Mitama is a sprit of the deceased. Ancient people thought it caused natural disasters and epidemics. In this post, I’ll show you how people managed them in order to accomplish to the peace. 合掌

Nature, Kami, and Tatari　自然の背後の神とその祟り

As stated in this post, our ancestors admired Kami behind nature. When people suffered from natural disasters, famines, epidemics and so on, they thought the cause of them are Tatari (祟り) of Kami.

たけちよ

Tatari is misfortunes or bad incidents brought by Kami in anger and irritation. They are angry with many reasons. To calm them down, people held Matsuri.

For example, Aoi Matsuri was originally held due to the natural disasters. They found Kaomo no Ohkami was irritated due to mal-practiced rituals and ceremonies.

The faith of Goryo 御霊信仰

御霊 (Goryo) is also pronounced as Mitama. 御 is a prefix indicates respect and 霊 is a sprit. Ancient people thought that once we died, our spirit left our body. They believed the spirit of the deceased stay near her descendants to save them from misfortune forever.

たけちよ

This is the most important and fundamental thing to understand the faith of Goryo. When we die, our sprit leaves our body and we become a guardian of our descendants. This idea also is a foundation of Gozan Okuribi.

Around the 8th century, a centralized government was established and many political conflicts happened in the developing society. People started to think that the cause of the natural disasters are Tatari (祟り) of the Goryo (Mitama) of the victims of these conflicts.

シカさん

This time, Tatari is brought by the person passed away in the conflict with great resentment.

七里ヶ浜親方

People thought their Tatari brought disasters as…a kind of vendetta.

To get rid of Tatari, the cause of disasters, people tried to calm Goryo (Mitama) down half in fear, half in respect. This is the fatih of Goryo.

たけちよ

Half in fear, half in respect. This attitude is called Ifu (畏怖). In a nutshell, people thought they are the same as Kami.

Goryo-e 御霊会

Goryo-e is Buddhist ritual held in order to calm Goryo(Mitama) down and get rid of it. People entertained Mitama with the Sutras and performances and sent it to a far-out place.

たけちよ

This time the aim is to get rid of Mitama. As I tell you later, people started to enshrine it as Kami.

In early days, it seemed some private Goryo-e took place. The first official and recorded one is Shinsen-en Goryo-e in 863 stated in Nihon Sandai Jitsuroku(『日本三大実録』), the history book in the 10th century. The archipelago suffered from the epidemic and the imperial court find the cause of the Tatari of the politically ousted six persons. The most famous one is Sawara Shinoh. He is a brother of emperor Kanmu and ousted from the Imperial Court on the suspicion of the involvement of the assassination of an court noble. He was starved on the way to the penal place.

The Goryo-e of 863 is extraordinary important:

1. Shnbutsu Shugo, the fusion of Shinto and Buddhism, was matured because there is idea of Tatari belong to Shinto, not Buddhism. And they tried to get rid of it by Goryo-e, the Buddhist ceremony.
2. The ritual privately took place became the one carried by the Imperial court. Nihon Sandai Jitsuroku describes that the Golden Light Sutra was dedicated. The sutra was the one for the safety of a country. For example, it was dedicated in the ceremony commemorate the construction of The Great Buddha of Nara which was constructed in order to get rid of the epidemics and natural disasters from the country.
3. It gave birth to The faith of Gion. In the faith, people thought Gozu Tenno caused epidemics and natural disasters. This time, Ekijin, the Kami who causes epidemics, came from outside of the community was added to the cause of Tatari. In the Goryo-e in 869 was held to calm down his Tatari. This faith is still alive because Gion Matsuri take places on it every year.

七里ヶ浜親方

Let me explain about #3. In ancient times. people thought when petals of flower fall off in early spring, they bring epidemics to the community and they came from the outside of it. As a prevention, they held ceremonies at the border. As time passed, they found the cause was Ekjin, instead of the petals.

Sugarawa no Michizane, the most feared Goryo　菅原道真公

The most famous Goryo is the one of Sugawara no Michizane (菅原道真) enshrined in Tikano Tenmangu shrine. He is one of the most prominent court nobles. His clan was ranked low in the aristocracy but emperor Uda gave him one of the most important post in the Imperial court due to his highly-evaluated achievement. Fujiwara no Tokihira who belonged to the most prosperous clan at the time lied to the emperor for the purpose of  ousting him of the Imperial court. Michizane was sent to Dazaifu in Fukuoka prefecture and starved there.

Some years later, weird things happened:

• Since his death, Japan suffered from natural disasters and epidemics every year.
• Tokihira passed away all of a sudden. When he was dying, Buddhist ritual took place to heal him (The popular way to get rid of illness at that time). The phantom of Michizane appeared from Tokihira’s ear and tried to stop the ritual.
• Tokihira’s sister was a spouse of Emperor Daigo. Their son passed away young all of a sudden.
• Seiryoden was struck and burned out by the lightening. Seiryoden was a place where emperor lives in the Imperial Court. Due to the fire, many court nobles and aristocrats died. Emperor Digo shocked to death.

People rumored the cause of these incident was the Tatari of Michizane. The Imperial Court decided to enshrine the Mitama of Michizane in Kitano Tenmangu shrine as Kami.

There is an idea behind that. The Mitama of Michizane makes them suffer with the enormous power. The Imperial Court took advantage of it to save our country.

