#gionmatsuri — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #gionmatsuri, aggregated by home.social.
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The Jidai Matsuri (時代祭 'Festival of the Ages') is 1 of Kyōto's '3 Great Festivals', along with the Aoi Matsuri (葵祭) in May and the Gion Matsuri (祇園祭) in July.
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This was an overly long thread, so thank you for sticking around🙇♂️
I'm going to shake off some of that summer brain-fog with an iced matcha from our friends at Chikiri-ya🫶
For those of you in Kyōto, enjoy the festival🎉
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🔥THE FATE OF THE FLOATS😱
In the early 15thC it is recorded that 66 local neighbourhoods called 'machigumi' (町組) stored and cared for the floats.
The number 66 symbolically represented the 66 provinces of Japan when the Gion Matsuri first began...1 float for each province.
#GionMatsuri #祇園祭 #Japan -
Izanagi (伊弉諾尊), the 'Father of Japan', sits atop the roof, while the gods Amaterasu and Ame-no-Tajikarao (手力男命 - the god that forced open the door of the heavenly cave) sit within.
Although called a yama, from about 1570 the float grew into the shape of the larger hoko.
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Empress Jingū is joined by 3 gods, all who helped her cross the sea safely: Ryūjin (龍神 - dragon god of the sea), Kashima Daimyōjin (鹿島大明神 - a god of war and safe maritime travel) and Sumiyoshi Daimyōjin (住吉大明神 - deity of seafaring travel).
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28) AYAGASA-BOKO (綾傘鉾)☂️
The Ayagasa-boko consists of two large parasols. It is thought they reflect the earliest type of float seen in the festival, first used to entertain the gods. Absent for a long time, in 1979 the float was restored.
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Known also as 'Seoritsu-hime' (瀬織津姫命), the goddess is depicted wearing a mask and golden eboshi (烏帽子 - a lacquered hat).
She carries a halberd (長刀) to dispel evil.
At the end of the parade the highly-desired votive tablets (said to prevent theft) are sold to the public. -
19) ASHIKARI-YAMA (芦刈山)🌾
Ashikari-yama is based on Zeami's (世阿弥元清 1363-1443) Noh play 'The Reed Cutter' (芦刈).
The work concerns a Naniwa reed-cutter, reunited briefly with the wife poverty forced him to abandon. She is now remarried and wealthy. -
A 3.6cm image of the god Tenjin was found to have fallen at the same time as the rain (proof of divine help) and was enshrined.
The float is also called Nishiki Tenjin-yama (錦天神山) after the area in which the event was said to have occurred. The current float dates to 1714.
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Gion Matsuri 2025 in Kyoto — floats are now set with lanterns ahead of the first procession on July 17. At each float, chimaki amulets made from bamboo leaves are sold. They are said to ward off illness and bring good luck in studies or career. Many visitors have gathered to enjoy the festive atmosphere.
📸 07/14/2025
📍Kyoto City -
Nao-san shows how to 'throw away' last year's chimaki (茅巻き/ちまき).
Prior to the two parades each float accepts old chimaki. These will be purified and ritually burnt at Yasaka-jinja (八坂神社).
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🪢IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME🪵
Between July 10 and 14th the floats that will participate in the Gion Matsuri's first parade (the 'Saki Matsuri' 先祭り - July 17th) are constructed.
The parts are laid out, slotted together, and then meticulously bound in rope. -
A student of the famed tea master Sen-no-Rikyu (千利休 1522-91) built a small teahouse close to the old well and christened it 'Kikusui-i' (菊水井). The float later took this name.
The original float was destroyed in the 1864 Kinmon Incident (禁門の変) and finally rebuilt in 1952.
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🥁THE FLOATS OF THE GION MATSURI🙌
July, consumed as it is with the Gion Matsuri, always passes in the blink of an eye, so I thought I'd compile a list of the 34 individual floats ('yamaboko' 山鉾) that you'll be able to see at this month's festival.
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🥁THE FLOATS OF THE GION MATSURI (PART 2)🙌
This thread will cover the remaining floats that participate in the Gion Matsuri, and a little of their history and the inspiration behind their themes.
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Nao-san shows how to 'throw away' last year's chimaki (茅巻き/ちまき).
Prior to the Gion Matsuri's two parades each float accepts old chimaki. These will be purified and ritually burnt at Yasaka-jinja (八坂神社).
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🤢🙏CHIMAKI CHARMS✨🏡
One of the most important tasks in July for many households and businesses in Kyōto is the refreshing of the 'chimaki' (茅巻き).
Sold exclusively during the Gion Matsuri, these broom-like charms hang by doorways to prevent misfortune from entering the home or office.
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All the Gion Matsuri floats are going up, getting ready for the weekend! 🏮
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There is no clear indication that Yasaka-jinja's crest is related to the humble cucumber, but astonishingly everyone involved in the Gion Matsuri continues to uphold the no cucumber rule in July🥒😵
For spectators, chilled cucumbers on sticks have become a popular festival food.
#Kyoto #京都 #GionMatsuri #祇園祭 #cucumber #キュウリ #Japan #wagashi #和菓子
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Naginata-hoko is being put together!