Showing posts with label Shimane. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shimane. Show all posts

12/19/2011

Shimane Prefecture

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. Regional Festivals - From Hokkaido to Okinawa .

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Shimane Prefecture - 島根県

located in the Chūgoku region on Honshū island.
The capital is Matsue. It is the second least populous prefecture in Japan, after its eastern neighbor Tottori. The prefecture has an area elongated from east to west facing the Chūgoku Mountain Range on the south side and to the Sea of Japan on the north side. It is divided into the Izumo Region in the East, the Iwami Region in the West and the Oki Region, a small group of islands off the northern coast. Most of the cities are near the shoreline of the Sea of Japan.
Izumo Taisha in Izumo City is one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Japan.

The Oki Islands in the Sea of Japan are also part of Shimane Prefecture, which also claims to have jurisdiction over the South Korea-controlled island of Liancourt Rocks (Takeshima).
© More in the WIKIPEDIA !


. Shimane - Entries of this BLOG .

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. Izumo taisha 出雲大社 Izumo Grand Shrine .


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Kumano Taisha 熊野大社 Kumano Shrine
Matsue
島根県松江市八雲町熊野2451
Izumo-no-kuni Ichi-no-miya Kumano Taisha

Since ancient times, Kumano Taisha Shrine has been known as Izumo-no-kuni Ichi-no-miya, which translates as the highest-ranking shrine in the Izumo region. It is located in a mountainous area approximately 15km south of central Matsue, from where it can be reached in 30 minutes by car. The vermillion Yakumo-bashi Bridge stretches over the clear waters of Iu River in front of the shrine, and there is a water basin where you can purify your body and mind before ascending the stone steps. The main hall in front of you in the middle of the grounds enshrines 'Kaburogi-kumano-no-okami-kushimikenu-no-mikoto', which is the honorific name for the God Susano-o-no-mikoto.


source : www.google.co.jp

On the right side is Inada Shrine which is dedicated to Princess Inada-hime, whom Susano-o-no-mikoto saved from the 8-headed dragon Yamato-no-orochi and married according to Japanese mythology. On the left is Izanami Shrine dedicated to the Goddess Izanami, who was the mother of Susano and Goddess of creation. Kou Shrine and Inari Shrine also stand in the grounds along with other structures, such as Zuijin-mon Gate, Sanka-den Hall, the spiritual dance hall Mai-den and a resting place 'Kansui-tei'. The Sanka-den Hall is a unique structure with a thatched roof. All four walls are covered in cypress bark and it is surrounded on all sides by a veranda made from bamboo. Inside are two old-fashioned fire-kindling tools called hikiriusu and hikirikine. It is an important building used in the annual Sanka-sai Fire Festival and the inauguration ceremony of the Chief Priest of Izumo Taisha. Up to the modern day, the God of Kumano Taisha Shrine has been bringing the creative and harmonizing forces of prosperity and happiness into peoples' lives.

History
Kumano Taisha Shrine dates back to ancient times and was first recorded in the Nihon Shoki (720 AD) in the Empress Saimei chronicle (659 AD). In the ancient chronicles Izumo no kuni fudoki (733 AD) it is written that the shrine was located on Mt. Kumano (present day Mt. Tengu). The shrine appears as Kumano Nimasu Shrine in the Engishiki Jinmyo-cho Notebook (927 AD) and was also called Hinomoto-hidezome Shrine. Since ancient times, along with Izumo Taisha Shrine it has been revered as a grand shrine of the Land of Izumo. It was also deeply revered by the ancient imperial court, and rose from 3rd rank in 851 AD to 2nd rank in 867 AD.