たけちよ

As I told you previously, First, people got rid of Mitama. Next, they enshrined them.

Summery

Mitama is a sprit of the deceased. Ancient people thought it caused natural disasters and epidemics. First, they held Goryo-e in order to get rid of it. As time passed by, they started to enshrine it to save them from these disasters taking advantage of its enormous power. 合掌

Misogi and Harae is the ways to get rid of evilness in order to prepare for something sacred. They are the deeds familiar to us and you’ll see them when you visit Shito shrine, Buddhist temples, ceremonies, events and so on. In this post, I’ll show you what they are. 合掌

Misogi 禊

Kegare (穢) is an anemic state of mind. Misogi (禊) is to bathe oneself in river or ocean to get rid of it. Misogi is based on a story in Japanese mythology.

Izanagi no Mikoto (伊邪那岐命) and Izanami no Mikoto (伊耶那美命) are parents/creators of the country and many Kami (deities). When Izanami gave birth to Kagutsuchi, the kami of fire, she got burned and passed away. Izanagi missed her so much that he went to Yomi no Kuni, the place for the deceased, to see his wife.

He asked her to go back to the world once her belonged. She said that she would ask Yomotsukami, the ruler of Yomi no Kuni, whether it was possible. And she asked Izanagi, “Don’t take a look at my body while I’m away.”

He broke the promise and found her corpse. She was so embarrassed and angry that she chased him around. He escaped from Yomi no Kuni narrowly and found himself in Kegare because he saw the extreme case of an anemic state of mind: Dead body.

シカさん

We think anemic mind could take our lives in the worst case.  He thought he saw the worst case of Kegare.

Kojiki put it: 是以伊邪那岐大神詔、吾者到於伊那志許米、志許米岐、穢國而在祁理。故吾者爲御身之禊而、到坐竺紫日向之橘小門之阿波岐、原而、禊祓也。

After that, Izanagi bathed himself in a pond to get rid of the Kegare he had in Yomi no Kuni.

七里ヶ浜親方

Traditionally, we believe in water which has a power to make anything reborn and come alive. In the last sentence, we find 祓. The 祓 is not the one in next chapter. It is means the same as Misogi.

Harae 祓

Harae is the way to get rid of Tsumi(罪). Tsumi is a thing to ruin our life.

たけちよ

Tsumi is usually translated as “crime” or something but it’s not the one we are talking about.

As Kegare, Harae also is based on a story in Japanese mythology:

Suasnoh no Mikoto made Tsumi to violate the order of Takamagahara where Amatsukami deities were. Due to his Tsumi, Amaterasu Ohmikami, the deity of the sun, hid away to a cave and the world went into a complete darkness. Other deities managed to pulled her out of the cave and the sun rose again. After the incident, they ousted Susanoh out of Takamagahara.

Kojiki put it: 於是八百萬神共議而、於速須佐之男命負千位置戸、亦切鬚及手足爪令祓而、

In a nutshell, the sentence says that they asked him to hand in things to make up for his Tsumi. And they also cut his nails and beard off.

シカさん

Ancient people thought they put their Tsumi into a part of their body they can remove. And they using it as a tool of getting rid of their Tsumi.

七里ヶ浜親方

Today, Tsumi means the deeds to violate the social norms and our inadequate or un acceptable attitude.

たけちよ

But we cannot tell Tsumi from Kegare exactly today. As described later, we get rid of Tsumi and Kegare in Nagoshi no Harae.

Saiohdai Gyokei no Gi and what we do 斎王代御禊の儀と我々の行為

Saiohdai Gyokei no Gi is a ceremony held prior to Aoi Matsuri. Saioh dai is a lady plays a role of Saioh.

Saiohdai Gyokei no Gi 2026 at Shimogamo shrine: The most famous ritual prior to Aoi matsuri festival in Kyoto

Saiohdai Gyokei no Gi 2026 is one of the most important rituals held prior to Aoi matsuri festival. In this article, we learn about Gyokei no Gi in historical point of view and who is Saioh/Saiohdai.

kyotokankoyagi.com

2019.04.30

Saioh is a priestess served for Kamosha (Kamigamo shrine and Shimogamo shrine) on behalf of an emperor when Aoi Matsuri was held. Saioh was under Kessai (潔斎) for years preparing for Aoi Matsuri.

シカさん

Kessai is a way to get rid of evilness to be in a state to see something/ someone sacred. IDEST, She exercised Misogi and Harae. As described in The Tale of Genji, Saioh practiced Misogi at the bank of the Kamo river in old days.

Today, Saiohdai carries out Misogi and Harae in the ceremony.

Example of Misogi 禊

Misogi Saiohdai does

The Misogi in Saiohdai Gyokei no Gi is an abbreviated one: She just touches the stream.

たけちよ

Saiohdai Gyokei no Gi is an event. It isn’t a ceremony or ritual and she isn’t a priestess. But the Misogi works though the one she did isn’t an authentic one. Actually, as we discuss later, we practice an abbreviated Misogi before we enter Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples.

七里ヶ浜親方

Saiohdai do Misogi in order to get ready for the sacred festival.

Misogi we do

When we enter a Shinto shrine or a Buddhist temple, we usually find a basin like this. We did an abbreviated Misogi there.

