Latest news with #GionFestival
Nikkei Asia
5 days ago
- Politics
- Nikkei Asia
Through the Lens: Japan's upper house election; summer festivals in Kyoto and Fukuoka
In the election for the upper house of Japan's parliament, the ruling coalition failed to win the 50 seats it needed to maintain its majority, leaving Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in a precarious position without a majority in either chamber of the Diet. The poor showing may force Ishiba from office. Sohei Kamiya, the leader of Japan's Sanseito party, speaks to supporters at an event on the last day of campaigning for the upper house election, at Shiba Park in Tokyo, on July 19. (Photo by Issei Kato/Reuters) Sanseito supporters raise their fists during an event on the last day of campaigning for Japan's July 20 upper house election, at Shiba Park in Tokyo, on July 19. (Photo by Issei Kato/Reuters) Voters walk past a candidate bulletin board at a polling station in Tokyo on July 20. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi) A voter casts his ballot in Japan's upper house election at a polling station in Tokyo on July 20. (Photo by Koji Uema) People vote in Japan's upper house election at a polling station in Tokyo on July 20. (Photo by Koji Uema) Election officials open ballot boxes at a counting center in Tokyo on July 20. (Photo by Manami Yamada/Reuters) Election officials count votes in Tokyo on July 20. (Photo by Manami Yamada/Reuters) An election official carries a ballot box during Japan's upper house election, at a counting center in Tokyo on July 20. (Photo by Manami Yamada/Reuters) Members of the media gather at Liberal Democratic Party headquarters in Tokyo on July 20. (Photo by Mayumi Tsumita) Sanseito leader Sohei Kamiya, right, and upper house candidate Saya place a victory flower next to her name in Tokyo, after she won her upper house race on July 20. (Photo by Rie Ishii) Leader of the Democratic Party For the People (DPFP) Yuichiro Tamaki, left, and the party's secretary-general, Shimba Kazuya, stand in front of a board with the names of DPFP candidates in Tokyo on July 20. (Photo by Yuki Kohara) Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, listens to a question from a journalist at LDP headquarters in Tokyo on July 20. (Photo Mayumi Tsumita) Shigeru Ishiba, Japan's prime minister, takes part in an interview at LDP headquarters in Tokyo on July 20. (Photo by Mayumi Tsumita) Rosettes to indicate election victories go unused at LDP headquarters in Tokyo on July 21. (Photo by Mayumi Tsumita) Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba attends a news conference at Liberal Democratic Party headquarters in Tokyo on July 21, the day after the ruling coalition lost its majority in Japan's upper house. (Photo by Sae Kamae) Two of Japan's most colorful summer festivals were held recently, the Gion Festival in Kyoto and the Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival in Fukuoka. On July 17, the Yamahoko procession, the highlight of the Gion Festival in Kyoto, was held. About 20 ornately decorated "Yamahoko," or "moving museums," made their way through the center of the city. In Fukuoka, the Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival was also a lavish affair, with the event culminating in the "Oishi Yamakasa" race in which men carry seven floats weighing about 1 metric ton each, representing each neighborhood in Fukuoka's Hakata district, along a 5-kilometer course. Children visit Yasaka Shrine to pray for a safe Gion Festival, in Kyoto on July 1. (Photo by Kyodo) People fill the streets as floats with illuminated lanterns are displayed during the annual Gion Festival's Yoiyama event in Kyoto on July 16. (Photo by Kyodo) A "Yamahoko" float is pulled around a corner during the Gion Festival in Kyoto on July 17. The parade is designated an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. (Photo by Arisa Moriyama) People carry a float at Kushida Shrine in Fukuoka during the annual Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival on July 15, marking the finale of the 15-day event that dates back more than 780 years. (Photo by Kyodo) People carry - while others ride on - a float at Kushida Shrine in Fukuoka during the annual Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival on July 15. (Photo by Kyodo) (Photo by Kyodo)
Yomiuri Shimbun
6 days ago
- Climate
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Spectators Cheer for Kyoto's Ato Matsuri Floats of Gion Festival; Festivalgoers Endured Nearly 35 C Temperature
KYOTO — Beautifully decorated floats passed along a boulevard in Kyoto during the annual Gion Festival on Thursday. Eleven yamahoko floats, gleaming under the scorching sun, paraded through Kyoto for the ato matsuri, or later festival, of the Gion Festival, a traditional event dating back to the Heian period (794-late 12th century).The floats moved in a reverse path of the saki matsuri, or early festival, which was held a week earlier. People prayed for good health and safety. The procession departed from Karasuma Oike at 9:30 a.m. with the Hashibenkei float leading the way. Spectators applauded and cheered when the huge floats performed a dynamic change of direction at an intersection, called tsujimawashi. The temperature in the center of the city was 34.9 C before 11 a.m. The Ofune float, the last in line, was manned by personnel who distributed water to the participants to prevent heat stroke.
