Most viewed - Moriyama 守山市 |
Nagisa Park in Moriyama, Shiga has this beautiful field of nano-hana rapeseed blossoms blooming in winter from early-Jan. to mid-March at this lakeside park. なぎさ公園 MAP418 views
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Katsube Fire Festival: Men dance in rings in front of the fire. Also see the video at YouTube.405 views
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Giant torches in Katsube Shrine, Moriyama, Shiga Pref.299 views
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One of the six torches carried into the shrine.285 views
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Moriyama firefly manhole, Shiga Pref.277 views
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Biwako Ohashi Bridge spanning Lake Biwa from Moriyama to Katata.251 views
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Moriyama Station, west side. The west side of the station (toward the lake) is the main side. The east side is mainly residential. This building also has the Moriyama tourist info office to obtain maps and info. 守山駅245 views
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Kaeru frog to wish you a safe return. 東門院240 views
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Moriyama manhole, Shiga Pref.235 views
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About 12,000 flower plants carpet the area in yellow. Free admission. 221 views
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Rainbow221 views
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Mt. Ibuki as seen from Nagisa Park.220 views
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Accessible by bus from Moriyama Station.213 views
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Moriyama Ginza shopping street near Moriyama Station212 views
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Held annually on May 5 by Ozu Jinja Shrine, the festival consists of dances and music by children, taiko drumming, a naginata dance and acrobatics by boys using a pole sword, and a roundtrip procession. Ozu Jinja Shrine torii. 小津神社207 views
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The fire at its peak was very hot to the skin. Sumiyoshi Shrine Fire Festival, Moriyama, Shiga in late Jan.204 views
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Shimoniikawa Shrine, site of the Sushikiri (sushi-cutting) Festival on May 5. The shrine is a 20-min. bus ride from Moriyama Station. 下新川神社 MAP204 views
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Sumiyoshi Shrine Fire Festival, Moriyama, Shiga Pref. on the second Sat. of January.203 views
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The torches burn within seconds.199 views
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This was my favorite part of the festival. Funa-zushi was offered to everyone at the festival. Some people refused though. I love it. It was salty. Goes great with alcohol.186 views
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Sushikiri Matsuri (sushi-cutting festival) in Moriyama, Shiga Prefecture.174 views
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Flower hat dancers at Naginata Matsuri, Moriyama, Shiga Prefecture.169 views
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At 6 pm, half-naked young men wearing loincloths march to the shrine. They are 15-34 years old. 迎え160 views
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Fire truck and hydrant right outside the shrine.152 views
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My video of the Katsube Shrine Fire Festival on Jan. 12, 2013. Three Japanese kids report in English.152 views
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Shimoniikawa Shrine worships a god named Toyoki-iribiko-no-Mikoto who was the first son of Emperor Sujin 崇神天皇, Japan's tenth emperor. 豊城入彦命151 views
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Taiko drum procession. Three taiko drums are carried around the neighborhood.149 views
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They turned off all the lights and lit the torches all at once! Torch lighting! (たいまつ ほうか 松明奉火)149 views
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All fires totally fizzled out.149 views
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It gets very hot...148 views
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Taking a sip of sacred sake. They soon get pretty drunk with sacred sake as they walk around the neighborhood beating the taiko drum.147 views
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Boy drummers.146 views
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After a few minutes and before it gets unbearably hot, the fire peters out.144 views
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Withdrawing the burnt-out torch144 views
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Prayer ceremony at Katsube Shrine before they start parading with three taiko drums. 修祓式(しゅっぱつしき)142 views
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Katsube Shrine was founded in 649 and originally dedicated to a warrior god by the Mononobe clan.138 views
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Local firemen136 views
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Rear view of torches.135 views
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You can take home a branch of the torch for family safety.135 views
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135 views
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Snuffing out the last flames132 views
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The giant torches burnt out within 10 minutes.131 views
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Shrine worshippers131 views
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The waiting crowd.130 views
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A total of 12 torches are then in the shrine.130 views
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One torch enters the shrine. At around 8 pm, the young men start hauling in the giant torches that were displayed in the neighborhood.130 views
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At around 8 pm, the three taiko drums return to Katsube Shrine (たいこ みやいり 太鼓宮入り)129 views
