MAY calendar

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. Kigo Calendar - the 12 Months .

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May - gogatsu 五月





.................... 01 .................................................................................

. May Day メーデー .
Labor Day, Labour Day, International Day of the Worker

. Hiraizumi Fujiwara Festival 平泉藤原祭 .

. Walpurgis Night - Walpurgisnacht, Germany .


.................... 02 .................................................................................

. hachijuuhachiya 八十八夜
eighty-eighth day from the beginning of spring .



.................... 03 .................................................................................

. Constitution Memorial Day 憲法記念日 kenpo kinenbi .

. Opening the doors at Yoshino, Ominesan 大峰山戸開式 .


.................... 04 .................................................................................

. Greenery Day 緑の日 .



.................... 05 .................................................................................

. rikka 立夏 beginning of summer .
one of the 24 solar sections 二十四節気

. Tango no sekku 端午の節句 Tango festival for the Boys . .
Kodomo no Hi - Children's Day
End of Golden Week

. Uji Shrine Festival 宇治祭 .

. Medicine Day 薬の日 kusuri no hi .


.................... 08 .................................................................................

. Ceremony for Buddha's Mother 仏母会 .


.................... 10 .................................................................................

. Memorial Day for Katsushika Hokusai 北斎忌 .

. Bird Week バードウィーク until May 16 .


.................... 13 .................................................................................

. Kanda Shrine Festival 神田祭 Tokyo .


.................... 14 .................................................................................

. Izumo Shrine Festival 出雲大祭礼 .


.................... 15 .................................................................................

. Aoi matsuri 葵祭 Hollyhock Festival at Kamo Shrine.

. Kobe Festival 神戸まつり Kobe Matsuri .

. Wakanoura Festival 和歌浦祭 .


.................... 15 .................................................................................

. Teachers Day . Malaysia - Tun Abdul Razak


.................... 17 .................................................................................

. Nikko Toshogu Shrine Festival 日光東照宮祭 .


.................... 21 .................................................................................

. shooman 小満 "grain full" .
one of the 24 solar sections 二十四節気


.................... 24 .................................................................................

. Bulgarian Education and Culture, and Slavonic Literature Day .


.................... 25 .................................................................................

. Missing Children's Day .


.................... 28 .................................................................................

. Tora ga Ame 虎ケ雨 / 虎が雨 Tears of Lady Tora .
rain in the town of Oiso

. Memorial Day for Ariwara no Narihira 在原業平 .


.................... 30 .................................................................................

gomi 53　ゴミ 塵　dirt
gomi 530 no dirt around here / "0" means nothing.
goroawase. day to clean the environment.

.......................................................................


.................... last MONDAY

. Memorial Day - USA .
Formerly known as Decoration Day


.................... third SUNDAY

. Sanja Festival in Asakusa Tokyo 三社祭　 .


.................... third SUNDAY

. Barangay Fiesta - Philippines .


.................................................................................



. seibozuki 聖母月 month of the holy mother.
..... Maria no tsuki マリアの月（まりあのつき）month of Maria
The month of May.


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. WKD : May - a Haiku Month .


. goroawase, goro-awase　語呂合わせ　
wordplay with numbers and dates .


goroawase - days for May 今日は何の日? 5月の記念日
- source : hukumusume.com/366


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. WKD : World Days in May .

. Ceremonies, festivals, rituals - May .

. Memorial Days of Famous People - May .



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For the worldwide approach to kigo,
we must differentiate between the "Haiku Season" and the natural phenomenon and human activites occuring at a certain season at a certain place.

To complicate our endeavor, we also have to deal with the Asian Lunar Calendar and the 24 seasons (periods), which were applied in Japan before the introduction of the Western Calendar, when kigo were already used in Japanese poetry.

Study the details here, please:

. The Japanese Haiku Calendar.


. Seasons beginning .

. Seasons ending .


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. WKD : the complete SAIJIKI list .

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Tsuruoka Tenmangu Yamagata

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Tsuruoka Tenmangu Festival
(Tsuruoka Tenmangu Sai)

***** Location: Tsuruoka, Yamagata
***** Season: Early Summer
***** Category: Observance

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Explanation

bakemono matsuri 化物祭 (ばけものまつり)
monster festival

Tsuruoka Tenmangu Sai
鶴岡天満宮祭（つるおかてんまんぐうさい）
Tsuruoka Tenmangu Festival

May 25

At the Tenmangu Shrine in Tsuruoka town, Yamagata.
鶴岡市神明町



Men and women dress up in fancy costumes and parade in the town.
Dressed with faces covered and a large straw hat, they speak no word and pour sake ricewine or soft drinks for the onlookers.
Is someone can take part in this parade without being recognized by anyone, his/her wish will be granted.

