Image search results - "Kanagawa"
001-IMG_4688.jpg
Kanagawa Prefecture's largest Awa Odori is held annually during the last weekend in July in this city of Yamato. Preview event near Yamato Station.
001-IMG_8562.jpg
Kanayama Jinja Shrine is a small shrine within the grounds of the Wakamiya Hachimangu Shrine near Kawasaki Daishi Station. On the first Sun. of April, it holds this now-famous Kanamara Festival nicknamed the Phallus or Fertility Festival. Festival starts at 11 am. But a large crowd was already there well before that time. Entrance to shrine on the day of the Kanamara Festival. (If you're below age 18, please leave now.)
001_2527.jpg
From late April to early May, five long strings of giant carp streamers swim in the air high above the Sagami River in Sagamihara, Kanagawa. This event was started in 1988.
002-IMG_4718.jpg
002-IMG_8563.jpg
Shrine banners and cherries in full bloomThe red banner says "Kanayama Jinja" with an phallus (erect) logo on the top.
002_2542.jpg
There are five rows of streamers. In Japan, the koi carp is regarded as a symbol of valiant manhood because it swims up the river against the rapids.
003-IMG_4734.jpg
Pre-festival event held in the afternoon, Yamato Awa Odori
003-IMG_8574.jpg
Pumping (or humping) the...
003_2518.jpg
The cable length is 250 meters and 13mmm thick. There are about 1,200 carp streamers. They are reused every year and donated by local families. (I also noticed a few advertising carps.)
004-IMG_4707.jpg
004-IMG_8573.jpg
The festival is wildly popular with people from overseas.The shrine had various phallus props to pose with.
004_0065.jpg
005-IMG_4740.jpg
Yamato Station
005-IMG_8571.jpg
Dickhead hat. Actually, I don't know what they call it, but that's what I call it.
005_9922.jpg
006-IMG_4743.jpg
Balloons, souvenirs and trinkets sold near the train station.
006-IMG_8580.jpg
Carving daikon. Anybody can join in and carve. 大根削りLater to be auctioned off.
006_9946.jpg
Sagami River Koi-nobori
007-8135-12.jpg
Carving daikon (old photo). These men were really good at carving the daikon.
007-IMG_4752.jpg
007_9990.jpg
008-8135-13.jpg
Carving daikon. Since some activities are conducted on the ground, the festival is also called Jibeta (Ground) Matsuri.Once upon a time, the festival was still mostly a local event with much fewer people.
008-IMG_4741.jpg
Main drag and shopping arcade called Yamato Chuo-dori大和中央通り
008_9952.jpg
009-8135-36.jpg
Forging a steel phallus (old photo)The demon living in the vagina of the women bit the man's phallus each time. So one guy made a steel phallus and the demom broke his teeth.
009-IMG_4753.jpg
Spectators wait for the parade to begin.
009_9987.jpg
010-IMG_3301.jpg
Sugawara house from Tsuruoka city, Yamagata Prefecture. In heavy snow, the front window was used as the door.
010-IMG_4207.jpg
June 9, 2007. Hula dancers rush to Pukari Sanbashi Pier where the Hokule'a canoe is to dock. ぷかりさん橋
010-IMG_4786.jpg
The festival/parade starts before dark.
010-IMG_8577.jpg
Standing room only at Wakamiya Shrine
010_9982.jpg
The longest carp is 10 meters.
011-IMG_3303.jpg
Ceiling
011-IMG_4213.jpg
A crowd of a few hundred on hand to greet Hokule'a's arrival.
011-IMG_4767.jpg
011-IMG_8586.jpg
Packed path to Wakamiya Hachimangu Shrine
011_9981.jpg
Koi-nobori carp streamers over Sagami River. Also see the video at YouTube.
012-IMG_3305.jpg
Kitamura house brought from Hadano, Kanagawa
012-IMG_4211.jpg
People crowd the waterfront near Pukari Sanbashi Pier.
012-IMG_4792.jpg
012-IMG_8596.jpg
Prayers to the Kanamara Boat portable shrine かなまら舟神輿 神輿御霊入れ式Before the portable shrine is taken out to be paraded around town, the god of the shrine must be transferred to it. This is what the head priest is doing.