In the middle ages the shrine was transferred from Mt. Kumano to the foot of the mountain. The shrine was divided into the upper shrine and lower shrine, and until the end of the Edo period the upper shrine was known as Kumano Sansha Gongen and the lower shrine was called Isemiya. It was worshipped at by ordinary people as a shrine for industrial promotion, good fortune and warding off evil. It was designated as a middle ranked shrine in 1871, and then as a top rank Grand National Shrine in 1916. However, its title was reduced from Taisha, meaning grand shrine, to Jinja (a normal shrine) in the shrine system reform of the Meiji Period. It was finally reinstated as a Taisha in 1978. In the sengu shrine rebuilding ceremony of the same year the buildings within the shrine grounds were reformed, and the Sukei-kai, an organization of local parishoners and believers across the country, was formed. Kumano Taisha Shrine has a deep connection with Izumo Taisha Shrine and Izumo Taisha's festival begins with receiving the holy fire (the spirit of Kumano Taisha's God) and the fire-kindling tools of Kumano Taisha. These implements are also used in the inauguration ceremony at Izumo Taisha and are presented every year at Kumano Taisha's Sankasai Fire Festival.

Prayer
saki mitama kushi mitama mamori tamai sakihai tamae.

- - - - - Main Rituals and Festivals
Hatsumode First Prayers of the New Year Jan 1st - 3rd
Setsubun Spring Festival, Feb 3rd, from 11:00 am
1st Day of Spring Risshun-risshi Festival, End of March
Migushi-sai Comb Offering Festival April 13th, from 10:00 am
Chojyu-sai Longevity Ritual, April 29th, from 11:00 am
Motomiya-sai (Climb to the original shrine), 4th Sunday in May
Summer Purification Oharae/Nagoshi Ritual, June 30th, from 4:00pm
Reitai-sai Grand Festival, October 14th, from 10:00 am
Sankasai Fire Festival, October 15th, from 10:00 am
- source : www.kumanotaisha.or.jp


Kumano Taisha was the most important shrine in Izumo for centuries before Izumo Taisha supplanted it in the late Heian Period. Empress Saimei ordered the shrine built in the mid 7th Century. Before that the shrine was the mountain behind it.

Look at more photos by Jake Ojisan !
- source : ojisanjake.blogspot.jp


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Matsue "Dan Dan" Food Festival
6th January~18th March
Winter foods such as Matsuba Crabs which represent seafood of the Japan Sea, the seven delicacies of Lake Shinji, which are abound in Lake Shinji, and Shimane beef, which is highly valued nationwide, are all considered culinary treasures in Matsue.


The Matsue City Warrior Parade (Musha Gyouretsu)
Date & Time: 7th April
With the leading characters of Yoshiharu Horio, the man who laid the foundations of the city, his son Tadaushi and his grandson Tadaharu, 300 citizens of Matsue will bring to life an array of characters from the early 16th century. All participants will don period costumes and march through the city; the princesses, ladies and ladies-in-waiting looking beautiful, the armoured warriors looking heroic, and the court nobles carrying an air of refinement.


Suigo-sai Festival - 5th and 6th August
the summer festival which best represents the "water city", Matsue.




Matsue `Suitouro` Suitoro
(The illumination of Matsue Castle`s surrounding waterways and environs)
16th September- 15th October
Matsue Suitouro is a festival of water and light, that offers you the opportunity to enjoy the magical view of lantern-lit waterways around Matsue Castle and adjacent to Shiomi Nawate Avenue.


Matsue Do-gyoretsu - Drum Parade Festival
14th and 15th October
he "do"drums,each have a diameter of two meters,are placed on large floats and are pulled by children. The drums are accompanied by flutes,and the sound of this energetic procession echoes through the city.

- source : www.city.matsue.shimane.jp/kankou


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External LINKS :


Festivals in Iwami region, Shimane
source : iwamitravelguide



The Kojiki
Yomotsu Hirasaka
Yamata no Orochi
Tales of Okuninushi
Kunibiki
Sake
The Roots of Kabuki
Izumo Taisha
source : www.japanesemythology.jp/



- Reference -

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Related words





. Regional Folk Toys from Japan - GANGU . 

. Regional Dishes from Japan - WASHOKU .


