Archive for May 2011

More GW festival videos

May 17, 2011 Festivals in Spring, Higashi-Omi, Ryuo Comments Off

Two more Golden Week (late April – early May) festival videos and photos.

Held on May 4 near Notogawa Station, the Iba-no-saka-kudashi Matsuri Festival is said to be one of the most unusual festivals. Young men carry (or drag) three heavy portable shrines down a steep mountain riddled with rough spots. I stayed near the bottom or finish line and declined to go up any further because I was too heavy with camera equipment and the slope was too steep. Here’s the video:
Video link: http://youtu.be/r_FYQwW_l-4

Photos: http://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=829

Another festival I saw was at Namura Shrine in Ryuo on May 5, 2011. The Sekku Matsuri is a prayer for the healthy growth of children and rich harvest. The highlight is the yabusame horseback archery.
Video link: http://youtu.be/PU7an9F3GdQ

Photos: http://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=461

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Hino Matsuri 2011

May 16, 2011 Festivals in Spring, Hino Comments Off

On May 3, 2011, Hino in eastern Shiga held its annual Hino Matsuri festival. This is a major festival of floats with sixteen ornate floats and three portable shrines paraded through the main streets and gathered at Umamioka Watamuki Shrine. This was the second time I saw this matsuri, but the first time I filmed it with a Full HD camcorder. Here’s the video:

Video link: http://youtu.be/S5CG04vUdMA

Photos here.

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Aburahi Matsuri Festival 2011

May 2, 2011 Festivals in Spring, Koka Comments Off

On May 1, 2011, I went to see the Aburahi Matsuri (油日祭り・奴振り) in Koka, Shiga, near Aburahi Station on the JR Kusatsu Line. The festival is held every year, but the yakko-furi procession is held only once every five years. And it was held this year. They walked along a 9-km route in Aburahi. The performance at Aburahi Shrine was the highlight. Google Map here. Here’s the video I took:

Video link: http://youtu.be/Uoei4vhRimE

Photos here.

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