It is commonly said that you will always find a festival somewhere in Japan.

One of them is 'Ochogata Shinkosai Festival,' which simulates an Imperial visit by the Emperor of Japan whereby carrying of the otori ren-shaped mikoshi housing the divine spirit is performed.

Moreover, events associated with it is also called 'matsuri' in some cases.

Japan's Uniquely Developed Traditional Festival The Japanese term "matsuri" (festival, written as 祭 or 祭り) refers to ceremonies or Shinto rituals worshipping Shinreikon (the spirit of God).

Typical Japanese Matsuri Festival Scene in Chichibu YomatsuriHuge Nebuta Float Made by Paper in Aomori Nebuta MatsuriTraditional Mikoshi Carrried by Hundreds of People at Sanja Matsuri in TokyoTraditional Dashi Traveling on The Japanese Bridge in Tateyama MatsuriTraditional Danjiri Hikimawashi in Kishiwada Danjiri MatsuriBon Odori is a Typical Matsuri Event for Japanese Summer Season A spectacular historical parade which covers the over 1000 years during which

Posing with a new friend.

There are countless local festivals (祭り, matsuri) in Japan because almost every An important element of Japanese festivals are processions, in which the local Many festivals also feature decorated floats (known regionally under various names, such as dashi, yatai, danjiri, etc. Further, in the Kansai area including Kyoto Prefecture, they only move forward while wildly shaking the mikoshi in a seesaw fashion and also crying out 'hoitto, hoitto' as represented by Gion-matsuri Festival organized by Yasaka-jinja Shrine. And he claimed that autumn festivals, winter festivals and spring festivals were originally a series of festivals (harvest, renewal of souls and prayer for a good crop), and then autumn festivals and spring festivals were separated, and the rest became winter festivals.

The primitive 'matsuri' was held secretly at a secluded spot.

Sometimes, a float stage is used for performing kodomo-kabuki (Japanese classical drama played by children. Thus, there are areas which can hardly be called to be in possession of danjiri, but places such as (north) Nagara and Minami Nagara in these areas view danjiri bayashi as an independent music. One of those yorishiro is the said "Yama" which is made up in the image of real mountains and is called Tsukuriyama (forged mountain) or Kazariyama (mountain for decoration.



At the time of rites and festivals are held, various things including altarage, acts and so on were presented to the divine spirit, and a ceremony was held. Examples of 'Ochogata Shinkosai Festival' includes Shinko-sai at Iwashimizu-Hachimangu in Kyoto Prefecture and Hie-Jinja Shrine in Tokyo Prefecture. These acrobatic maneuvers are performed in some areas in southern Kawachi and Sakai City. The Imperial Court appointed the famous Manyo kajin (poet) Tabito OTOMO as Seiihayatojisetsu Taishogun and deployed an army of over 10,000 solders.

In general, 'danjiri' refers to the nationally famous one in Kishiwada City in Senshu Region (former Izumi Province.

From ancient times, fishermen and hunters returned part of their catches to the land and the sea as a quota of deities when they obtained catches. ), which are paraded through the town, accompanied by drum and flute music by the people sitting on the floats.


Originally, as October (in the old lunar calendar) was supposed to be a taboo month, the harvest festival was celebrated in November (in the old lunar calendar) when the season changes from autumn to winter in the Japanese calendar.



On the small shrine grounds, centering on the mikoshi, the bearers may walk in circles while violently moving the mikoshi.

To the contrary, festivals in and after September, if held in July under the lunar calendar, are often treated according to summer festivals.

A lot of festivals at shrines are also observed in this season.

Thus, mikoshi has become popular in the areas centering on Nara Prefecture and Kyoto Prefecture. The participation of individuals in such ceremonies was called 'festival,' and a prayer for good luck charm such as Jichinsai, Doll's Festival, Setsubun (the traditional end of winter) and so on is equivalent to it even now.

Moreover, events associated with it is also called 'matsuri' in some cases.

This is the most famous of many traditional dancing festivals held across Japan during the The festival lasts for two days, "day before the festival" and "the festival proper." )In parallel with permanent yorishiro fixed inside shrines, these Yama (imitation mountains) have been fabricated and used in festivals as temporary yorishiro to represent or reconfirm the descent of gods. This year, Japan Graduates’ Association of Malaysia (JAGAM) Northern Branch is bringing the joy and treasures of Japan to our beautiful island through its theme of Discover Japan!
Its purpose is to raise money for HIV and AIDS research; therefore, its decorations, candy, and souvenirs are often “modeled after symbols of fertility.” Get kids back-to-school ready with Expedition: Learn!

'Additionally, in the Fukagawa and Gyotoku areas, they shoulder the mikoshi in the Fukagawa-katsugi style and the Gyotoku-katsugi style whereby bearers lift the mikoshi high up and throw it up in the air or lower the mikoshi until it almost touches the ground.