There are three portable shrines (called mikoshi). The Kanamara mikoshi (the original portable shrine), Kanamara-bune mikoshi (shaped like a boat), and Elizabeth mikoshi (pink giant). All three are carried during a procession around town. The Elizabeth mikoshi is carried by she-males. ("New half" in Japanese. Go ahead and laugh if you want.)
012_9916.jpg
Along the river were food stalls.
013-IMG_3306.jpg
Kitamura house
013-IMG_4263.jpg
People crowd the waterfront near Pukari Sanbashi Pier.
013-IMG_4798.jpg
013-IMG_8624.jpg
Prayers to the Kanamara-bune mikoshi かなまら舟神輿Before the portable shrine is taken out to be paraded around town, the god of the shrine must be transferred to it. This is what the head priest is doing.
013_9915.jpg
Festival site
014-IMG_3308.jpg
Nihon Minkaen is an outdoor museum of traditional farm and merchant houses with thatched roofs. They have 25 homes from around Japan many were donated to the museum for preservation.
014-IMG_4206.jpg
Hokule'a already in sight well before 11 am when it was scheduled to dock.
014-IMG_4805.jpg
014-IMG_8620.jpg
The shrine's head priest transfers the deity to the Kanamara Boat portable shrine (boat-shaped loaded with a phallus) かなまら舟神輿Before the portable shrine is taken out to be paraded around town, the god of the shrine must be transferred to it. This is what the head priest is doing.
014_2579.jpg
Cable anchor
015-IMG_3311.jpg
015-IMG_4229.jpg
Hokule'a and escort ship Kama Hele. What makes this canoe so special and famous is that it was used to sail from Hawaii to Tahiti (and many other places) without any modern navigational instruments.
015-IMG_4813.jpg
015-IMG_8630.jpg
A representative of the shrine parishioners offer prayers.
015_2580.jpg
Statistics
016-IMG_3313.jpg
016-IMG_4237.jpg
They only referred to the sun, moon, the stars, and ocean waves to navigate through the vast Pacific Ocean or Polynesia. This is called celestial navigation. Extremely few people can do this, and the Hawaiians are learning this skill of long-ago.
016-IMG_4853.jpg
016-IMG_8634.jpg
Prayers to the Elizabeth portable shrine エリザベス神輿Before the portable shrine is taken out to be paraded around town, the god of the shrine must be transferred to it. This is what the head priest is doing.
017-IMG_3309.jpg
Thatched roof
017-IMG_4238.jpg
They wanted to prove that the original native Hawaiians were able to sail between Tahiti to Hawaii on purpose, and that they did not land on Hawaii by accident.
017-IMG_4816.jpg
017-IMG_8641.jpg
Waving the sacred sakaki branch to bless all of us
018-IMG_3314.jpg
Water nozzles aimed at the house. No smoking.
018-IMG_4244.jpg
Hokule'a and Yokohama Bay Bridge in the background.
018-IMG_4830.jpg
018-IMG_8644.jpg
Prayers to the Elizabeth portable shrine エリザベス神輿Before the portable shrine is taken out to be paraded around town, the god of the shrine must be transferred to it. This is what the head priest is doing.
019-IMG_3315.jpg
019-IMG_4249.jpg
One sail unraveled.
019-IMG_4837.jpg
019-IMG_8646.jpg
Elizabeth portable shrine エリザベス神輿Before the portable shrine is taken out to be paraded around town, the god of the shrine must be transferred to it. This is what the head priest is doing.

There are three portable shrines (called mikoshi). The Kanamara mikoshi (the original portable shrine), Kanamara-bune mikoshi (shaped like a boat), and Elizabeth mikoshi (pink giant). All three are carried during a procession around town. The Elizabeth mikoshi is carried by she-males. ("New half" in Japanese. Go ahead and laugh if you want.)
020-IMG_3316.jpg
020-IMG_4254.jpg
Nearing Pukari Sanbashi Pier. The question was, which side of the pier would it dock? (Was going the other side so I rushed over to the other side.)
020-IMG_4839.jpg
020-IMG_8650.jpg
Pubic hair not included. Perhaps that's why it doesn't look so obscene.
021-IMG_3317.jpg
021-IMG_4258.jpg
Hokule'a nears the dock.