In former times, these "monsters" used to enter the homes of parishioners and invite all to drink with them.

This festival reminds of the time when Sugawara Michizane was taken to exile.
People in Kyoto did not dare to show compassion for him, so they did not speak and dressed up and covered their faces when he was paraded through the town, to show their sympathy for him.


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. Sugawara Michizane　菅原道真 .
Tenman-Gu in Dazaifu 大宰府の天満宮


The shrine in Yamagata was founded in 1603 by Lord Mogami Yoshiaki 最上義光, near the West Gate of his castle, to protect it from evil influence.
It is dedicated to Michizane, Deity of Learning, but also to pray for a good harvest, protection from fire and disaster and lead a happy life.
Sailors pray for a safe trip 渡海無事.
Prayers for rain (amagoi 雨乞い) were also held here many times in the past

. . . . .




例祭 5月25日
祈年祭 4月15日 Kinen sai, toshigoi no matsuri
新嘗祭 11月25日 Niiname sai

恒例祭 kooreisai

　初天神 1月25日 First Tenjin Ceremony
　天神講感謝祈願祭 8月25日
Tengu dance and lion dance are offered.

. Japanese HP of the shrine

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quote
Tsuruoka Town (鶴岡市, Tsuruoka-shi) is a city located in the Shonai region of Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.
The city is located on the coast of Yamagata Prefecture bordering the Sea of Japan and has some locally popular beaches such as Yunohama and Sanze.

Tsuruoka is known within Japan for "dadacha-mame" (だだちゃ豆), a brand of soybeans, which have been called "the king of edamame"; they are also used for other products such as nattō and in manjū.
There are two theories as to the origin of the name: one is that it derives from dadacha, the Shonai dialectical word for "father" – gagacha is the dialectical word for "mother", while the other is that the beans came from Date, Fukushima, and were originally called Date-no-chamame, which became Date-chamame and then Dadacha-mame.
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !


. WASHOKU : Dadacha Beans


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Things found on the way

鶴岡天神祭 Tsuruoka Tenjin Festival
Tsuruoka Tenjin Ema Parade 大絵馬パレード




source :　Enjoy Shonai


. Ema 絵馬　Votive Plaques, Votive Tablets .


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HAIKU



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Related words

***** . Ghosts (yookai, yuurei, bakemono) 　


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Mifune Festival

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Mifune festival (Mifune matsuri)

***** Location: Kyoto, Japan
***** Season: Early Summer
***** Category: Observance

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Explanation

Mifune matsuri 三船祭 (みふねまつり) Mifune festival
lit. "three boats festival"
... shuuyuusai 舟遊祭（しゅうゆうさい）boat ride festival
funaasobi matsuri

ooginagashi 扇流し（おうぎながし）floating handfans
Nishi matsuri 西祭（にしまつり） "Festival on the West" (of Kyoto)

Third sunday in May.
(It used to be the 18th of May).
At the shrine Kurumazaki jinja 車折神社,
along the river Oigawa 大堰川（おおいがわ).



The deity of the shrine is known to grant good luck in business, so many people come here to pray. There is even a "shrine of the arts" in the compound
"Geinoo jinja" 芸能神社
. . . CLICK here for Photos of the shrine !

On the festival day, the deity is put on a boat and entertained with song and dance during a river tour with three festive boats with dragon heads 竜舟鷁首 (りゅうとうげきしゅ).


Other accompanying boats hoast exhibitions of art, haiku meetings, poetry meetings, song and dance performances and more.



The floating of handfans at the Rankyo gorge 嵐峡 is especially graceful.

This festival has a different flavor from those in Southern Kyoto, hence the name "Festival in the West".

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quote
Mifune Matsuri
The scene of an ancient boat party on a river is reproduced by some 20 boats in the town of Kyoto, City:Asahi-cho, Saga, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto City

The scene of a boat party on a river from 1,000 years ago is reproduced by some 20 boats on the Oigawa River flowing through Arashiyama in Kyoto. Every year, 100,000 tourists come to view this graceful spectacle. This is an event organized by the Kurumazaki Shrine standing close to the river, and originates in a ceremony that was held upon receiving the Emperor on his visit to this land.

After a ritual held at the shrine at noon, people dressed in ancient costumes proceed along the beautiful Togetsukyo Bridge and board the boats. Their costumes are very colorful, and you will also see cute little children who are dressed in kimono, too. Also interesting are the boats which have dragon heads or birds' heads designed on the prow.
Each boat has its assigned role, for example, there is a boat carrying musicians who play music, while dance performances are given on another boat, or poetry is recited on a different boat. Sensu fans of all colors are floated on the water surface by ladies dressed in 12 layers of kimono known as juni-hitoe, producing a most exquisite and graceful spectacle.