Yomiuri Shimbun
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Yamahoko Float Procession Held in Kyoto's Gion Festival in Rain; Festival Dates Back to Heian Period
KYOTO — A procession of yamahoko floats was held at the Gion Festival in Kyoto on Thursday, a traditional event that has continued since the Heian period (794-late 12th century). In the rain, 23 floats decorated with colorful ornaments moved slowly along the Miyako-Oji avenue crowded with people holding umbrellas during the saki matsuri, or early festival. The annual procession was led by the naginata hoko float, which dates back to 800 years ago. Using a sword, Kento Kubo, 8, who rode on the float, cut a rope that represents the boundary between the divine territory and the secular world. That began the procession and other floats followed. When the floats, which weigh more than 10 tons each, performed a dynamic change of direction at a junction, called tsujimawashi, spectators applauded and cheered. A yamahoko procession is also scheduled to be held next Thursday with the participation of 11 floats during the ato matsuri, or later festival.
Yomiuri Shimbun
15-07-2025
- General
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Kyoto Gion Festival: Temple, Shrine Exchange Holy Water to Banish Plagues
KYOTO — A Shinto priest of Yasaka Shrine and a monk of Shinsen-en temple on Monday held a ritual to exchange holy water and pray for the banishment of plagues at Shinsen-en in Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, as part of Kyoto's Gion Festival. Shinsen-en is believed to be the birthplace of Gion Festival. The main shrine of Yasaka Shrine in Higashiyama Ward in the city is said to have been built on a pond called Ryuketsu, or dragon's den. Ryuketsu and a pond in the temple grounds are believed to be connected underground. Rituals held to calm evil spirits at the temple in the nineth century when epidemics broke out are said to have been subsequently transformed into Gion Festival. During the ritual on Monday, a monk of the temple and a priest of the shrine exchanged bottles of holy water drawn from their wells.
NHK
11-07-2025
- NHK
Procession to deliver 'hamo' pike conger eel as offering to shrine held in Kyoto
A parade to deliver fresh "hamo" pike conger eels as an offering to Yasaka Shrine in the ancient Japanese capital of Kyoto has been held as the shrine hosts the month-long annual Gion Festival. The fish is known as a seasonal delicacy that is enjoyed in the western Japanese city. The tourist association of Awaji Island in nearby Hyogo Prefecture, which is home to the fish, has organized the procession around this time every year. The event was inspired by an ancient tradition in which marine products from the island in the Seto Inland Sea were presented to the Imperial Court. About 80 people, including officials of the tourist association, took part in the parade on Wednesday, carrying a tub that contained three pike conger eels. After the fish were offered to Shinto deities of the shrine, the participants prayed before the altar and attended a purification ceremony. Visitors to the shrine were treated to a dish featuring the fish. The tourist association said spike conger eels grew well this year. The head of the association, Kinoshita Manabu, said he is relieved that they could offer the fish to the shrine without problems, adding that he was reminded of the close link between Kyoto and Awaji Island. He said he hopes people will enjoy the fish and beat the summer heat.
