The position of women in the Gion Matsuri tradition has changed over the centuries, but the fact is that the Gion Matsuri could never be staged...
It takes time and much effort to pull the heavy floats the length of the parade route, mesmerizing the crowd with this direct link to Kyoto’s...
From ancient times, horses, especially white horses, were highly revered in Japan, and it was believed that sometimes kami arrived on horseback.
The parade of floats are famous, but decidedly secondary to the evening processions that take Yasaka Shrine’s three deities into the city for a one-week stay.
(Last of two parts) Part 1: Gion Festival Amid the Pandemic: Smaller Events, Closer Communities No matter what happens, this is what I have...
(First of two parts) Kon-chiki-chin. Kon-chiki-chin. The sounds of the rhythmic ohayashi music heard throughout the city of Kyoto accentuates the Gion Festival, the...