021-IMG_4844.jpg
Mime act depicting a kite
021-IMG_8655.jpg
Elizabeth portable shrine was donated by a drag queen club called Elizabeth Kaikan in Kameido, Tokyo.There are three portable shrines (called mikoshi). The Kanamara mikoshi (the original portable shrine), Kanamara-bune mikoshi (shaped like a boat), and Elizabeth mikoshi (pink giant). All three are carried during a procession around town. The Elizabeth mikoshi is carried by she-males. ("New half" in Japanese. Go ahead and laugh if you want.)
022-IMG_3318.jpg
Yamada house
022-IMG_4266.jpg
A rope is thrown to the dock from Hokule'a.
022-IMG_4860.jpg
A fool's dance.
022-IMG_8658.jpg
Kanamara Boat portable shrine (boat-shaped loaded with a phallus) was donated by a steel company. かなまら舟神There are three portable shrines (called mikoshi). The Kanamara mikoshi (the original portable shrine), Kanamara-bune mikoshi (shaped like a boat), and Elizabeth mikoshi (pink giant). All three are carried during a procession around town. The Elizabeth mikoshi is carried by she-males. ("New half" in Japanese. Go ahead and laugh if you want.)
023-IMG_3324.jpg
023-IMG_4274.jpg
Hokule'a arrives right on schedule at 11 am on June 9, 2007. Yokohama is its last stop.
023-IMG_4863.jpg
End of the parade route.
023-IMG_8659.jpg
Two of the portable shrines ready to go. In Japanese, the festival is nicknamed "Chinko Matsuri" (Phallus Festival) ちんこ祭り.There are three portable shrines (called mikoshi). The Kanamara mikoshi (the original portable shrine), Kanamara-bune mikoshi (shaped like a boat), and Elizabeth mikoshi (pink giant). All three are carried during a procession around town. The Elizabeth mikoshi is carried by she-males. ("New half" in Japanese. Go ahead and laugh if you want.)
024-IMG_3319.jpg
024-IMG_4278.jpg
Hula dancers
024-IMG_4865.jpg
024-IMG_8666.jpg
The main Kanamara mikoshi かなまら神輿There are three portable shrines (called mikoshi). The Kanamara mikoshi (the original portable shrine), Kanamara-bune mikoshi (shaped like a boat), and Elizabeth mikoshi (pink giant). All three are carried during a procession around town. The Elizabeth mikoshi is carried by she-males. ("New half" in Japanese. Go ahead and laugh if you want.)
025-IMG_3321.jpg
Emukai house brought from Nanto, Toyama. In the gasshi-zukuri style with steep roof. Kawasaki Nihon Minkaen
025-IMG_4277.jpg
Conch shell blowers signal the canoe's arrival.
025-IMG_4868.jpg
025-IMG_8670.jpg
Kanamara mikoshi かなまら神輿There are three portable shrines (called mikoshi). The Kanamara mikoshi (the original portable shrine), Kanamara-bune mikoshi (shaped like a boat), and Elizabeth mikoshi (pink giant). All three are carried during a procession around town. The Elizabeth mikoshi is carried by she-males. ("New half" in Japanese. Go ahead and laugh if you want.)
026-IMG_3326.jpg
Nihon Minkaen, Kawasaki, Kanagawa
026-IMG_4287.jpg
Pulling Hawaii's most famous canoe to dock.
026-IMG_4881.jpg
Yamato Awa OdoriHeld in late July, Kanagawa Pref.
026-IMG_8677.jpg
Ready for the procession
027-IMG_3329.jpg
Inside Emukai house
027-IMG_4293.jpg
Under overcast skies, Hokule'a docks.
027-IMG_4896.jpg
Chidori-ren troupeちどり連
027-IMG_8684.jpg
Taiko drummers in front of Wakamiya Hachimangu
028-IMG_3333.jpg
028-IMG_4298.jpg
028-IMG_4898.jpg
ちどり連
028-IMG_9131.jpg
Wakamiya Hachimangu Shrine
029-IMG_3338.jpg
029-IMG_4318.jpg
Escort ship (powered by a Yanmar engine) Kama Hele also docks soon afterward.