1. Take a dipper in your right hand and pour the water over your left hand.
2. Take the dipper in your left hand and pour the water over your right hand.
3. Take the dipper in your right hand again
4. Pour the water in your left hand (Use the left hand as a bowl).
5. Rinse your mouth with the water hiding your mouth with your left hand.
6. Raise the dipper to let the water run the handle of it.

シカさん

We do Misogi in order to get ready for entering the sacred places.

Example of Harae 祓

Harae Saiohdai does

Harae of Saiohdai is an abbreviated one like Misogi. She uses a Hitogata as Katashiro.

Hitogata is a human-shaped piece of paper. Katashiro is a substitute for us.

Saiohda uses it as a substitute for nails and beard: She rubs herself with a Hitogata and breath out over it in order to put her Tsumi in to it.

七里ヶ浜親方

Saiohdai do Harae in order to get ready for the sacred festival.

Harae we do

On the last day of June, many Shinto shrines and Buddhist temple hold Nagoshi no Harae thorough the archepleago. It is a ceremony to get rid of Tsumi and Kegare. And some of them also hold Oharae on the last day of November. We use Hitogata as Saiohdai does.

たけちよ

As I said, we cannot tell Tsumi from Kegare exactly. We think we gain both of them in daily life and get rid of them in Nagosho no Harae and Oharae.

In both ceremonies, we use Hitogata as Saiohdai for the same purpose.

In addition to it, in Nagoshi no Harae, we usually do Chinowa Kuguri to keep epidemics away from us.

"Chinowa kuguri" at Yasaka shrine/ 2025 茅の輪くぐり英語で説明

A guide of Chinowa Kuguri 2025 @ Yasaka shrine. A story about Somin Shorai says that the Deity save us from malady with it. We always find it in June and July but we also find it in March to prepare for coronavirus.

kyotokankoyagi.com

2018.06.24

七里ヶ浜親方

We do Harae in order to lead our lives.

Summery

Misogi is the way to remove Kegare, the anemic state of mind and Hare is the way to remove Tsumi, the deeds to violate the social norms and our inadequate or un acceptable attitude. Both of them have its roots on Janapese mythology and we exercise them in abbreviated ways today.

THE GIST OF THIS ARTICLE

• Page 1 Introduction, Why Gion Matsuri celebrated?, Must sees 1: General
• Page 2 Must-sees 2: Shiji (rituals), Must-sees 3: De facot Shinji, Must-sees4: Kami Nigiwai
• Page 3 Breaking 2024, Schedule of 2024 (Yamahoko Parade, Hokotate, Kaisho, How to get to Gion Matsuri?
• Page 4 Gion Matsuri schedule 1
• Page 5 Gion Matsuri schedule 2
• Page 6 Gion Matsuri schedule 3
• Page 7 Mikoshis
• Page 8 Saki Matsuri Yamahoko floats 1: Naginata Hoko, Kanko Hoko, Kikusui Hoko, Tuski Hoko, Niwatori Hoko, Hoka Hoko
• Page 9 Saki Matsuri Yamahoko floats 2: Iwato Yama , Hune Hoko , Yamabushi Yama, Moso Yama, Taishi Yama, Kakkyo Yama, Hosho Yama
• Page 10 Saki Matsuri Yamahoko floats 3: Abura Tenjin Yama, Shijo Kasa Hoko, Toro Yama, Hakuga Yama ,Tokusa Yama, Arare Tenjin Yama
• Page 11 Saki Matsuri Yamahoko floats 4: Hakurakuten Yama, Ashikari Yama, Urade Yama, Ayagasa Hoko
• Page 12 Ato Matsuri Yamahoko floats 1: Kita Kannon Yama, Minami Kannon Yama, Hashi Benkei Yama, En no Gyojya Yama , Koi Yama, Hachiman Yama
• Page 13 Ato Matsuri Yamahoko floats 2: Suzuka Yama, Kuronushi Yama, Jyomo Yama, Ohune Hoko, Taka Yama
• Page 14 Breaking 2023
• Page 15 Braking 2022, 2021, 2020,  Bibliography

The following is the contents of this article.

Introduction

Gion Matsuri is an annual ritual of Yasaka shrine and is one of so-called Japan three great festivals.

At first, it started as Gory-e, the Buddhist ritual in 869 on the order of the Imperial court. After the Imperial court were on decline and couldn’t afford it, the citizens of Kyoto took over it as de facto successors. Thanks to them, it survived over centuries and marked the 1150th anniversary in Reiwa 1(2019).

Though the Matsuri began as a Buddhist ceremony, it has carried on under the religious syncretism of Shinto, Buddhism and Onmyodo. In 1862, the Meiji government banned the syncretism “in terms of law” but it is still alive in 2023.

Gion Matsuri is famous for its Yamahoko prade all over the world but the most important ceremony is Mikoshi Togyo. In Mikoshi Togyo, the deities of Yaska shrine are on Mikoshis to stay Otabisho, the temporary shrine located in the downtown of Kyoto. They stayed there for a week to get rid of Ekijins, the spirit bring us epidemics.

To do away with epidemics, it is the authentic aim of Gion Matsuri since 869. In ancient times, people believed Goryos from the other world caused epidemics and they held Goryo-e to drive out the Goryos, the soul of deceased persons who was politically ousted. As time went by, people started to believe that the cause of epicemics is Ekijin and they expected Ekijins to protect them from epidemics.

