{"id":337,"date":"2009-05-07T18:49:11","date_gmt":"2009-05-07T09:49:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/shiga-ken.com\/blog\/?p=337"},"modified":"2016-08-14T16:37:19","modified_gmt":"2016-08-14T07:37:19","slug":"chawan-matsuri-at-yogo-on-may-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shiga-ken.com\/blog\/2009\/05\/chawan-matsuri-at-yogo-on-may-4\/","title":{"rendered":"Chawan Matsuri at Yogo on May 4, 2009"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Governor<\/a>
Governor Yukiko Kada pulls a float.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Yogo town<\/a>, home of Lake Yogo in northern Shiga, held an unusual festival called the Chawan Matsuri or Teacup Festival. It’s been 6 years since it was last held in 2003. It supposed to be held every 3 years, but depopulation and the lack of funds and young people has threatened the continuation of the festival.<\/p>\n

It was a very impressive festival with a variety of colorful attractions. Definitely was the best Golden Week festival I saw in Shiga.<\/p>\n

The festival started centuries ago when a potter living in Yogo (\u4e0a\u4e39\u751f) offered teacups to the gods at Niu Shrine in appreciation of the earth used for pottery and his pottery skills.<\/p>\n

The festival started with a Shinto ceremony at 10 am at\u00a0Niu Jinja \u4e39\u751f\u795e\u793e shrine. At 11 am, a series of Chigo-no-Mai sacred dances were performed by boys in kimono. Then a procession from Niu Shrine to Hachiman Shrine 1 km away, with a lunch break at Chawan Matsuri no Yakata museum. The floats are crowned with a very tall (over 7 meters) decoration of dolls, bowls, and other objects connected together and somehow do not fall down. The climax is when they detach the supporting poles from the lofty float decorations.<\/p>\n

Shiga Governor Kada Yukiko was also on hand to watch the procession and even pull the floats. I got good shots of her too. Google Map<\/a>
\nSee my photos: https:\/\/photoguide.jp\/pix\/displayimage.php?album=742<\/a><\/p>\n

Video link:\u00a0http:\/\/youtu.be\/fIDZ0u6ne2I<\/a>
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