029-IMG_4906.jpg
Yamato Awa Odori
029-IMG_9140.jpg
Kanayama Shrine (right next to Wakamiya Hachimangu)Kanayama Shrine is dedicated to a pair of gods named Kanayama Hikonokami and Kanayama Himenokami 金山比古神(かなやまひこのかみ)   金山比売神(かなやまひめのかみ. According to legend, when the main Shinto god named Izanami gave birth to the God of Fire, her lower abdomen got burned. These two Kanayama gods helped to heal her birth wound. Thus, these two gods came to be known as the gods of childbirth and healing of the lower abdomen. They later came to be worshipped as fertility gods, protector of sexually-transmitted diseases (AIDS, etc.), and successful marriage. They are also the gods of the bellows, so blacksmiths (who use bellows to fan the fire) also worship this shrine.

Kanayama Shrine is a small shrine within the grounds of the larger Wakamiya Hachimangu Shrine. The Kanayama Shrine was completely rebuilt and reborn in 1999 into a completely unorthodox building which you see here. Modeled after a blacksmith's workshop, it is now a black, eight-sided building with steel paneling. Notice the penis monument on the lower right.
030-IMG_3336.jpg
030-IMG_4340.jpg
Koinobori carp streamers adorn Hokule'a. A great Japanese touch.
030-IMG_4907.jpg
030-IMG_9108.jpg
Penis prayersThis penis monument (built in 1995 by a steel company) is next to Kanayama Shrine. This person praying is a Caucasian man, not a woman. I was aghast when he stood up and showed his manly face. His long blond hair made me think he was a woman...
031-IMG_3339.jpg
031-IMG_4344.jpg
031-IMG_4910.jpg
Also see the video at YouTube.
031-IMG_9099.jpg
Licking it...Look at that tongue...
032-IMG_3340.jpg
032-IMG_4338.jpg
Escort ship Kama Hele flying the Japanese, Hawaiian, and Yanmar flags at Yokohama.
032-IMG_4917.jpg
032-IMG_9121.jpg
Riding it...Obviously I have better shots of her with her cute face showing and both arms in the air, but I'm not one to embarass people...

It has been scientifically proven that sex is good for your health and beauty.
033-IMG_3341.jpg
Nihon Minkaen, Kawasaki, Kanagawa
033-IMG_4346.jpg
Welcome banner from Yanmar
033-IMG_4928.jpg
033-IMG_9123.jpg
Ooohhh, ecstasy...Nah, just joking. She was actually just embarassed and spontaneously covered her face with a giggle. Obviously I have better shots of her with her cute face showing, but I'm not one to embarass people... Boy, I wish I took a video clip of this scene.

Actually, what happened is that a guy sat on this black penis before she did, and she saw that. So she imitated and sat on it too. Her female friend was taking her picture. Later they switched places and her friend, who was wearing a skirt and red net stockings, sat on it and posed for pictures.

Notice the zigzag white paper streamers. They indicate something which is sacred. So this penis is sacred, possessing a divine spirit. I can believe this because it draws so many people to it. It definitely has divine power. I mean it made this girl sit on it right?
034-IMG_3344.jpg
Toilet
034-IMG_4300.jpg
Crowd on the waterfront near the pier.
034-IMG_4931.jpg
Woman drummer
034-IMG_8693.jpg
Inside Kanayama Shrine 金山神社Kanayama Shrine is dedicated to a pair of gods named Kanayama Hikonokami and Kanayama Himenokami 金山比古神(かなやまひこのかみ)   金山比売神(かなやまひめのかみ. According to legend, when the main Shinto god named Izanami gave birth to the God of Fire, her lower abdomen got burned. These two Kanayama gods helped to heal her birth wound. Thus, these two gods came to be known as the gods of childbirth and healing of the lower abdomen. They later came to be worshipped as fertility gods, protector of sexually-transmitted diseases (AIDS, etc.), and successful marriage. They are also the gods of bellows (you can see it on the left of the fireplace above), so blacksmiths (who use bellows to fan the fire) also worship this shrine.
035-IMG_3345.jpg
The museum park has 25 homes from around Japan many were donated to the museum for preservation. Near Mukogaoka-yuen Station on the Odakyu Line. Closed Mon. Admission 500 yen.