Kurumazaki Shrine is also well-known for its patron deity of the performing arts. It is therefore visited by many famous stars who come here to offer prayers so that they can give better stage performances or rise in popularity. If you wish to sing or dance better, it might be a good idea to pay a visit to this shrine.
source : www.jnto.go.jp



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Things found on the way


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HAIKU



水棹突く白丁老いけり三船祭
misao tsuku shirahari oikeri Mifune sai

the old boatsman
pushes with the long rod -
Mifune festival

. WKD Awano Seiho 阿波野青畝

source : haiku/seiho


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Related words

***** ***** . Fan (oogi 扇　- uchiwa　団扇） .


***** . Fans from Marugame .


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Aoi Festival

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Aoi festival (Aoi matsuri)

***** Location: Kyoto
***** Season: Early Summer
***** Category: Observance

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Explanation



Aoi matsuri 葵祭 あおいまつり Aoi festival
matsuri （まつり）"the festival"
kita no matsuri 北祭（きたのまつり）"festival in the North" (of Kyoto)

Kamo no aoi 賀茂葵（かものあおい）"hollyhock from Kamo"
Kamo no matsuri 賀茂祭（かものまつり）Kamo festival

kake aoi 懸葵（かけあおい）"sticking hollyhock"
in the hair

aoi kazura 葵鬘（あおいかずら）"hollyhock wig"
..... moro kazura、諸鬘（もろかずら）
hair decoration with hollycock



moroha aoi 双葉葵（もろはあおい）hollyhock with two leaves
..... kazashigusa かざしぐさ
..... morohagusa もろはぐさ

Annual grand festival
May 15 at shrine 賀茂別雷神社, Kamo-wakeikazuchi jinja, in the compound of shrine Kamo jinja 賀茂神社.

In former times it was held according to the lunar calendar, on the first day of the cock in the fourth lunar month.

The name "Festival in the North" contrasts with the other big festival in Kyoto, in the south, at shrine Iwashimizu Hachimangu.

The homes on the way of the procession decorate their fences, robes and hari with hollyhock branches.



Biologically, Kamo Aoi is slightly purple, Aristolochia gigantea, and has been used in the family crest of many famous samurai, including the Tokugawa clan.

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quote
The Aoi Matsuri or "Hollyhock Festival," is one of the three main annual festivals held in Kyoto, Japan. It is a festival of the two Kamo shrines in the north of the city, Shimogamo Shrine and Kamigamo Shrine. The festival may also be referred to as the Kamo Festival.

History
According to the ancient historical record known as the Nihon Shoki, the festival originated during the reign of Emperor Kinmei (r. A.D. 539, 12th month, 5th day - 571, 4th month, 15th day). The ancient records known as the Honchō getsurei (本朝月令) and Nenchūgyōji hissho (年中行事秘抄) reveal that a succession of disastrous rain and wind had ruined the grain crops, and epidemics had spread through the country. Because diviners placed the cause as owing to the divine punishment of the Kamo deities, the emperor sent his messenger with a retinue to the shrine to conduct various acts to appease the deities, in prayer for a bountiful harvest. These included riding a galloping horse.

This became an annual ritual, and the galloping horse performance developed into an equestrian archery performance. According to the historical record known as the Zoku Nihongi (続日本記）, so many people had come to view this equestrian performance on the festival day in the 2nd year of the reign of Emperor Mommu (r. 697-707) that the event was banned.

In the ninth century, Emperor Kanmu established the seat of the imperial throne in Kyoto. This represented the beginning of the Heian Period in Japanese history. Emperor Kanmu recognized the deities of the Kamo shrines as protectors of the Heian capital, and established the Aoi Matsuri as an annual imperial event.

The festival saw its peak of grandeur in the middle of the Heian Period, but this waned in the Kamakura Period and the following Muromachi Period, and as the nation entered the Sengoku Period, the festival procession was discontinued. In the Genroku era (1688–1704) of the Edo Period, it was revived, but in the 2nd year of the Meiji Period (1869), when the capital was moved from Kyoto to Tokyo, observance of the festival procession stopped. In Meiji 17 (1885), it was again revived as part of a government plan to enliven Kyoto. All but the rituals at the shrine fronts were discontinued from 1944, due to World War II. At last, the festival procession started to be held again from 1953. The Saiō-Dai 斎王代 festival princess tradition was initiated in 1956.

The festival has been called Aoi festival for the hollyhock leaves used as decoration throughout the celebration. These leaves were once believed to protect against natural disasters.

Festival events
There are two parts to Aoi Matsuri: the procession and the shrine rites.
The procession is the lead by the Imperial Messenger. Following the imperial messenger are: two oxcarts, four cows, thirty-six horses, and six hundred people. The procession starts at 10:30 of May 15 and leaves the Kyoto Imperial Palace and slowly works its way towards the Shimogamo shrine and finally the Kamigamo shrine .
...

