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Chris McCooey > Japan > Japanese Festivals

Japanese Festivals Galleries

Lake Biwa Festival :

Lake Biwa Festival

Kemari Hajime : The sport of Kemari Hajime was introduced by China. The game was very popular among the high-brass people of society during the Heian period. In Kemari Hajime, players try to kick a ball in a manner so that it does not touch the ground. The ball is made out of deerskin. Whenever the ball was kicked high into the air, rhythmic sounds followed and viewers cheered and applauded. The players, while performing the various actions of ball handling, shouted the names of `Ari’, ‘Oh’ and ‘Ya’, the deities of Kemari. The festival of Kemari Hajime was commemorates a meeting between Fujiwara no Kamatari and with Emperor Tenchi, when they met to discuss his ideas to oust the Sogas, and the venue happened to be a ball-kicking game. It is held annually at Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto.

Kemari Hajime

Aoi Matsuri Festival - Kyoto : The annual Aoi Matsuri festival in Kyoto is an amazing spectacle starting at the Imperial Palace (Gosho).

Aoi Matsuri Festival - Kyoto

Yoshino Festival :

Yoshino Festival

Ji-Dai Matsuri Festival - Kyoto : Ji-Dai Matsuri is one of the largest festivals in Kyoto, Japan.

Ji-Dai Matsuri Festival - Kyoto

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