シカさん

In old times, people believed epidemics came from far out places. And They thought  Ekijin brought them epidemics.

Today, we believe that Yamahokos capture the Ekijins in the city and the deities in Otabisho to get rid of them.

The order of Yamahoko Parade 2025

Saki Matsuri 前祭巡行　7/17

Ato Matsuri 後祭巡行　24日

Why is “Gion matsuri” festival celebrated ?

A short history of Yasaka shrine

The foundation of Yasaka shrine remains to be secret because of its long history. At least in the 9th century, the shrine was known as Gion-kanjinin (祇園感神院), or Gion-sha (祇園社), the Buddhist temple. This sounds very strange because Yasaka shrine is a Shinto shrine today. Why was a Shinto shrine a Buddhist temple?

In ancient Japan, both Shinto and Buddhism were fused. Shinto is a religion indigenous to Japan. It is a kind of animism and a code for a small community. On the other hand, Buddhism was a religion brought to Japan from ancient India in 6th century. When our ancestors saw the introduction of Buddhism, they did not fall away Shinto. They fused both of these religions and reconstructed them as a new belief instead. That is one of the typical and characteristic way of thinking Japanese people take. If we find something interesting and it is no harm to the members of society, we just adopt it.

Now go back to the word “Gion (祇園)”. As a Budhhist temple, former Yasaka shrine enshrined Gozu-tenno (牛頭天王) as a Buddhist Deity. Gozu-tenno was a guardian of Gion-shoja ( 祇園精舎、Jatavana). So former Yasaka shrine was called Gion-kanshinin, or Gion-sha. Take a look at the picture above. It is a photo of small reservoir where visitors purify themselves. You can see engraved Kanji letters. They read Kanjinin (感神院).

This is a short history of Yasaka shrine. Now make it clear that why Yasaka shrine holds Gion matsuri festival in the following chapter.

The beginning of Gion matsuri festival

The history of Gion matsturi festival dates back to 869. At that time in Kyoto, many people suffered smallpox, dysentery, and other epidemics because of hot and damp whether and ill-prepared water supply. At the same time, whole Japan saw natural disasters like earthquake and tsunami and suffered huge expansion of maladies.

As described before, ancient people thought ousted persons of Goryo causes epidemics and natural disasters. The imperial court gave Urabeno-Hiramaro (卜部日良麻呂), the priest of Gion-sya, an order to hold Goryo-e, the ritual to calm down Goryos at Shinsen-en (神泉苑), the largest pond in ancient Kyoto. (The picture above.).

He put the spirit of the deities of the temple into three portable shrines and sent them from Gion-sya to Shinsen-en and placed 66 hokos (矛) there (We don’t have exact idea of their appearance but I suppose they looked like these hokos in the picutre above). His aim was to put the evil spirits together and have them descended to the hokos and ask the deities to get rid of them.

This ritual is called Gion-goryo-e, the origin of Gion matsuri festival. In the begging, the Goryo-e was held when epidemics expanded, and became annual event in 970. Since then, the festival was carried on for 1000 years despite of some interruption.

Gion matsuri festival today

As indicated before, Shinto and Buddhism was fused and Shinto shrines and Buddhist temple were confused. In 1868, the Meiji government gave an order to shrines and temples. They were forced to make decision to be a Shinto shrine or Buddhist temple in terms of law. Gion-kanshinin choose to be a Shinto shrine. It became Yasaka shrine and Gion-Goryo-e was renamed as Gion matsuri.

The fact that the Buddhist temple became a Shinto shrine does not mean a reincarnation of the Gion matsuri. Many documents prove that Gion-kanshinin worked and was considered as Buddhist temple and Shinto shrine: it held Buddhist ritual and that of Shinto.

That is a reason why the principle of Gion matsuri festival still remains the same though 1000 years of its history. People bring Deities on the portable shrines and ask them to get rid of evil spirits which gathered by Yamahoko floats.

七里ヶ浜親方

Want to know much more? Check them out, old sport!

Gion Matsuri Festival

Articles on the reason why Gion Matusri is cerebrated, Mikoshi, Yamahoko Parade, Schedule, and others

kyotokankoyagi.com

Attention: The schedule of Gion Matsuri might change. Check out the website of Yasaka Shrine.

Must-sees 1: General　総論

Syncretism of Shinto, Buddhism, and Onmyodo 神道、仏教、陰陽道、道教の混淆

Gion Matsuri is a Matsuri of Yaska shrine. The shrine used to be a Buddhist temple under the syncretism of Shinto, Buddhism, Onmyodo. The syncretism is called Shinbutsu Shugo and used to be found anywhere in Japan.

たけちよ

Shinbutsu Shugo means synctetism, co-existance, and fusion of Shinto and Buddhism but usually Onmyodo or Taoism are also fused with them.

In 1868, Meiji government asked Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples to separate these fused religions. Gion-sha made a decision to be a Shinto shrine called Yasaka shrine but the bond among the Shinto, Buddhism, and Onmyoto is still alive in Gion Matsuri.

七里ヶ浜親方

The aim of Gion Matsuri is to get rid of epidemics. Yaska shrine enshrined Susanoho no Mikoto, the Shinto deity but we can find no particular reason why he has such an ability. He was considered to be a Gozu Tenno, the Onmyodo detiy. And with the story of Gozu Tenno,

he is able to put down epidemics.