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7/20/2011

Tsuwano Festivals

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Tsuwano Heron Dance (Tsuwano no sagi mai )

***** Location: Tsuwano, Shimane
***** Season: Late Summer
***** Category: Observance


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Explanation

Tsuwano no sagimai 津和野の鷺舞 (つわののさぎまい)
heron dance of Tsuwano


at 弥栄神社 Yasaka Jinja

July 20 ご神幸の日 and 27 ご還幸の日.
Since 1542, when Daimyo Yoshimi Masayori 吉見正頼 (1513 - 1588) introduced it.

The decoration on the head weighs up to 15 kg.

12 children perform a dance 子鷺鉾.

Gion Matsuri 祇園まつり

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quote
Every year on July 20th and 27th
the Sagi Mai is performed as part of Tsuwano's Gion Matsuri.
Though known as the Heron Dance, the birds being imitated are in fact Egrets.

The dance, like the Gion Matsuri itself, was originally from Kyoto, but during the time that Kyoto was a burned out, war-destroyed, ghost town many aristocratic refugees fled to Yamaguchi, and it was from here that the dance was introduced into Tsuwano.



The people of Tsuwano faithfully kept the dance in its original form and in 1953 they went to Kyoto to teach the dance and it is now performed there again.

As well as the 2 dancers dressed as egrets, there is a full complement of other dancers, musicians, singers etc all dressed in period costume. The music accompanying the dance seems to be based on ancient Chinese-derived court music rather than any folk tradition.

Also performed is the Egret Chick dance, a recent invention of the town. The young girls didnt smile much, which may be due to the solemnity of the dance, or the summer afternoon heat.

Look at many more photos here :
source : ojisanjake.blogspot.com


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Look at a videot here :
Tsuwano Heron Dance Sagimai
source : www.youtube.com


Text of the song

     橋の上におりた 鳥はなん鳥
     かわささぎの かわささぎの
     ヤーかわささぎ さぎが橋を渡した
     さぎが橋を渡した
     時雨の雨に ぬれとりとり
     ヤーかわささぎ さぎが橋を渡した
     さぎが橋を渡した



source : www.tsuwano.ne.jp/kanko

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quote
Sagi-odori - "Heron dance."
This folk ritual performance is a type of furyū dance also known as sagimai. Sagi-odori originated from dances performed to musical accompaniment at Kyoto's Giongoryōe observances, which evolved into the festival of the city's Gion Shrine (now called Yasaka Jinja).
During the Muromachi period the dance spread around Japan as the national influence of the Gion Shrine grew and festivals based on the Gion gyoryōe were disseminated throughout the country.

A sagimai is performed as part of the July festival at the Yasaka Shrine in Tsuwano, Shimane Prefecture. The shrine was originally called Gion Shrine. The sagimai performed there is said to have come from the Gion goryōe of Yamaguchi during the Temmon era (1532-1555). It was subsequently discontinued, only to be revived in the seventeenth century on the model of the Kyoto observances.

The Tsuwano sagimai is performed by two dancers, both of whom wear wooden headdresses made to resemble the sagi (heron) and have wooden wings attached to their shoulders. The dance is performed to the accompaniment of music (flute, tsutsumi hand drum, taiko drum, and bells) and singing.
The dancers are accompanied by two baton twirlers and two players of small kakko drums. Decorative large and small umbrellas (kasaboko) are also brought out as part of the dance.
source : Yonei Teruyoshi, Kokugakuin


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弥栄神社 Yasaka Jinja

島根県鹿足郡津和野町後田

Deity in residence
Susano-O no Mikoto 須佐之男命



quote
Yasaka Shrine, Tsuwano
The Yasaka shrine in Tsuwano is a branch of the Yasaka Shrine in Gion. Originally known as Mototakimoto Gionsha, it was part of the importation of kyoto culture by the lords of Tsuwano.
Its located on the riverbank below the castle and the Taikodani Inari Shrine. For most of the year it seems to be abandoned and not much goes on there. There is a wonderful huge tree in the grounds though.

Photos are here
source : ojisanjake.blogspot.com


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. Heron Dance Clay Bell .




clay doll of the Heron Dance




famous washi paper dolls from Tsuwano
津和野の和紙人形

. Regional Folk Toys from Japan .


