Gion Matsuri: Yasaka Shrine Events (Omukae chochin/Hanagasa junko/Kankousai)

Summary

The Omakai Choin is a lively procession celebrating the return of portable shrines (mikoshi) and features a blend of traditional dances and rituals. Participants, including young girls, children, and local men, carry torches and perform dances like the Heron Dance and the Young Ladies Dance to honor the gods. Floats, flowered hats, and colorful umbrellas accompany the procession, leading to the Yasaka Shrine. Rituals such as purification and offerings are carried out, with music and performances showcasing the rich cultural traditions of Kyoto. The festival concludes with the purification ritual at Eki Shrine, marking the end of the Gon Matsuri month.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Omakai Choin procession is held to send off and greet the returning mikoshi, portable shrines that house spirits of the gods.
• 😀 Due to a typhoon, only night events were held this year, with neighborhood men purifying the streets by carrying burning torches before the mikoshi.
• 😀 The Sagi Odori (Heron Dance) features young girls in costume mimicking the graceful movements of herons, with younger children in dyed Yakir wigs beating drums.
• 😀 The Kachi Odori (Young Ladies Dance) is based on a dance performed to welcome Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu to Kyoto in 1634.
• 😀 The Gon Ono (Gon March) was created in 1957 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the festival's return after World War II.
• 😀 Lantern bearers lead the procession to the shrine, followed by groups of men carrying mikoshi, which temporarily house the spirits of gods.
• 😀 Mikoshi are decorated with silks, cords, gold bells, and phoenixes, and are later taken to a temporary shrine for the Yabok Junko parade.
• 😀 The Hanagasa Junko parade features floats displaying flowers and colorful umbrellas, with children carrying miniature mikoshi and shrine maidens wearing hanagasa hats.
• 😀 Participants of the parade include boys dressed as warriors, sacred page boys on horseback, and representatives from local districts like Miagao and Gon Co Bua.
• 😀 After the parade, the mikoshi return to the shrine, where children shake them to entertain the gods, followed by performances such as the lively Lion Dance (Rai Nutu).

Q & A

What is the Omakai Choin procession, and what is its purpose?

The Omakai Choin is a procession held to send off and greet the returning portable shrines, known as mikoshi. It is part of a festival where neighborhood men carry burning torches to purify the streets before the mikoshi are returned.

Why was the schedule for this year's Omakai Choin procession affected?

The schedule for this year's Omakai Choin procession was affected by an incoming typhoon, which resulted in only night events being held.

What is the Sagi Odori dance, and who performs it?

The Sagi Odori, or Heron Dance, is a performance where young girls in costume mimic the graceful movements of a heron. Younger children wear dyed Yakir wigs and beat drums alongside the herons.

What historical event inspired the Kachi Odori dance?

The Kachi Odori, or Young Ladies' Dance, is based on a dance performed to welcome Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu to Kyoto in 1634.

What is the Gon Ono dance, and why was it created?

The Gon Ono, or Gon March, is a dance created in 1957 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the festival's return after World War II.

What is the significance of the mikoshi in the procession?

The mikoshi temporarily house the spirits of enshrined gods, allowing them to be carried around the neighborhood. Once returned to the Kagoda Hall, the mikoshi are decorated and later taken to a temporary shrine for further rituals.

What is the Hanagasa Junko, and what does it feature?

The Hanagasa Junko is a parade that takes place during the second Yabok Junko period. It features several floats displaying flowers and colorful umbrellas, with various groups of participants, including children and performers.

How do the participants in the parade contribute to the event?

Participants in the parade contribute by carrying miniature mikoshi, performing ceremonial offerings, and dressing in traditional costumes such as hanagasa flowered hats or warrior attire. Some groups also represent districts like Miagao and Gon Kobu.

What is the significance of the Rai Nutu dance during the festival?

The Rai Nutu dance tells the story of an acrobatic lion's encounter with a spider demon. Two performers work together to portray the lion, and the dance is a lively offering to the gods.

What is the Kosai ritual, and when does it occur during the festival?

The Kosai ritual occurs during the Yabok Junko period and involves purifying the mikoshi before they are sent back to Yasaka Shrine. Men participating in this ritual shout and rotate the mikoshi to symbolize purification.