Last additions - Katsube Shrine Fire Festival 勝部神社火まつり |
My video of the Katsube Shrine Fire Festival on Jan. 12, 2013. Three Japanese kids report in English.Jan 21, 2013
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Moriyama manhole, Shiga Pref.Jan 17, 2013
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Jan 17, 2013
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The lantern bearers lead the way as the taiko drum bearers exit the shrine.Jan 17, 2013
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Rear view of burning torches.Jan 17, 2013
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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).Jan 17, 2013
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The older men wear red loincloths and the younger ones wear white.Jan 17, 2013
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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).Jan 17, 2013
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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).Jan 17, 2013
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In the foreground are torch stands, partially burnt.Jan 17, 2013
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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)Jan 17, 2013
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Another Katsube Shrine torii.Jan 17, 2013
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Katsube Shrine torii.Jan 17, 2013
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The torches are about 5 meters long and weigh over 400 kg.Jan 17, 2013
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Some 400 bundles of rapeseed hulls are used for the 12 torch heads. The torch head smells like tatami mat.Jan 17, 2013
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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.Jan 17, 2013
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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.Jan 17, 2013
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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.Jan 17, 2013
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Photographers stake their place hours before the festival started. The prime viewing spots were already taken by 4 pm.Jan 17, 2013
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These little pieces of wood symbolize the scales of the orochi dragon.Jan 17, 2013
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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.Jan 17, 2013
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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.Jan 17, 2013
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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.Jan 17, 2013
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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.Jan 17, 2013
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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.Jan 17, 2013
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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). This is the shrine's main o-torii gate. MAPJan 17, 2013
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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.Jan 17, 2013
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Jan 15, 2006
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All fires totally fizzled out.Jan 15, 2006
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Fire truck and hydrant right outside the shrine.Jan 15, 2006
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Withdrawing the burnt-out torchJan 15, 2006
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Shrine worshippersJan 15, 2006
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Snuffing out the last flamesJan 15, 2006
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The giant torches burnt out within 10 minutes.Jan 15, 2006
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Local firemenJan 15, 2006
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You can take home a branch of the torch for family safety.Jan 15, 2006
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Withdrawing the burnt-out torchJan 15, 2006
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Jan 15, 2006
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After a few minutes and before it gets unbearably hot, the fire peters out.Jan 15, 2006
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Jan 15, 2006
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Jan 15, 2006
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Katsube Fire Festival: Men dance in rings in front of the fire. Also see the video at YouTube.Jan 15, 2006
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Jan 15, 2006
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It gets very hot...Jan 15, 2006
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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)Jan 15, 2006
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Giant torches in Katsube Shrine, Moriyama, Shiga Pref.Jan 15, 2006
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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.Jan 15, 2006
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One of the six torches carried into the shrine.Jan 15, 2006
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A total of 12 torches are then in the shrine.Jan 15, 2006
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The waiting crowd.Jan 15, 2006
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Jan 15, 2006
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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)Jan 15, 2006
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Taiko drum procession. Three taiko drums are carried around the neighborhood.Jan 15, 2006
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Jan 15, 2006
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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)Jan 15, 2006
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Jan 15, 2006
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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.Jan 15, 2006
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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Jan 15, 2006
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Katsube Shrine was founded in 649 and originally dedicated to a warrior god by the Mononobe clan.Jan 15, 2006
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Rear view of torches.Jan 15, 2006
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