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Withdrawing the burnt-out torch129 views
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126 views
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Rain never dampens the spirit of the people carrying a mikoshi.125 views
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The Katsube Shrine Fire Festival is held annually on the second Sat. of January. They light 12 giant straw torches with young men dancing around. The shrine is near JR Moriyama Station (JR Tokaido/Biwako Line). 121 viewsThis is the shrine's main o-torii gate. MAP
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118 views
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Moriyama Driver's License Center, where many people in Shiga got their driver's license. MAP116 views
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The taiko men parade around the neighborhood from about 6:15 pm to 7:50 pm. (たいこ わたり 太鼓渡り)114 views
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Biwako Ohashi Bridge as seen from Mt. Hiei.113 views
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Amid rain, the procession going back to Ozu Shrine.111 views
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111 views
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Rear view of burning torches.111 views
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Poster recruiting torch/taiko drum men aged 13-34 to carry the taiko drums and giant torches on the day of the fire festival.110 views
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110 views
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Marker indicating a boat landing at this street corner across from the shrine.109 views
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According to legend, 800 years ago during the Kamakura Period, Emperor Tsuchikado fell ill. A fortune-teller said that it was due to a monster orochi dragon in the marsh in the area of present-day Moriyama.109 views
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These little pieces of wood symbolize the scales of the orochi dragon.109 views
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A total of 12 giant torches would be lit up for the festival. In the old days, they had more torches, but the number has decreased due to the difficulty of procuring materials.109 views
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109 views
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In the foreground are torch stands, partially burnt.109 views
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The older men wear red loincloths and the younger ones wear white.109 views
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109 views
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Road marker. Established in 1642, Moriyama-juku was the sixty-seventh of the sixty-nine stations or shukuba post towns on the Nakasendo Road. It is the eighth Nakasendo station in Shiga (following Musa-juku in Omi-Hachiman).108 views
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Katsube Shrine and giant torches. Six torches were laid within the shrine grounds. I saw the festival twice, in 2006 and 2013.108 views
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108 views
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Six more torches were right outside Katsube Shrine. They will be carried into the shrine one by one to be burned.108 views
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The men receive sacred sake and a good-luck charm from a shrine priest. The ceremony is called, Shushi-mairi (しゅうしまいり 牛玉参り).108 views
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108 views
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108 views
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Katsube Shrine in Moriyama, Shiga Prefecture. The Honden main hall behind the building you see here is an Important Cultural Property.107 views
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The emperor sent hunters to kill the dragon which they finally did and burned the body. The emperor then recovered from his illness. When the dragon was burned, the body fell on Katsube Shrine while the head fell on Sumiyoshi Shrine.107 views
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107 views
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Photographers stake their place hours before the festival started. The prime viewing spots were already taken by 4 pm.107 views
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Katsube Shrine torii.107 views
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They all carry a shushi stick imprinted with "Prayer for family safety and health" (奉納勝部神社 家内安全 かない あんぜん).107 views
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106 views
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Some 400 bundles of rapeseed hulls are used for the 12 torch heads. The torch head smells like tatami mat.106 views
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The torches are about 5 meters long and weigh over 400 kg.106 views
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Another Katsube Shrine torii.106 views
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The lantern bearers lead the way as the taiko drum bearers exit the shrine.106 views
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All the Torch and taiko drum bearers (たいまつぐみ 松明組) and helpers (せわかた 世話方) now line up in front of the shrine to receive sacred sake (おみき お神酒) and a good-luck charm (おふだ お札).105 views
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Both Katsube Shrine and Sumiyoshi Shrine hold a fire festival on the same day and same time so you cannot see both fire festivals on the same day.104 views
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The torches are made of tree branches, bamboo, and straw from rapeseed hulls. Many people are involved in gathering the materials and making the torches.104 views
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Unfortunately, it later rained in the afternoon.103 views
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Inside Pieri Moriyama. It was in financial trouble due to competing megamalls in southern and eastern Shiga. Many stores closed. MAP101 viewsThe mall is being revived.