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Worldwide use


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Things found on the way



WASHOKU - FOOD

. mamecha 豆茶 "tea from beans" / zaracha ざら茶 .

. Genjimaki, Genji-maki 源氏巻 "Genji-Rolls" .

from Tsuwano town 津和野

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Tsuwano (津和野町, Tsuwano-chō)
is a town in Kanoashi District, Shimane Prefecture, Japan.
Tsuwano is remotely located and surrounded by hills. Though geographically closer to Yamaguchi, the capital of Yamaguchi Prefecture, it is situated in Shimane Prefecture.

Popularly called the "Little Kyoto of San-In," Tsuwano is known for its picturesque mainstreet, "Tono-machi," which is lined with Edo-era buildings and Koi ponds. It also boasts one of the oldest still in use "Yabusame" (horse back archery) ranges in all of Japan, and its annual Yabusame festival is a large tourist draw for the San-In region.

Tsuwano is somewhat unusually home to two Catholic churches. The Catholic church in Tsuwano itself is dedicated to Saint Francis Xavier, who visited Japan as a missionary in 1549–50, and is located on its mainstreet. The church at Otome Pass is part of a memorial for Christians persecuted and tortured in Tsuwano by the government during the Edo and Meiji periods.

Other notable locations and tourist attractions within Tsuwano include the ruins of Tsuwano Castle.

Novelist Mori Ogai was born in Tsuwano into a family of doctors, and the house of his birth is preserved.
His tomb is located in Yomei Temple in Tsuwano, which was built in 1420 and is known as one of two great Sōtō sect temples, the other being Daijo-ji Temple in Kanazawa city.
© More in the WIKIPEDIA !




Tsuwano Yabusame Festival流鏑馬まつり
second sunday in April
鷲原八幡宮大祭 流鏑馬神事


. WKD : yabusame 流鏑馬(やぶさめ)Yabusame .


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Tsuwano Otome Toge Matsuri 乙女峠まつり
Christian festival at the Maria Church マリア聖堂
May


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HAIKU




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Related words

***** . Heron (aosagi) Egret (shirasagi) .


***** . OBSERVANCES – SUMMER SAIJIKI .


. Amulets and Talismans from Japan . 

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12/03/2010

Miho Shrine Festivals

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Morotabune Ship Race Ceremony

***** Location: Shimane prefecture
***** Season: Mid-Winter
***** Category: Observance


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Explanation

Rituals at the shrine Miho Jinja 美保神社, Shimane
島根県松江市美保関町美保関 608, Matsue city, Miho town


Miho Shrine is located in the small fishing village of Mihonoseki, and the main deity, Kotoshiro-nushi is worshipped as the God of good fortune, fishing and safety at sea.
The deity is the child of Okuni-nushi and is also known as Ebisu.
- source : visitshimane.com

This is the headquarter of the Kotoshirunushi Ebisu shrines 事代主神系えびす, with more than 3000 sub-shrines.

Ebisu here is known as
Narimono no Kamisama 鳴り物の神様 "Deity of Instruments"
especially the drums

. Ebisu えびす 恵比寿 .

The shrine has a long history and is already mentioned in the 出雲国風土記 Izumo Fudoki:
大穴持命(大国主神)と奴奈宣波比売命(奴奈川姫命)の間に生まれた「御穂須須美命」が美保郷に坐す.

The present-day head priest of the Yokoyama family 横山宮司 is now in the 89th generation.



- Homepage of the Shrine
- source : mihojinja.html

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morotabune no shinji 諸手船神事 (もろたぶねのしんじ)
Morotabune Ritual
..... morotabune 諸手船(もろたぶね)

iyaho no matsuri 八百穂祭(いやほのまつり)
Ritual of 800 rice ears

mikuji ubai 御籤奪(みくじうばい)
fighting for fortune telling slips

CLICK for more photos


This was a harvest thanksgiving ritual, performed on November 23.
Hence the name
Ritual of 800 rice ears

After the race, the participants have a feast including a dish with wakame kelp and other types of seaweed.