Nigimitama and Aramitama 和魂と荒魂の和合

There are four kinds of Mitama(御霊), the spirit in a Japanese deity; Nigimitama, Aramitama, Sakimitama, and Kushimitama.

In Matsuri in Japan, Nigimitama and Aramitama of a deity are often put together for the purpose of making the deity reincarnated. In Gion Matsuri, the Nigimitama of Susanoh no Mikoto meets the Aramitama of him (Kuze Komagata Chigo) and the reincarnation is completed.

シカさん

Mikage Matsuri plays the same role in Aoi Matsuri.

Shaking Mikoshis 神輿を振る

People shake Mikoshis to make the Mitamas of the deities come alive.

Yamahoko floats play impotant role 神賑神事たる山鉾巡行の神事への近接

Matsuri consists of Shinji (神事 ritual/ceremony held by Shrine or act for deity) and Kaminigiwai (神賑 ceremony held by secular people or act the secure people ).

たけちよ

For example, in Gion Matsuri, the priests bring the Mitamas of the deities into the Mikoshis. It its a Shinji. Without the priests or the deities, it couldn’t be carried on.  Of course there are lots of people around Mikoshis to give the deities prayers but without them, the priests can complete the duty. For this Shinji, the people are kind of bystanders.

On the other hand, at Yoiyama, there are food stands. They belong to Gion matsuri and the secular prepares for food stands and the secular buy foods. It’s a Kaminigiwai.

Kaminigiwai makes a contribution especially for the seculars.

Yamahoko parade could be originally a Kaminigiwai but it grew up to be a de facto Shinji ‘cause it plays the important role: To gather Eikjins to be done away with by the deities brought by the priests.

THE GIST OF THIS ARTICLE

• Page 1  What is Yoiyama, Kaisyo opendays
• Page 2  Best time to visit
• Page 3  Trafic regulations for pedestrian 
• Page 4  Breaking report

The following is the contents of this article.

What is Yoiyama? 宵山とは

Yoiyama means a kind of small festivals held a few days before in Hokocho.

Hokomachi is a district where we can find Yamaboko floats. As seen in the photo above, there are many paper lanterns hanging on Yamaboko floats.

Yoiyama is preparation for Mikoshi and Yamaboko parade. It still reminds secret when it started but Gion Groyo-e Saiki, a book on Gion Goryo-e (the former name of Gion matsuri.), tells us it began in the 18th century.

Today, the word Yoiyama has two meanings; The three consecutive days before Yamaboko parade, and the eve of the parade.

　いちきしま　ひめ

In Saki Matsuri, Yamahoko parade is on 17th. We call 16th Yoiyama, 15th Yoiyoiyama, and 14th Yoiyoiyoiyama precisely.

In this article, we call the nights of 14~16th Yoiyama.

In Yoiyama, we can see paper lanterns hanging on Yamaboko floats, enjoy Ohayashi music, and have Chimaki amulet and Goshuin stamps at Kaisyo, a kind of head office of Yamaboko floats. At many Kaisho, we can enjoy ornaments of Yamahoko. It is called “Kaisyo Kazari.” Most of them are put on Yamaboko floats on the very day of Yamaboko parade.

たけちよ

What is Gion Matsuri?

Gion matsuri festival in Kyoto 2026 Comprehensive guide: Mikoshis, Yamahoko floats, and Yoiyamas!!! 祇園祭2025英語で説明

The comprehensive guide on Gion matsuri festival 2026 in Kyoto; its schedule, Mikoshis, Yamahoko floats, Yoiyamas, history, the reason why it is celebrated, souvenirs, and other must-sees. Anything is available.

kyotokankoyagi.com

2017.11.02

Gion matsuri Schedule 2026: Mikoshi, Yamahoko parade Yoiyama 祇園祭日程2026英語版

The schedule of Gion matsuri 2026 was announced. Mikoshi, Yamahoko parade, and Yoiyama available. Gion matsuri has lots of rituals held in July. In this article, you can see exact schedule they are held.

kyotokankoyagi.com

2019.05.27

About Yoiyama 心得

たけちよ

REMEMBAAAH!

Food stands

Food stands are located near Shijoh Karasuma crossings (indicated in the brown line in the map). There would be a lots of people.

Yakisoba, Takoyaki, Choko Banana and other Japanese foods are availeble.

Alcohols ans soft drinks are also availeble.

At Maruyama Koen, there also are food stands. Maguro Kaitai show’s availeble.

シカさん

In Maguro Kaitai show, a chef cooks a big tuna.

Kaisho open days

Kaisyo is a place where a Yamahoko float belongs to. You can have souvenirs and Goshuin stamps there.

THE GIST OF THIS ARTICLE

• Page 1  What is Yoiyama?  Breaking 2024, When would we go? Access
• Page 2 The ways to enjoy, Koi Yama, Hachiman Yama
• Page 3 Kuronushi Yama, En no Gyoja Yama
• Page 4 Taka Yama, Jyomyo Yama, Hashi Benkei Yama, Suzuka Yama
• Page 5 Kita Kannon Yama, Minami Kannon Yama
• Page 6 On floats, Ohayashi music, Byobu Matsuri
• Page 7 Abare Kannon, shopping
• Page 8 Breaking report on 2023
• Page 9 Breakig report 2022, bibliography

The following is the contents of this article.