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Unoke is the former home of the late Prime Minister Uno Sosuke. Now owned by the city, it has been renovated as an exhibition space and restaurant/cafe.101 views
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Portable shrine99 views
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They also danced in front of the shrine. For more info about the festival, call the shrine at 077-585-3380 (in Japanese).99 views
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99 views
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Old Nakasendo Road and Dobashi Bridge. Supposedly, this is the bridge from where Hiroshige drew his print of Moriyama-juku.96 views
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Tenmangu Shrine90 views
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The festival got its start when the legendary Toyoki-iribiko-no-Mikoto crossed Lake Biwa from the west shore to Moriyama on a log raft to subjugate the eastern provinces. A local villager then offered him pickled carp caught in Lake Biwa as an offering.89 views
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Fire truck and burnt torch.88 views
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Dobashi Bridge87 views
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Tenmangu Shrine87 views
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How spectacular can a pair of boys be, cutting up a fish? This festival always receives a lot of publicity on TV and newspapers, but I didn't see that many people attending. Not so many photographers either, although NHK TV was standing next to me.87 views
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Road marker. Go right for the Nakasendo Road. MAP86 views
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Sumiyoshi Shrine is on the west side of JR Moriyama Station. This side has an area called "Fuke" written with the same kanji for "uwaki" (cheating on your partner).86 viewsI wonder what married couples think of living in this area...
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The festival is also called Naginata Matsuri (festival) and Naginata-furi held in Moriyama, Shiga. 長刀振り86 views
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Stone for safe childbirth85 views
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Pieri Moriyama, a new shopping mall near the lake shore.85 views
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Tomon-in temple built by Buddhist Priest Saicho (Dengyo Daishi) to protect his Enryakuji temple on Mt. Hiei from demons from the east. 東門院83 views
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Marker for the Kabuto-ya inn80 views
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The festival ended quickly. A lot faster than the Katsube Shrine's Fire Festival held at the same time.79 views
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Rear of road marker78 views
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樹下神社78 views
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Taming the firre.77 views
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Mikoshi77 views
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Mayor of Moriyama drinks the sake as Uno Osamu, one of Shiga's National Diet members, looks on.76 views
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Not a spectacular view, but the lake can be seen.76 views
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Naginata odori dance76 views
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Plaza in front of Moriyama Station, west side. MAP75 views
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These boys are carrying a long sword called naginata. Later they will perform acrobatics (dance) with the naginata.75 views
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Fire hydrant and hose just in case.74 views
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Pieri Moriyama's own boat dock.74 views
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View from Biwako Ohashi Bridge, 1.35 km long. The bus ride over the bridge from Moriyama to Katata takes about 36 min.74 views
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The naginata dance has been inscribed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2022 as one of Japan's furyu-odori (風流踊) ritual dances.73 views
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Hiroshige's woodblock print of Moriyama-juku (68th post town on the Nakasendo) from his Kisokaido series. Tea houses in spring.73 views
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Within the shrine grounds is this monument indicating that legendary Emperor Jimmu worshipped here. 神武天皇遥拝71 views
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First they moved the fish to the left side in unison. 70 views
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Glad that this isn't a summer festival when all the flies would flock to this stink fish.69 views
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Kanko-no-Mai dance, a kind of lion dance. かんこの舞69 views
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Monument indicating that Emperor Meiji worshipped here. 明治天皇遥拝69 views
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This Lake View room is a rest place.69 views
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On the balcony of Pieri Moriyama.69 views
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Mikoshi starts to leave.69 views
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Sumiyoshi Shrine torii. Notice the torches inside the shrine. 住吉神社 MAP68 viewsEvery Jan., both this shrine and Katsube Shrine light giant torches for the festival's climax. Unfortunately, you cannot see the festival at both shrines since they are held around the same time. Sumiyoshi Shrine's fire festival is smaller with fewer (six) torches which represent the head of the slain dragon.