035-IMG_4329.jpg
Hokule'a crew members
035-IMG_4935.jpg
035-IMG_8696.jpg
Inside Kanayama ShrineKanayama Shrine is dedicated to a pair of gods named Kanayama Hikonokami and Kanayama Himenokami 金山比古神(かなやまひこのかみ)   金山比売神(かなやまひめのかみ. According to legend, when the main Shinto god named Izanami gave birth to the God of Fire, her lower abdomen got burned. These two Kanayama gods helped to heal her birth wound. Thus, these two gods came to be known as the gods of childbirth and healing of the lower abdomen. They later came to be worshipped as fertility gods, protector of sexually-transmitted diseases (AIDS, etc.), and successful marriage. They are also the gods of bellows, so blacksmiths (who use bellows to fan the fire) also worship this shrine.
036-IMG_3346.jpg
Water mill
036-IMG_4334.jpg
The Royal Order of Kamehameha I take part in arrival ceremonies. 入港式
036-IMG_4939.jpg
036-IMG_8700.jpg
Inside Kanayama Shrine
037-IMG_3349.jpg
Inside water mill
037-IMG_4355.jpg
Hokule'a arrival ceremonies
037-IMG_4945.jpg
037-IMG_8701.jpg
Painting inside Kanayama Shrine
038-IMG_3350.jpg
Hydrangea
038-IMG_4369.jpg
Captain Bruce Blankenfeld places a lei on the bow.
038-IMG_4950.jpg
Chidori-ren was my favorite of all.ちどり連
038-IMG_8704.jpg
Kanayama Shrine altarFlanked by penis statues on the left and right.
039-IMG_3352.jpg
039-IMG_4378.jpg
Hula dancers
039-IMG_4952.jpg
039-IMG_8708.jpg
Kanayama Shrine altar
040-IMG_3354.jpg
040-IMG_4379.jpg
Hula dancers take part in arrival ceremonies.
040-IMG_4954.jpg
040-IMG_8707.jpg
Kanayama Shrine altar offeringsNotice the male and female mochi offering.
041-IMG_3355.jpg
041-IMG_4386.jpg
041-IMG_4955.jpg
Their dance moves were outstanding.
042-IMG_3356.jpg
042-IMG_4394.jpg
Hokule'a crew dance on the canoe.
042-IMG_4961.jpg
They were in great physical condition.
042-IMG_8714.jpg
Shrine maiden
043-IMG_3357.jpg
043-IMG_4401.jpg
Royal Order of Kamehameha I
043-IMG_4963.jpg
The men in Chidori-ren.
043-IMG_8712.jpg
Giving offerings inside Kanayama Shrine
044-IMG_4403.jpg
Royal Order of Kamehameha I wear red and gold capes.
044-IMG_4968.jpg
044-IMG_8711.jpg
Inside Kanayama Shrine
045-8135-7.jpg
The old Kanayama ShrinePicture was taken in the 1980s.
045-IMG_4409.jpg
Royal Order of Kamehameha I leave the pier.
045-IMG_4970.jpg
046-8135-8.jpg
The old Kanayama Shrine
046-IMG_4408.jpg
046-IMG_4971.jpg
047-8135-10.jpg
The old Kanayama Shrine
047-IMG_4412.jpg
Conch shell blower
047-IMG_4972.jpg
048-IMG_4423.jpg
Crew members hug each other.
048-IMG_4974.jpg
048-IMG_9095.jpg
Prayers for a child written on these votive tablets (ema)
049-IMG_4434.jpg
Former Yokozuna Akebono (blue shirt) and his family were also on the pier. (Wife and daughter in orange.)
049-IMG_4975.jpg
They are actually members of the Maritime Self-Defense Force based in Atsugi.
049-IMG_9111.jpg
Shack for votive tablets
050-IMG_4444.jpg
Nainoa Thompson and other crew members get off the boat. Nainoa was on board, but was not part of the crew who brought the canoe to Yokohama.
050-IMG_4976.jpg
I kept chasing them along the parade route and got these great shots.
050-IMG_9113.jpg
Roof ridge emblem
051-IMG_4461.jpg
Miss Yokohama also took part in the arrival ceremonies.
051-IMG_5043.jpg
051-IMG_9115.jpg
Blacksmith's tool
052-IMG_4472.jpg
Arrival ceremony ends and people start to leave the pier.
052-IMG_4988.jpg
052-IMG_9141.jpg
Another phallus near Kanayama ShrineIt was pretty lonely, with no one paying attention to it.