There are two main figures of Aoi Matsuri: the Saiō-Dai and the Imperial Messenger. The Saiō-Dai is a woman who is chosen from the sisters and daughters of the emperor to dedicate herself to the Shimogamo shrine. The role of Saiō-Dai was to maintain ritual purity and to represent the Emperor at the festival. Now, the role of the Saiō-Dai is played by an unmarried woman in Kyoto.
...
Also featured at the Kamo no matsuri are horse races (kurabe-uma) and demonstrations of mounted archery (yabusame).
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !


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HAIKU


草の雨祭の車過ぎてのち
kusa no ame matsuri no kuruma sugite nochi

rain on the leaves
after the floats of the festival
have passed
Tr. Gabi Greve

. Yosa Buson 与謝蕪村 in Edo . 1764


rainfall on the grasses
just after the festival cart
passed by
Tr. Sawa and Shiffert


After the festival car
Has passed by
The rain on the grasses.
Tr. Blyth

Blyth comments:
Today is the day of the festival and though it is raining, the festival car is decorated as usual, and passes by the poet as he stands on the roadside. After it has creaked past, only the pattering of the rain is heard, the grasses on the road side flinch or bow or stand immovable according to their nature. Rain-drops stand motionless on the flowers or hesitate and run along the stems and leaves. It requires a whole village with its remote antiquity, the festival and the car to pass ponderously by, before the rain on the grasses can be properly appreciated.


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地に落ちし葵踏み行く祭かな
ji ni ochishi aoi fumiyuku matsuri kana

they step on the leaves
fallen on the ground -
festival parade

. - Masaoka Shiki 正岡子規 - .


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Related words

***** . Kamo Shrine Festivals
including umakurabe and yabusame 　

***** . Mikage matsuri at Aoi Festival

***** . nansai 南祭（なんさい）South-Festival
at Iwashimizu Hachimangu, Kyoto


***** . hollyhock 葵 (あおい) aoi
garden hollyhock, garden mallow, great mallow, holy mallow



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Kobe Festival

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Kobe Festival (Kobe Matsuri)

***** Location: Kobe City
***** Season: Early SUmmer
***** Category: Observance

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Explanation

Sunday May 15, 2011
Green, Sea and Love

Along Flower Road, Kyu-Kyoryuchi (Old Foreign Settlement), Harborland
This is a rather new festival. There will be a
Omatsuri Parade, Hanabutai and more.

This festival started in 1971 as a highlight of the summer season and has since attracted many people, even from neighboring prefectures. It could not be held the year after the great Hanshin earthquake, due to the effects of the big earthquake. Some of the highlights are a Samba Festival, performed by dancers from Rio de Janeiro, and an the offshore firework display, the Reborn Kobe Parade, and performancse by street performers from all over the world.


The Sambastreet event takes place in Kyomachi-suji Avenue.

It will be held in 2011 as a charity event to support the people of Tohoku.
. Japan after the BIG earthquake March 11, 2011


41st 神戸まつり　Kobe Matsuri


source : www.kobe-matsuri.com

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Other festivals in Kobe
source :　hometown.infocreate.co.jp

Shunsetsu-sai - Spring Festival
(February)
This is a Chinese festival to celebrate the traditional New Years. During the festival Chinatown is adorned with beautiful ornaments and firecrackers go off on the streets. A 40-meter long dragon dances through the streets. Also, a miniature dragon dance and acrobatics are performed by a local Chinese dance team.

. Shunsetsu-sai 春節祭　Spring Festival .



Kitano International Festival
(Last weekend of July)
This festival, organized with the cooperation of the foreign community, is held at the Kitano Tenma Shrine. Booths are erected within shrine compounds where international goods and dishes are sold. Also, people from different countries show their national dances and perform other shows. At this famous shrine the warlord Sugawara Michizane is worshipped



The Great Arima Tea Ceremony
(November 2 and 3)
This festival was started in 1971 as a highlight of the summer season and has since attracted many people, even from neighboring prefectures. It could not be held the last year due to the effects of the big earthquake, but it was held this year. Some of this year's highlights were the Samba Festival, performed by dancers from Rio de Janeiro, the offshore fireworks, the Reborn Kobe Parade, and performance by street performers from all over the world. It was a grand event.