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quote
This rite takes place on December 3 at Miho Shrine in Mihonoseki Town, Yatsuka County, Shimane Prefecture.

This relates to the myth regarding the transfer of the land (kuniyuzuri 国譲り) recorded in the Kojiki and Nihonshoki. This rite is a recreation of the myth that Ōnamuchi-no-mikoto's messenger who came in a dug-out canoe called a morotabune and the enshrined deity (saijin), Kotoshirononushi-no-mikoto 事代主神, had a talk at the Mihonoseki harbor mouth regarding land transfers.

In the evening festival, there is a ceremony with 75 kinds of special food and wine offerings (shinsen) being offered to the kami.
On the main festival day, the chief priest (gūji) uses sacred lots (mikuji) to select a steersman and rowers.

A parade led by the carrier of a makka (wooden sword), leaves the shrine and goes to Miyanada, which is before the shrine. The gūji oversees the event from a temporary hut built with curtains, in front of Miyanada 宮灘.



Two morotabune boats in the shape of ancient dug-out canoes (kurifune). Eighteen people including the makka carrier, steersman, and rowers split up and board the boats, take up paddles and begin rowing out to sea. They row to the east mouth of Mihonoseki harbor, to below the headland Mt. Marōdo, worship at the Marōdo Shrine which 客人社 is dedicated to Ōnamuchi-no-mikoto 大国主神, and then return to Miyanada.

The boats do this trip three times, competing against each other. When this is finished, the makka carriers removes the makka from the prow where it had been mounted race to offer it at the shrine. The steersman stands at the prow and performs a call-and-response prayer with gūji standing on the seawall. When this is done they cross the harbor and then there are three boat races.
source : Mogi Sakae, Kokugakuin University. 2007



- quote
Kuniyuzuri The "transfer of the land."
The term indicates a series of episodes in Kojiki and Nihongi related to the transfer of the land of Japan to the descendants of the heavenly kami (amatsukami) by Ōkuninushi, a terrestial kami (kunitsukami).
After Susanoo, the brother of Amaterasu, descended from the heavenly realm to Izumo and slew the great serpent, he married Kushinadahime. Their child (according to the main text of the Nihongi) or grandchild (according to one alternative passage of Nihongi) was Ōkuninushi. Ultimately Ōkuninushi and Sukunahikona worked together to solidify the Central Land of the Reed Plains (Toyoashihara no mizuho no kuni).
However, Amaterasu and Takamimusuhi, wanting the land for their descendants to rule, sent a messenger to Ōkuninushi asking him to transfer the land. Both Amenohohi, the first messenger sent, and Amewakahiko, the second, took sides with Ōkuninushi and did not report back. Not only did the latter marry a daughter of Ōkuninushi and fail to report back to the High Plain of Heaven (Takamanohara), but he also became the practical ruler of the Central Land of the Reed Plains.

Amaterasu then conferred with the deities of the High Plain of Heaven and sent Takemikazuchi accompanied by Amenotorifune (Torinoiwakusufune). Takemikazuchi strongly urged Ōkuninushi to transfer the land, and received the allegiance of Ōkuninushi's son Kotoshironushi , and defeated another of his sons, Takeminakata, who opposed the plan, in a trial of strength.

Then Ōkuninushi agreed to transfer the land, giving the unconcealed realm of the Central Land of the Reed Plains to the Heavenly Grandchild. Ōkuninushi retreated to govern the unseen world (yūkai, see kakuriyo) while being eternally enshrined in the Great Shrine (Izumo Taisha).

With this preparations were complete for the descent of the Heavenly Grandchild (tenson kōrin). There also exist different traditions relating to the above events. For example, Izumo no kuni no miyatsuko kamu yogoto says that the true messenger sent down from the High Plain of Heaven was Amenohinatori, the ancestor of Izumo kokusō. It is now thought that the episode of the "transfer of the land" as described in Kojki and Nihongi represents a mythical version of the process of state unification under the Yamato court. This unification was achieved over a long period of time both through negotiation with powerful local families and through military conquest.