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Men in loincloths beat the wall in a building, then came out with small torches.68 views
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68 views
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All the while, the boys were heckled by men (mikoshi bearers) sitting on the steps in front. I didn't realize it then, but the heckling was part of the ceremony.68 views
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Biwako Ohashi Bridge as seen from Pieri Moriyama.68 views
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Wearing hanagasa flower hats, the dancers performed here near the shrine before proceeding to Ozu Shrine. MAP68 views
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Sumiyoshi Shrine and the six giant torches.67 views
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More men light the torches. The straw ignited almosty immediateely and no kerosene was used.67 views
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Great way to warm up.67 views
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67 views
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The first cut. The knife is about 45 cm long and the chopsticks over 40 cm long.67 views
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Flute players pose for a picture.67 views
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At times, the priest would give advice to the boy. 66 views
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Local dignitaries attending the event. 66 views
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Flower hat girls pose for a picture.66 views
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Before leaving Ozu Wakamiya Shrine, the boys performed their naginata dance which were more acrobatic than a dance.66 views
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Sumiyoshi Shrine Fire Festival65 views
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Sacred sake is served.65 views
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65 views
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Oh yummy! Looks delicious. There are ten fish, but the boys cut only three fish during the ceremony. We could readily smell the fermented fish.65 views
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The smell of the fish wafted through the air.65 views
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Delighted to find free Internet connection terminals if you have a your own computer.65 views
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Inside Shimoniikawa Shrine setup for the Sushikiri Matsuri held on May 4-5, but May 5 is the main event. The formal name of the festival is Omi-no-Kenketo Matsuri. 近江のケンケト祭.64 views
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A red sake bowl is brought.64 views
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Wiping off their sweat.64 views
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Before the torches burnt out completely, the men hauled away each torch one by one.63 views
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First the two men are served various food and drink for a meal. Two young lads will cut funa-zushi fermented fish (crucian carp native to Lake Biwa) as an offering. The festival prays for abundant harvests and good health.63 views
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63 views
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Opened in 1998 to mark the 40th anniversary of the company's founding. Highly recommended. Museum has a Shinto shrine architecture. Built on the company's former truck depot.63 views
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62 views
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Sushikiri Matsuri festival started about 400 years ago.62 views
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Sitting in the front were the shrine priest, in red, and the man in black who was the chairman of the local neighborhood board 自治会長. The ceremony started at 12:30 pm.62 views
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Finally the main dish.62 views
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It takes 3 or 4 years to ferment the fish with salt and rice. It's Shiga's most famous delicacy. In the old days, it was common for people to make their own funa-zushi. Today, few make their own. Most buy it at the supermarket, fish shop, etc.62 views
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Then very stylishly, they wield their long metal chopsticks and a large knife to start cutting. Everything was done in unison between the two boys.62 views
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The shrne priest refuses another round of sake.62 views
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The Sushikiri ceremony was over after about an hour. Then was the Naginata procession.62 views
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Other side of the lake as seen from Moriyama. The giant and rusting ferris wheel is at the defunct Biwako Tower amusement park.62 views
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Head of torch. Different shape from Katsube Shrine's torches.61 views
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The two local boys (age 14 and 15) arrive for the sushi-cutting ceremony.61 views
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A wooden cutting board with 10 funa-zushi each.60 views
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Sake poured for the shrine priest.60 views
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Naginata boys60 views
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While ringing a bell, he provided the dance beat for the flower hat girls.60 views
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Naginata Festival Preservation Committee members.60 views
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Torch stem59 views
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Back of the torch heads.59 views
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Sumiyoshi Shrine59 views
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Sake poured high for the mayor of Moriyama, one of the dignitaries watching the festival.59 views
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The mikoshi portable shrines are taken out.59 views
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Three mikoshi and two children's mikoshi are placed in front of the shrine to be blessed.59 views
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The procession from Ozu Shrine to Ozu Wakamiya Shrine begins.59 views
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Bus in Moriyama58 views
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