KOBE JAZZ FESTIVAL 2011

Minato Kobe Fireworks


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HAIKU

a strong wind
lifts the skirts -
Samba parade　

Nakayama Ishino


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Related words

***** . Kobe Dolls (Kobe ningyoo 神戸人形
　


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Wakanoura Festival

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Waka Festival (Waka matsuri)

***** Location: Wakanoura
***** Season: Early Summer
***** Category: Observance

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Explanation

Waka matsuri 和歌祭 (わかまつり) Waka festival
Wakanoura matsuri 和歌浦祭（わかのうらまつり）
. Wakanoura festival

saiga matsuri 雑賀祭（さいがまつり） Saiga festival
saiga odori 雑賀踊（さいがおどり） Saiga dance


(Wakanoura is spelled in various ways,
in Japanese and in English.)

The samurai from Saiga / Saika (Saiga shuu, Saika shuu 雑賀衆, 雑賀惣国) where a group which had introduced the use of guns very early. Their fighting groups, often not more than 50 gunmen divided in two groups of 25, shooting one after another, while the other group loaded the guns again, they were able to withstand the onslaught of larger armies of Nobunaga and Hideyoshi, who finally pardoned them because he could not win against them.
They lead a rather free group life and decided everything after a democratic discussion..


source :　wikipedia


The most famous of their armsmen was Saiga Magoichi - Saika Magoichi 　雑賀孫市 / 孫一
the leader of the Saika Renegades, rebels who opposed Nobunaga's rise to power with Kennyo Honganji. After Kennyo's surrender, Magoichi allegedly fought at Sekigahara, and even managed to shoot Hideyoshi in the leg. Later became a mendicant monk, and obtained a government post in the Mito Domain.
The real Magoichi's name and his history are unclear, but there are some regions to claim his grave and his descendants are alive to this day.

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The main festival at the shrine Toshogu in Wakanoura.
Middle of May on a saturday or sunday.

紀州東照宮 Kishu Toshogu Shrine
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

The main deity of this shrine is Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Tokugawa Bakufu, Edo government.

The founder of the Tokugawa clan in Kishu, Wakayama, Tokugawa Yorinobu, built this shrine to honor his father Ieyasu.

Early in the morning prayers and ritual dances (bugaku, dengaku) were performed in the shrine. In the after noon, the mikoshi palanquin was carried to Suzaki beach 須崎.
Everyone could be at the beach, watch the procession and celebrate. Ritual sumo wrestling was also performed. Other dances, like Mochibana dance, are performed.



source : Wakayama screens Museum

The Saiga dance is especially famous.
Men dressed in samurai attire, rattling bamboo sasara rattles and lift one leg high in the air. It is said to represent the gunmen when walking in the woods and preparing for battle.
sasara dance　ささら踊り/ 笹羅踊


source : 雑賀踊の成立


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Wakayama Prefecture is located in the Kinki Region of the island of Honshu, Japan.
The capital is at Wakayama City.

Located in the southwestern part of Wakayama City,
Wakanoura has been considered a scenic area since the old days. It is well-known as a place visited by many members of the Imperial family and poets who wrote poems of this beautiful land.

It was even featured in Manyoshu, the country's oldest anthology of poems written between late 7th and late 8th centuries. In the area, you will find many historic buildings and structures such as the shrine called Tamatsushima Jinja that symbolizes Wakanoura, the monument at Wakanoura Tenmangu where the god of learning Sugawara-no-Michizane is enshrined,
and Kishu Toshogu designated as an important cultural asset.

On the grounds of the Tamatsushima Jinja are monuments of Akanohito Yamabe and Basho Matsuo who both are famous poets. Yosuien, a Daimyo garden that took eight years to build from 1818, is also one of the places of interest. Wakanoura is indeed an area you would want to slowly look around while thinking of the times of Manyoshu.
source : www.japan-i.jp


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. Tosho-Gu Shrine in Nikko　日光の東照宮　.
and Tokugawa Ieyasu 徳川家康



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HAIKU


at Wakanoura, in front of shrine Tamatsushima Jinja
和歌山市和歌浦・玉津島神社前


行く春に和歌の浦にて追ひ付きたり
yuku haru ni Wakanoura nite oitsukitari

departing spring:
I've finally caught up with it
here at Wakanoura
Tr. Barnhill


at the end of spring
here at Wakanoura
I have finally caught up (with spring)
quote


(There is no cut marker at the end of line 1 in Japanese.)
. Matsuo Basho 松尾芭蕉　 Archives of the WKD .