Izumo seems to have retained its ancient political and religious authority until the very end, and it was only with its fall that final unification was achieved. This appears to have happened in the time of the emperors Sujin and Suinin.
- source : Kobori Keiko, Kokugakuin




Okuninushi (Omono Nushi) at the Grand Shrine in Izumo

Oonamuchi no Mikoto, Ōnamuchi-no-mikoto 大己貴命(おおなむちのみこと)
- - - Ookuninushi 大国主(おおくにぬし)



Kotoshironushi 事代主命 and his wife Mihotsu Hime no Mikoto 三穂津姫命

- quote -
Mihotsuhime (Nihongi) - 三穂津姫尊
According to an "alternative writing" transmitted by Nihongi, Mihotsuhime was the daughter of Takamimusuhi no mikoto, given in marriage to Ōmononushi (see Ōkuninushi no kami). In the episode known as the "transfer of the land" (kuniyuzuri), Takamimusuhi warned Ōmononushi that if the latter took a wife from among the earthly kami (kunitsukami), Takamimusuhi would consider him to be disaffected. As a result, Takamimusuhi gave his own daughter Mihotsuhime in marriage to Ōkuninushi, charging him to lead the "80 myriad hosts of kami" and forever protect the imperial line.
- source : Kokugakuin Nishioka Kazuhiko 2005 -


Mihotsu Hime 三穂津姫命は大国主神の幸魂奇魂(さきみたま・くしみたま)である「大物主神」の后神。Kotoshironushi 事代主命は神屋楯比売神(かむやたてひめ)と大国主神との間の子供なので義理の母親にあたる)




- quote -
Miho 三穂
3-307の題詞、歌にある「三穂の岩屋」は和歌山県日高郡美浜町の最西端、日ノ御崎の東、三尾漁港から更に少し東側の突角の後礒にある、久米の穴と称する大きな岩窟がそれかという。『玉勝間』に「三穂の岩屋は同郡(=日高)三尾村の廿五町ばかり東南の海べに在り。岩屋の中に石の観音の像あり」と見える。ただし『紀伊続風土記』には御崎神社(美浜町和田)の西北の地とする。この和歌山県日高郡美浜町の三穂と3-434、7-1228にある「風早の美保の浦」は同一地であるかとされるが、所在は未詳である。
また3-296の「廬原の清見の崎の三保の浦のゆたけき見つつ物思ひもなし」の三保の浦は、三保の三崎で囲まれた静岡県静岡市清水区の入海のことである。駿河国風土記逸文にある、羽衣説話の三保の松原としても有名な地である。松原が続く景勝の地で、大己貴命・三穂津姫命を祭る航海・漁業の神、御(三)穂神社を中心とする海岸一帯をいう。
- source : kokugakuin 渡辺卓 -


. Izumo taisha 出雲大社 Izumo Grand Shrine .

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CLICK for original : nakamura collection


Other rituals at the shrine Miho Jinja
美保神社


The region is closely related to wakame kelp and nori seaweed.
The most famous are from the island Uppurui 十六島(うっぷるい).



美保神社の和布刈神事 mekari shinji
Cuttind kelp at Miho Shrine

Dating back to the time of Jingu Kogo on her war tour to Korea, and later Hideyoshi on the same war path.


CLICK for more photos

mekari no shinji 和布刈神事 (めかりのしんじ)
ritual of cutting seaweed
..... mekari 和布刈(めかり)cutting wakame seaweed
mekari negi 和布刈禰宜(めかりねぎ)
Shinto priest porforming the mekari ritual

observance kigo for mid-winter


mekari no shinji 和布刈(り)の神事 is also practised at other shrines in Japan, for example at the Sumiyoshi Shrine in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi 山口県下関市の住吉神社 on the first of January, in the first high tide of the night. The kelp is then offered to the deities. After this, in the naorai 直会 ceremony, it is eaten by the attendants.

There is a shrine called Mekari Jinja 和布刈神社 at Moji, Kitakyushu, where seaweed is cut in the night from December 31 to January 1.