What is Yoiyama? 宵山とは

Yoiyama means a kind of small festivals held a few days before in Hokomachi.

Hokomachi is a district where we can find Yamaboko floats. As seen in the photo above, there are many paper lanterns hanging on Yamaboko floats.

Yoiyama is preparation for Mikoshi and Yamaboko parade. It sitll reminds secret when it started but Gion Groyo-e Saiki, a book on Gion Goryo-e (the former name of Gion matsuri.), tells us it began in the 18th century.

Today, the word Yoiyama has two meanings; The three consecutive days before Yamaboko parade, and the eve of the parade.

　いちきしま　ひめ

In Atomatsuri, Yamaboko parade is on 24th. We call 23th Yoiyama, 22th Yoiyoiyama, and 21st Yoiyoiyoiyama precisely.

In this article, we call the nights of 21~23th Yoiyama.

たけちよ

The way to Enjoy Atomatsuri

たけちよ

For more info. on Gion matsuri

Gion matsuri festival in Kyoto 2026 Comprehensive guide: Mikoshis, Yamahoko floats, and Yoiyamas!!! 祇園祭2025英語で説明

The comprehensive guide on Gion matsuri festival 2026 in Kyoto; its schedule, Mikoshis, Yamahoko floats, Yoiyamas, history, the reason why it is celebrated, souvenirs, and other must-sees. Anything is available.

kyotokankoyagi.com

2017.11.02

Gion matsuri Schedule 2026: Mikoshi, Yamahoko parade Yoiyama 祇園祭日程2026英語版

The schedule of Gion matsuri 2026 was announced. Mikoshi, Yamahoko parade, and Yoiyama available. Gion matsuri has lots of rituals held in July. In this article, you can see exact schedule they are held.

kyotokankoyagi.com

2019.05.27

Breaking report 2024

7/24

♪Prayin’ for the thunder and the rain to quietly pass me baahy

♪Sailin’ hear ship thru broken harbaahs

7/23 Abare Kannnon あばれ観音

シカさん

Extravaganza!!!

7/22

Not crowded as Yoiyamas of Sakimatsuri.

Chimaki, figurine, and Gosyuin of Hotei Yama are available. Hotei Yama was devastated by a fire some 200 years ago.

シカさん

Head for Ninami Kannon Yama from Kita Kannon Yama. You’ll reach a crossing and a willow tree in the photo. Near the red circle, you can get them.

Kaishos:

7/21

Hshibenkei Yama does Kakizome.

7/20

Today, Ofune Hoko, Takayama, Minami Kannon Yama, and Kita Kannon Yama carried out Hikizome to prepare for the Parade.

Kuru Nushi Yama has a brend-new Yaguara. Yoiyama will start tomorrow.

When would we go Yoiyama?

In daytime or night

If you wanted Chimaki, Goshuin stamp, and other things at Kaisyo, it would be better go there in daytime though Yoi of Yoiyama means “night.” At night, many people visited Kaisyo and it might take time to have these things.

七里ヶ浜親方

We have hot days in daytime usually. Prepare for them!

In addition to it, we have some rituals on 23th July. Around 2:00 p.m., in front of Kaisyo of Enno Gyojya yama, Gomadaki Kuyo ritual is held. In this ritual, we have our wish on a small piece of wood. And Gyoja, a kind of Buddhist monk, belong to Shogoin temple set fire these pieces of wood to pray for us.

In the video, we can see small pieces of paper hanging on a rope. When the ritual is finished, we can have them as an amulet which saves us from bad luck.

げきすせん

In daytime, buy the things you want and enjoy Yamaboko floats, paper lanterns and Kaisyo Kazari.

At twilight

We have two matsrui in Gion matsuri; Saki matsruri and Ato matsuri. In Ato matsuri, the twilight reminds of us autumn though we are in the midst of summer.

Car-free zone?

In Ato matsuri, we have car-free zones only around Yamaboko floats. And we don’t have one-way roads.

七里ヶ浜親方

Go anywhere you want!

Access to Yoiyama

Take trains, not buses.

Following are the stations near Hokomacho (the enclosed area in blue line);

Kyoto City Subway Shijo station(the blue train on the map), Hankyu Karasuma station (the red train), and Keihan Shijo Kawaramachi station (the green train).

In Yamahoko parade of Gion Matsuri festival, we can find 35 Yamahoko floats. We have three kinds of them: Hoko, Yama, and Yatai.

Some say that we can tell apart them with what is on their roofs but it’s not enough to tell the difference.

In this article, I’ll show you the right way

Kinds of Yamahoko floats 山鉾の種類

Hoko and Yama

There are two kinds of Yamahoko floats depending on the names they have: Hoko and Yama. Actually, each one of them is called __hoko or __yama.

They are classified with three types: Hoko, Yama, and Yatai.

Hoko has three kinds of types depending their appearance. Kasahoko is a primitive form of Hoko. Funehoko is Yatai though they are called Hoko.

Yama also has three types. Hikiyama is developed Kakiyama.

How can we distinguish them? 区別の仕方

Three features

１．Shingi or Shinmatsu? 真木/真松の有無

First, find Shingi or Shinmatsu. Hoko has a rod called Shingi (真木) on the roof. It reaches the bottom of the body and has an ornament at the top of it.