053-IMG_4475.jpg
Future Hokule'a Captain, Ka'iu Murphy.
053-IMG_4990.jpg
053-IMG_9063.jpg
Happi coat with official logo
054-IMG_4476.jpg
All the crew members met applause and handshakes.
054-IMG_4991.jpg
054-IMG_8729.jpg
Lollipop, lollipop, oh lolly-lollipop (pop!)...From an old song. These lollipops were selling like hotcakes.
055-IMG_4477.jpg
All the crew members were very friendly to all. This is Captain/Navigator Chadd Paishon.
055-IMG_4992.jpg
055-IMG_8720.jpg
Free amazake (sweet sake). It's a white, creamy liquid served with small dried fish with wiggly tails. Sort of reminds you of something...Sperm!
056-IMG_4480.jpg
056-IMG_4993.jpg
Chidori-ren ちどり連
056-IMG_8733.jpg
The crowd awaits the departure of the portable shrines to go on the procession around town.
057-IMG_4482.jpg
Kimo
057-IMG_4997.jpg
Yamato Awa Odori
057-IMG_8732.jpg
People could borrow and wear kimono for free, courtesy of the shrine.The portable shrine procession is actually called a "costume parade." You can wear a mask or whatever and also wear a kimono (considered to be a costume) and join in the parade.
058-IMG_4487.jpg
Captain Blankenfeld who piloted the canoe to Yokohama.
058-IMG_5000.jpg
058-IMG_8738.jpg
The Kanamara boat mikoshi is the first to leave. 神輿の巡幸
059-IMG_4488.jpg
Finally, Nainoa Thompson makes his way from the pier and into the crowd.
059-IMG_5003.jpg
059-IMG_8744.jpg
The Kanamara boat mikoshi is the first to leave.
060-IMG_4493.jpg
Nainoa Thompson
060-IMG_5005.jpg
ちどり連
060-IMG_8748.jpg
Kanamara boat mikoshi
061-IMG_4496.jpg
Nainoa shook every single hand.
061-IMG_5007.jpg
Chidori-ren at Yamato Awa Odori
061-IMG_8755.jpg
Phallus in the Kanamara boat mikoshi
062-IMG_4497.jpg
He shook hands with EVERYBODY and ANYBODY.
062-IMG_5012.jpg
062-IMG_8758.jpg
The outlandish Elizabeth mikoshi carried by she-males.
063-IMG_4499.jpg
063-IMG_5016.jpg
063-IMG_8762.jpg
Also see the video at YouTube.
064-IMG_4507.jpg
The crowd was thrilled to be so close to this man full of aloha.
064-IMG_5017.jpg
064-IMG_8765.jpg
The Elizabeth mikoshi pumping up and down as it makes it way to town
065-IMG_4522.jpg
People line up to shake Nainoa's hand or get his autograph or take his picture.
065-IMG_5020.jpg
065-IMG_8767.jpg
The main Kanamara mikoshi leaves last.
066-IMG_4530.jpg
066-IMG_5029.jpg
066-IMG_8768.jpg
Kanamara mikoshi
067-IMG_4538.jpg
Nainoa has a habit of crouching on his knees so he can use his knee as a backing to sign autographs.
067-IMG_5033.jpg
067-IMG_8773.jpg
Kanamara mikoshi
068-IMG_4539.jpg
"Here you go!"
068-IMG_5037.jpg
Also see the video at YouTube.
068-IMG_8777.jpg
Kanamara mikoshi salutes the Wakamiya Hachimangu Shrine
069-IMG_4541.jpg
Plus a handshake for this little guy...
069-IMG_8779.jpg
Kanamara mikoshi salutes the Wakamiya Hachimangu Shrine
070-IMG_4550.jpg
He never refused to sign an autograph.
070-IMG_8785.jpg
And it leaves the shrine.
071-IMG_4554.jpg
071-IMG_8795.jpg
Heading out to the torii gate 神輿の巡幸
072-8135-26.jpg
Heading out of the shrine (old photo)This picture was taken in the 1980s.
072-IMG_4560.jpg
He never refused to shake a hand.
073-8135-32.jpg
Old photoThis picture was taken in the 1980s.
3189 files on 13 page(s) 1