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sasara instrument ささら / 簓


初蝉は雑賀踊りのささらかな
hatsu semi wa saiga odori no sasara kana

this first cicada
sounds like the rattle
at the Saiga dance

Shun Koo 春耕


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Haiku about Wakanoura


行春にわかの浦にて追付たり
yuku haru ni Waka no Ura nite oitsuketari

The passage of spring
at Waka Bay
have I found, indeed.
Tr. Thomas McAuley

source : dmitrismirnov


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掃溜に鶴の下りけり和歌の浦
hakidame ni tsuru no ori keri waka no ura

cranes land
on the rubbish heap...
Waka-no-Ura

Kobayashi Issa
Tr. David Lanoue


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涼しさや蚊帳の中より和歌の浦
suzushiza ya kaya no naka yori Wakanoura

this coolness -
from inside the mosquito net
(I look at) Wakanoura

Natsume Soseki 夏目漱石
1911, August 14th, Soseki 45


source :　agara no wakayama

Stone memorial at Wakaura Park わかうら園


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***** . Placenames used in Haiku - LIST . 　


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Yase Festival

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Yase Festival (Yase matsuri)

***** Location: Kyoto
***** Season: Early Summer
***** Category: Observance

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Explanation

Yase matsuri 八瀬祭 (やせまつり) Yase festival
sanyare matsuri さんやれ祭（さんやれまつり）

May 9
(Nowadays often on May 5).

Main festival at the shrine Yase Tenmangu 八瀬天満宮, Kyoto.

It used to be a festival to chase horses 馬駆け, similar to that of the "Aoi festival).

Children dance with floats (odori hoko 踊り鉾), calling "sanyare sanyare", hence the name of the festival.



Yase Tenmangu Shrine Gate

The main deity at the shrine is
. Sugawara Michizane 菅原道真 .
.

It was first build by the teacher of Michizane, 比叡山法性坊.In the shrine compound is one access to Mount Hieizan, the Yase Slope, and also a stone monument, were Michizane sat down during his visit.

Look at many photos of the shrine:
source : yase.html

. . . . .



In another corner of the compound is shrine Akimoto jinja 秋元神社, famous for its dance Yase Shamenchi Odori 赦免地踊り, performed on the autumn festival of the shrine,
on the second Sunday in October.

The dance in in memory of Akimoto Tajima-no-Kami Takatomo 秋元但馬守 喬知.
It is a lantern dance, where young boys wear lanterns on their heads. The dance is an intangible cultural asset.


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Things found on the way


quote
"Yase Doji Exhibition" 八瀬童子 Yase Dooji

In ancient Japan, the term Yase Doji referred to the people who lived in the Yase district of Kyoto and worked for the area's Enryaku temple. Despite their plebeian status, Yase Doji were prosperous and maintained strong connections with those in power, including emperors, aristocrats and shogun. After the Meiji Era, they were even entrusted by the government to be the imperial koshi (palanquin) bearers.

In 2010, some historical records that detailed the development of Yase Doji were designated as Important Cultural Properties

source : Japan Times, December 2012


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HAIKU




数珠かけた直衣姿や八瀬祭
juzu kaketa nahoshi sugata ya Yase matsuri

wearing rosaries
and official court robes -
Yase festival

. Miyake Shoozan 三宅嘯山 （1718 - 1801) .
Miyake Shozan (1718 - 1801)


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***** . WKD : Main Index 　


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Kamo Shrines Kyoto

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Festivals at the Kamo Shrine complex

***** Location: Kyoto
***** Season: Various, see below
***** Category: Observance

*****************************
Explanation


Miyako Meisho Zue 都名所図会,
vol. 6 巻之六 後玄武再刻, 上加茂社 （上賀茂神社）



The Kamo Shrine complex:
Shimogamo Shrine 下鴨神社 and
Kamigamo Shrine 上賀茂神社 are both recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. They are two of the most important shrines in Kyoto.
They are two of the oldest shrines in Japan.



Kamo Shrine (賀茂神社, Kamo-jinja)
is a general term for an important Shinto sanctuary complex on both banks of the Kamo River in northeast Kyoto. It is centered on two shrines.
The two shrines, an upper and a lower, lie in a corner of the old capital which was known as the "devil's gate" (鬼門, kimon) due to traditional geomancy beliefs that the north-east corner brought misfortune. Because the Kamo River runs from the north-east direction into the city, the two shrines along the river were intended to prevent demons from entering the city.

Kamo-wakeikazuchi Shrine
賀茂別雷神社, Kamo-wakeikazuchi jinja)

(賀茂御祖神社, Kamo-mioya jinja)

The Kamo Shrine is so named because its rituals and festivals are designed to assist in the veneration of the Kamo family of kami and other associated deities; and Kamo kami (kami-no-Kamo) is referenced in other Shinto contexts. In the "Congratulatory Words of the Chieftain of Izumo," the "sacred grove of Kamo" is mentioned along with other wooded Shinto sanctuaries at Ō-miwa, Unade and Asuka:

Then, Ō-namochi-no-mikoto said:
"The Sovereign Grandhild will dwell peacefully
in the land of Yamato."
Thus saying, he attached his peaceful spirit
To a mirror of large dimensions,
Eulogizing it by the name
Yamato-no-Ō-mono-nushi-Kushi-mika-tama-no-mikoto,
And had it dwell in the sacred grove of Ō-miwa.