For example, Naginatahoko has a replica of Naginata sword.

In addition to it, Shingi has Sakaki leaves.

On the other hand, Yama has a Shinmatsu instead. Shinmatsu is a pine tree. This is Kakiyama named Koiyama. Kakiyama is a basic Yama and some of them were developed into Hikiyama.

The one in the photo is a Hikiyama named Iwatoyama. As discussed about later, Yama has no wheels but Hikiyama has them as an exception.

Hikiyama resembles Hoko in appearance but we can tell the difference with Shingi or Shinmatsu.

七里ヶ浜親方

Lots of people confused because they look nearly the same!

２．Wheels 車輪の有無

Hoko has four big wheels and people tug it.

On the other hand, Yama is carried by people as Mikoshi.

(Today, Yama has small wheels actually.)

As an exception, Hikiyama also has wheels.

３．Ohayashi musician 囃子方の有無

Hoko has Ohayashi musicians on it. Ohayashi is a kind of music played in many Matsuri.

How can we define Yatai? 屋台

Yatai has no Shingi or Shinmatsu. Hasibenkeiyama has no Shinmatsu though it is called Hashibenkeyama.

Funehoko also has no Shingi though it is called Funehoko.

シカさん

I have something to tell you!

Today, Fune hoko has no Shingi but it might have had it.

Clikc here. It is a replica of Tsukinamisaireizu Byobu holding screen painted in the 19th century.  It reports the Gion Matsuri in the 15th century and Funehoko has a Shingi. This is the only thing describes the Shingi of Funehoko. Funehoko in other pictures has no Shingi and documents doesn’t tell us how it looked like exactly.

It remains a secret…だニャー

Gion Matsuri festival is famours for Yamahoko floats and their parade lures lots of people to the ancient capital in the heat of mid-summer.

Each Yamahoko belongs to small area called “Cho/Machi” in the downtown and play peculiar roles in the festival: To brighten up the festival and to have Ekijin/Ekishin descend to it.

The parade in which Yamahoko with these roles in Gion Matsuri festival started in the 14th century.

In this post, we learn about the roles of Yamahoko and the origin of Yamahoko floats.

What is Yamahoko float?

In the long history of Gion Matsuri, we can find a few things resemble what we call Yamahoko floats today but they have distinctive features to distinguish them from the others.

Hoko in Gion Goryoe 祇園御霊会の矛

The word “Hoko” appears in the first Gion Goryoe, the former name of Gion Matsuri.

Gion Honsha Enroku (『祇園社本縁録』), a historical book on Yasaka shrine formerly known as Gion sha temple, describes: Japan suffered from epidemics and natural disasters in 869. A priest of Gion sha found the curse of Gozu Tenno caused them.

In Shinsenen, the private garden of Emperor, he prepared 66 Hoko(矛) which represented the states thorough the archipelagoand and Gion sha sent Mikoshis there for the purpose of getting rid of the curse.

This ritual is called Shinsenen Goryoe and is believed the beginning of Gion Matsuri.

“Hoko” in Yamahoko is written as 鉾 in Kanji.

矛 and 鉾 are pronounced the same but spelled different. 矛 is a name of arms. Ancient people believed that it is Yorishiro, an object deities descend to and it has sacred power to do away anything evil.

We can find this kind of Hoko even today.

For example, Kamo Kurabeuma, a ritual held prior to Aoi Matsuri festival, three Hoko are considered as the Deities of Kamigamo shrine.

And in Gion Matsuri, Hokos escort Mikoshis to keep evilness away from them.

Some believe that people developed the 矛 in Gion Goryoe into Yamahoko floats because they pronounced “Hoko” and Yamahoko floats work as Yorishiro. But they are totally different from Yamahoko floats: Hokos in Shinsenen Goryoe were prepared by Gion sha and a priest of it. On the other hand, the Hokos worked as Yorishiro because they represented the Ekijin of each state.

いちきしま　ひめ

Basically, Hoko works as Yorishiro.

Tsukuriyama of Mukotsu Hoshi

Honcho Seiki (『本朝世紀』), a history book compiled in the 12th century, describes that a comedian called Mukotsu Hoshi visited Gion sha with Tsukuri Yama looked like Shimeyama in 999.

The Tsukuriyama resembles Hoko today in appearance and prepared by a comedian, not Gion sha or the Imperial Court. We can consider it as a prototype of Yamahoko in appearance and its function: To brighten up the festival.

As well as Tsukuriyama of Mukotsu Hoshi, we can find another prototype in Shyoyuki (小右記), a diary of an aristocrat written in the 10th and 11th century. It reports that Sangaku Munaguruma followed Mikoshi. Sangaku is a dance performance and Munaguruma is a kind of mobile stage with wheels.

These two prototypes resemble Yamahoko in appearance and in the function to brighten up the festival but differs in most important point of view: They don’t work as Yorishiro.

シカさん

I think we can see them as primitive forms of Yamahoko in appearance and function.

Bajyo Hoko

In Gionshaki (『祇園社記』), a history book of Gionsha, we can find a chapter called “馬上御鉾次第事.”  It is translated as “About Bajo Hokos.” Bajo Hoko means Hokos have something to do with Bajoyaku, or “Hokos on horseback.”

