 / aozuri) used in purification rites.
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https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000002.000037413.html
Apparently it's crickets these days.
https://www.yoritomo-japan.com/gyoji-maturi/hotaru-hojyosai.htm
They also hold a firefly release ceremony during the second week of June; with the fireflies lighting up the forests at night for a week after!
Either time sounds like a great time to visit.
I have been to the festival 3 times, twice for the mounted archery only once for the procession and dances. There is something they do with crickets I think on the third day but I don’t know what.