Mekari Shrine and the Deity
. Azumi no Isora Maru 阿曇磯良丸 Isoramaru .

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神迎(かみむかえ)神事 Kami mukae
Welcoming the Deity

This is a ceremony on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, when wakame is eaten.
The fire for preparing the meal for the vegetarian offering (潔斎食 kessai shoku) is made from special flintstone. The official food offering consists of cooked rice and salt, sesame seeds, vegetables, seaweed (wakame, nori, konbu etc.) and others. Miso and soy sauce are not used for this meal, since they are prepared using fire.

This day is the Boy's Festival Day.


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青柴垣(あおふしがき)神事 Aofushigaki
Ritual of green fenced boats

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This is a ceremony on the third day of the third lunar month.
Nowadays it is held around the 7th of April. At the end of the rituals, wakame is eaten.
The festival is in memory of a legend, when boats decorated with green brushes wrought into fences (ao fushi) came cruising into Miho Bay.

This day is the Doll's Festival Day.

kigo for late spring


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紫菜島(のりしま)神社 Norishima shrine
source : 出雲海藻風土記



. Izumo Fudoki (Izumo Fuudoki 出雲風土記)   



. Nori from Uppurui Island, uppurui nori
十六島海苔(うっぷるいのり)
  



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Things found on the way


. Jingu Kogo 神功皇后 and Japanese Dolls .


. Peron Boat Race (peeron)  

The morotabune boats look a bit similar to the peron dragon boats.


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There is another famous shrine of this name in Japan.

Miho Jinja 御穂神社 ー 三保神社

at the famous pine forest in Shizuoka.



Miho no matsubara 三保の松原 Miho pine grove

quote
a scenic area located on the Miho Peninsula in the Shimizu-ku area of Shizuoka, Japan.
Miho no Matsubara is renowned as a seashore with beautiful green pine trees and white sands spanning over seven kilometers. It has a great scenic view of Mount Fuji and the Izu Peninsula across Suruga Bay. Due to its beauty, it is designated as one of New Three Views of Japan (新日本三景, Shin Nihon Sankei)
...
Miho no Matsubara is known as the site of the legend of Hagoromo(the Feathered Robe), which is based on the traditional swan maiden motif. The story of Hagoromo concerns a celestial being flying over Miho no Matsubara who was overcome by the beauty of the white sands, green pines, and sparkling water. She removed her feathered robe and hung it over a pine tree before bathing in the beautiful waters. A fisherman named Hakuryo was walking along the beach and saw the angel. He took her robe and refused to return it until she performed a heavenly dance for him. As the angel could not return to heaven without her robe, she complied with Hakuryo's request. She danced in the spring twilight and returned to heaven in the light of the full moon leaving Hakuryo looking longingly after her.
. . .
On the second Saturday and Sunday of October, the city of Shizuoka holds a Hagoromo Festival near the site of the old pine tree.
© More in the WIKIPEDIA !



observance kigo for the New Year

Miho matsuri 三保祭 Miho festival
Miho mairi Miho mairi  三保参
On the 14th day of the first lunar month.
A divination of the coming harvest and good business made with rice gruel.
see
. tsutsugayu matsuri 筒粥祭 divination with rice gruel.
If the reading is 8, it is better than a full 10.


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HAIKU



the sweaty brows
of all these rowers -
Morotabune

Gabi Greve


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Related words

***** . Mikuji, O-Mikuji 御御籤/御神籤
Fortune Telling slips



***** . Ships, Boats and Kigo


***** Amulets for a big catch
. Tsuri yuki anzen 釣行安全 safety when fishing .



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5/20/2009

Matsue Festivals

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Horan Enya Boat Festival

***** Location: Matsue
***** Season: Mid-Summer
***** Category: Observance


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Explanation

Hooran Enya ほうらんえんや
boat festival in Matsue town, Shimane

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This festival was started by first generation feudal lord Matsudaira Naomasa in hopes for a good harvest and has been held every 12 years. The object of worship is carried on a boat from Inari Jinja Shrine 大浜住吉神社 to Adakaya Jinja Shrine. At the call of "Horan-enya" the procession, consisting of a line that is 10 kilometers long, carries a fleet of 100 decorated boats from one shrine to the other. The festival in 1997 was the Horan-enya's last event of this century.
The last festival was held in 2009.
source
http://hometown.infocreate.co.jp/en/chugoku/matsue/maturi-e.html