He caused the spirit of his son
Aji-suki-taka-hiko-ne-no-mikoto
To dwell in the sacred grove of Kamo in Kaduraki;
Caused the spirit of Koto-shiro-nushi-no-mikoto
To dwell in Unade;
And caused the spirit of Kayanarumi-no-mikoto
To dwell in the sacred grove of Asuka.
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !


Kamigamo Shrine (上賀茂神社, Kamigamo Jinja)
Upper Kamo Shrine
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !


source : Kamigamo Shrine HP


Shimogamo Shrine, Shimogamo Jinja (下鴨神社　/ 下賀茂神社)
Lower Kamo Shrine (sometimes written with the Chinese character for duck.
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !





sazare ishi さざれ石 boulder grown from pebbles

"Kimigayo" (君が代) is the national anthem of post-1868 Japan.

君が代は 千代に八千代に さざれ石の
いわおとなりてこけの生すまで

Kimigayo wa
Chiyo ni yachiyo ni
Sazare-ishi no
Iwao to narite
Koke no musu made

May your reign
Continue for a thousand, eight thousand generations,
Until the pebbles
Grow into boulders
Lush with moss

Thousands of years of happy reign be thine;
Rule on, my lord, till what are pebbles now
By ages united to mighty rocks shall grow
Whose venerable sides the moss doth line.
Tr. Basil Hall Chamberlain

©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !

There are various sazare-ishi in Japan.
The one for the Kimigayo is most probably referring to 岐阜県揖斐川町春日, now a park with the stone さざれ石公園.


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According to the system of Shikinen Sengu, all shrines in the Shimogamo complex are meant to be rebuilt every 21 years. The purpose of this physical reconstruction is spiritual renewal.
Tadasu no mori, this lush, green forest is a hallmark of Shimogamo shrine.
source : Shimogamo Shrine HP



The name also refers to the ambit of shrine's nearby woods, which are vestiges of the primeval forest of
Tadasu no Mori 糺の森（ただすのもり、糺ノ森.



Tadasu No Mori
which literally means "Forest of Correction," is a sacred grove associated with an important Shinto sanctuary complex known in Japanese as the Kamo-jinja, situated near the banks of the Kamo River just north of where the Takano River joins the Kamo River in northeast Kyoto city, Japan. The term Kamo-jinja in Japanese is a general reference to Shimogamo Shrine and Kamigamo Shrine, the traditionally linked Kamo shrines of Kyoto. The Kamo-jinja serve the function of protecting Kyoto from malign influences.

The ambit of today's forest encompasses approximately 12.4 hectares, which are preserved as a national historical site . It is today the last remnant of a primeval forest which is reputed to have never been burned down. The forest has, in fact, suffered some damage over the centuries when all of Kyoto was burned during successive revolts and wars but the forest growth has rebounded again and again. The forest is left to grow in its natural state. It is neither planted nor pruned.

The forest in ancient times comprised approximately 4,950,000 square meters of virgin forest. Due to wars during the Middle Ages and a supreme edict in the 4th year of the Meiji era, it was reduced to its present area of approximately 124,000 square meters.

The wooded area that is called by the name Tadasu-no-mori today lies on the grounds of Shimogamo Shrine, one of the seventeen historical sites in and around Kyoto which in 1994 were designated by UNESCO as Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.
source : www.medical-answers.org


hotarubi no chakai 蛍火の茶会 tea ceremony and fireflies
in June

There are performances of court and other traditional music with ritual dancing, a demonstration of kimonos in 12 layers (juuni-e), tea ceremony and then fireflies are released to freedom. (This is a good deed said to improve one's karma in the next world.)
. . . CLICK here for Photos !


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Busha Shinji (歩射神事, archery ritual) at Shimogamo Shrine (下鴨神社).
The arrow will overleap the huge gate at the left side


- Shared by Taisaku Nogi -
Joys of Japan, 2012

Busha Shinji
Shrine priests use bows and arrows to ward off evil spirits. Other arrow shooting rituals are also held.
source : www.kyotoguide.com




賀茂別雷神社（上賀茂神社）
text by 千玄室
source : www.kamigamojinja.jp/sengu


Kamo Wake Ikazuchi Jinja
賀茂別雷神社　（かもわけいかづちじんじゃ）　
source : www.kyoto.zaq.ne.jp


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yakuyoke no omamori 厄除けの御守り amulet to ward off evil

. . . CLICK here for amulet Photos !

. Yakuyoke - Amulets to ward off evil .

