Gion Matsuri - Yamaboko Junko series

Posted by Celialee (Kyoto, Japan) on 30 July 2007 in Lifestyle & Culture and Portfolio.

This is the start of the Yamaboko Junko series.

Unlike last year's heavy rain, it was a cloudy day during the main parade this year. The sun came and went, the drizzle came and went but on the whole, we were lucky to have a relatively good weather, considering the rainy days that preceded the event.

This is the Naginata Hoko, the float that leads the parade and it carries the sacred child, Chigo.

From the Gion Matsuri Volunteer website:

Each hoko is pulled by 30 to 50 people (Hikiko), with two Ondori, who conduct the movement of hikiko, and four Yanekata, who stand on roof and control the movement of the upper pole or Masaki, and pilot when parading narrow streets.

The parade begins with the “Ochgosan” (a boy, selected from towns people of Naginata hoko, who wears a decorative kimono and sits on the front seat of the float during the parade) cutting a rope attached to the Naginata-hoko by sword. Each hoko or yama must present their lot to the Mayor to show that their float is in the correct order. This ceremony is called “Kujiaratame” or presenting of lot and each town has its own formalities for presentations. Towns people who are the main organizers and supporters of each float wear the “Kamishimo” (kimono worn on formal occasion) and walk in front of the hoko or yama. Each hoko or yama has its own tunes for Hayashi played during the procession.

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