At the front of some ships, a kabuki-like dancer performs his art. At the back of the ships, young drummers acompany a dancer, a young boy dressed like a girl, swinging his sticks.
The festival starts early in the morning, bringing the mikoshi on a boat to the shrine Adakaya 阿太加夜(あだかや).

It is one of the three great festivals with ship processions in Japan.



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ほうらんえんや(松江)



Resources

CLICK for more english information


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Hooran Enya in 2009




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Things found on the way



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HAIKU


TBA
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Related Festivals


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Suigosai Festival, Matsue
松江水郷祭(すいごうさい)suigoosai
kigo for Summer
A major summer event emphasizing "the city of water". A magnificent display of fireworks over Lake Shinji-ko, and surprise events are held each year.
. . . CLICK here for Photos !


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Matsue Drum Procession
松江祭 鼕行列(どうぎょうれつ) doo gyooretsu

Kigo for early winter
November 3

This festival began when the 5th generation feudal lord Matsudaira Nobuzumi greeted his wife in 1734. The people in the area made a drum to beat for the celebration. A float with two large drums, each measuring 2 meters in diameter, proceed through town as the sounds of the beats echo throughout the area.
source
http://hometown.infocreate.co.jp/en/chugoku/matsue/maturi-e.html



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- July August -

Tamatsukuri Onsen Summer Festival – 玉造温泉夏まつり
Held in Tamatsukuri Onsen, this annual summer festival consists of daily stage events and food stands. The stages are outside surrounding the Tamayu River, and performances range from music concerts to traditional dances, like Yasugibushi. At night, the area around the river is illuminated with decorative lanterns.

Matsue Suigosai Fireworks Festival – 松江水郷際
One of the biggest events in the City of Water, Matsue Suigosai is held over two days in the city centre by Lake Shinji‘s shore. Many people wearing yukata and jinbei will enjoy the surface of the lake lit up by thousands of fireworks, while dance events and other performances are held on stage by Matsue City Hall. There are also many food stalls. Fireworks are usually from 20:00 to 20:30 on Saturday, and from 20:00 until 21:00 on Sunday, with a total of around 90,000 fireworks.

Oyukake Jizo Festival – お湯かけ地蔵まつり
This festival, dedicated to the local hot spring deity named Oyukake Jizo, takes place in the hot springs area of Matsue Shinjiko Onsen. Come by and pour hot water over the Jizo statue before watching the fireworks over Lake Shinji. Fireworks are usually between 20:00 and 20:30. URL : Oyukake Jizo Festival (jp).

Iya Shrine’s Ho-kake Matsuri - Hokake – 揖屋神社穂掛祭
Iya Shrine is located in eastern Matsue, by Lake Nakaumi (easy access from Higashi Matsue Station). An important ritual is held there, both on sea and land, to pray for generous harvests and safety at sea. The god worshipped is first brought in a Mikoshi (portable shrine) on a boat to reach a sacred place before returning to the shrine. The land procession starts at 19:00. The celebrations includes awesome Kagura dances on a stage next to the shrine, Mochi-maki (distribution of pounded steam rice cakes), Japanese drums and fireworks. Also, the crowd is given super yummy sake in bamboo cups

Sada Shrine Gozakae Ritual – 御座替神事
This ritual is undertaken to purify the new rush mats upon which the tutelary deities of Sada Shrine are to sit. Another round of dances follows on the second day, including Sada Shin Noh, which was added to the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2011. Created in the early 15th century, these dances have been handed down from generation to generation and are thought to have given its contemporary structure and content to the Kagura dances that today thrive in Shimane culture.

- source : matsuetravelguide.wordpress.com

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