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kigo for early summer


賀茂の競べ馬 - Miyako Meisho Zue 都名所図会,

kurabeuma, kurabe uma 競べ馬 horse race

. Kamo keiba 賀茂競馬（かもけいば）
horse race at Kamo shrine
"The Ritual of the Racehorses"
kurabeuma, kurabe uma 競べ馬 (くらべうま) horse race
kisoi uma きそい馬（きそいうま）
koi uma きおい馬（きおいうま）
muda hashiri 空走り（むだはしり）"free run"
kachiuma 勝馬（かちうま）winning horse
makeuma 負馬（まけうま）loosing horse
hashiri uma 走り馬（はしりうま）running horse
ashizoroe 足揃（あしぞろえ） "getting the legs together"
May 5

. . . . .




. Aoi Matsuri 葵祭 Aoi Festival
May 15
Shimogamo and Kamigamo shrine in Kyoto
..... Kamo no matsuri 賀茂祭（かものまつり）

source : Kamo-sai (Aoi-matsuri)


Kamo Mikage Matsuri
賀茂御蔭祭 (かもみかげまつり)
"honorable shadow festival" mikage matsuri
mi-aregi 御生木（みあれぎ）
shibakiri shinji 芝切神事（しばきりしんじ）
"Lawn Cutting Ceremony"
May 15
(during the Aoi Matsuri Festival)

. . . . .


kigo for late summer

. Shimogamo no misogi
下賀茂の御祓 (しもがものみそぎ)
Shimogamo purification rituals
visiting for the Mitarashi festival, mitarashi moode
御手洗詣 みたらしもうで
Tadasu no suzumi 糺の納涼（ただすのすずみ）
coolness of the Tadasu forest
mitarashi dango 御手洗団子（みたらしだんご)
rice dumplings
Nagoshi-no-harae
June 30


Maybe related to Christian baptism rituals?

. The Hata Clan 秦氏　Hata Uji .
and the Christian connection


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kigo for early autumn



. yatori shinji 矢取り神事
Shimogamo Shrine Arrow Ceremony
Beginning of August


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kigo for the New Year

. hatsumari　初鞠 first kick-ball bame
..... kemari hajime　蹴鞠初め

January 4 at Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto.　

. . . . .

Kamigamo Nentoosai
上賀茂燃燈祭 (かみがもねんとうさい)
"Lantern Festival at Kamigamo"
hatsune no tamabooki
初子の玉箒（はつねのたまぼうき）
"precious broom on the first day of the rat"
A broom (brush) used to clean the silkworm room for the first time on the first day of the rat. The broom was made of Chinese lespedeza, Lespedeza cuneata (medohagi蓍萩) and first pine seedlings.


source :　unokanda


. Pulling Pine Seedlings (komatsu hiki)


. . . . .

Kamigamo otana kazari
上賀茂御棚飾 (かみがもおたなかざり)
shelf decorations at Kamigamo shrine
January 14
This ritual dates back to the Heian period.

After making donations to the four districts, they were divided into six districts.
On this day, offerings from the six districts were made.
Lately on one shelf offerings of fish, foul, rice and other food items are made and ritual music is played.

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Karasu-zumo "Crow Sumo (wresling celemony)"
烏相撲（からすずもう）
karasu sumoo
September 9, Kamigamo Shrine



In this very unusual ritual, shrine officials imitate the voice of crows and their manner of jumping to the side, then children perfom sumo for the entertainment of the Kami. It has been designated by the city of Kyoto as an "Intangible Cultural Property".
source : www.kamigamojinja.jp

. . . . .

More festivals at Shimogamo Shrine

New Year's Festivities
Kinensai Matsuri (Toshigoi Matsuri)
Mitarashi Matsuri
Meigetsu Kangen Sai
Ohitaki Sai
Yakushu Wakamizu shinji “medicine wine, young water.”
source : www.shimogamo-jinja.or.jp

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Dragon Ema for 2012



Shared by Promenade in Kyoto
Joys of Japan


. Dragon Ema votive tablets - 2012 .

. The Dragon Art Gallery .


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Things found on the way


. "Kamo Dolls (kamo ningyo　加茂人形)
Willow Dolls (yanagi ningyo　柳人形)



. Kannabi 神奈備 "purified place"


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HAIKU

御座をはけこよひ初子の玉箒
goza o hake koyoi hatsune no tamabooki

cleaning the mats
tonight with a precious broom
on the first day of the rat

In the Haiku Collection Enoko Shuu 犬子集(1633)


Enokoshu, part of the Shoki Haikai Shu 初期俳諧集
江戸初期の俳諧集
17 maki in 5 volumes


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黄昏に孫と散歩の鴨の川

Twilight stroll
Old couple and a grandson
Along Kamo river

Esho Shimazu
Joys of Japan, February 2012


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***** . Kyoto (Hana no Miyako) 　


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