Bajoyaku is persons who covered the cost of the Matsuri. As described before, Gion Goryoe was held by the support of the Imperial court and aristocrats.

Around the 12th century, they were on financial decline and were not able to afford Gion Goryoe in every summer though they are in charge of preventing epidemics and natural disasters.

In the 12th century, Retired Emperor Goshirakawain chose merchants with wealth and asked them to pay the cost of Gion Goryoe.

If Bajo Hoko means Hokos which have something to do with Bajoyaku, they can be Hokos strolled with them, along with Mikoshis.

And if Bajo Hoko means Hokos on horseback, they are Hokos held by persons on their steed.

In both cases, the Hokos worked as Yorishiro but they are not the same thing as Yamahoko float today: They belonged to monks and their family, not to inhabitants of Kyoto.

Hoko of Za

Ancient shrines and temples had a persons called Jinin, or Yoriudo. They served for a shrine of temple they belonged, and the shrines and temples gave privileges to their business instead. The earliest Jinin of Gion sha were members of Za, a Japanese guild. Emperor Yozei donated the place where the Za located. The inhabitants of it automatically became Jinin of Gion sha.

お福さん

The emperor “donated” it because Jinin paid taxes to Gion sha, not to the Imperial Court. For the emperor, he donated the right to put tax on the land and Jinin.

They belonged the Za of lumber and they made a temporal bridge for Mikoshi of Goryoe every summer as their service for Gion sha.

In 12th century, Imperial Court put taxation on the businesses of the merchants of Kyoto. Following this, shrines and temples increased Za for the purpose of gaining income. They guaranteed many privileges and safeties for their businesses.

七里ヶ浜親方

The Imperial Court’s tax revenue depended on the land its had. Around the 12th century, there were lots of manors in the archipelago and the tax revenue of The Imperial Court was on decline. So, they decided to put taxes on persons instead of land.

On the other hand, shrines and temples gained their income because they had lots of manors which the merchants lived in. They belonged to shrines and temples.

Showing their gratitude for Gion sha, they served Yamas and Hokos for Mikoshis of the Goryoe. Gion Sha Kiroku, (『祇園社記録』), a history book of Gionsha, tells that there happened a conflict among merchants of silk in the 14th century. Gion sha gave them a verdict saying, “To be a Za, it must serve for the festival of June (Gion Goryoe).”

This incident indicates that merchants were not able to form Za without serving Gion Goryoe in the area where Gion sha ruled.

Around the 14th century, Za started to loose its independence and the ties between merchants but the service for Gion Goryoe was saved because the bond as members of territorially-based community was left.

In 1369. Enryakuji temple was in need to renovate its Mikoshi but it was not able to afford of it. So Enryakuji didn’t have Mikoshi for around twenty years. Gion sha belonged to Enryakuji and Gion Goryoe carried on without Mikoshi for nearly two decades.

シカさん

Gion sha with Mikoshi though Enryakuji was without Mikoshi. The idea was not acceptable at that time.

In this period, the denizens of the downtown developed Yamas and Hokos.

These facts leads the foundation of Yamahoko parade we know today; Denizens of the downtown prepare them to brighten up Gion Matsuri.

We cannot sure why Yamahoko plays a role of Yorishiro. I suppose the twenty decades mihgh give us an answer. Mikohsi paraded with Hokos worked as Yorishiro. Bajohoko is this kind of Hoko. Even today, Hokos of Shimpo Gyorestu lead Mikoshis of Gion matsuri.

The ancient people wanted a role of Mikoshi and Yorishiro-Hoko on Yamahoko floats.

THE GIST OF THIS ARTICLE

• This Page  　概説、Overview, Nginata Hoko, Kanko Hoko, Kikusui Hoko, Tsuki Hoko, and Niwatori Hoko
• Page 2　Hoka Hoko, Iwato Yama, Fune Hoko, Yamabushi Yama, Moso Yama 
• Page 3　Taishi Yama, Kakkyo Yama, Hosho Yama, Abura Tenjin Yama, and Shijo Kasahoko 
• Page 4　Toro Yama, Hakuga Yama, Tokusa Yama, Arare Tenjin Yama, and Hakurakuten Yama
• Page 5　Ashikari Yama, Urade Yama, Ayagasa Hoko, and Hotei Yama
• Page 6　Kita Kannon Yama, Minami Kannon Yama, Hashi Benkei Yama, En no Gyojya Yama, and Koiyama
• Page 7　Hachiman Yama, Suzuka Yama, Kuronushi Yama, Jomyo Yama, Ohfune hoko, and Takayama

The following is the contents of this article.

Overview

In this article, you can learn all 34 Yamaboko/Yamahoko floats of Gion Matsuri festival with their “Tsujimawashi” videos and short tips.

The information of their Goshuin stamps and souvenirs are also available.

いちきしま　ひめ

In 2023, Goshuin of Koiyama is not available.

How to tell the Yama from Hoko?

We have four kinds of floats; Hoko, Hikiyama, Kakiyama, and Yatai.

Hoko has a rod on a roof. Hikiyama has a pine tree and wheels. Kakiyama has a pine tree and with no wheels. Yatai has no wheels and pine tree (resembles Kakiyama) and Fune Hoko and Ohfune Hoko. Check out the link below.

How can we tell apart Hoko, Yama and Yatai in the Yamahoko parade of Gion Matsuri festival? 山鉾の区別の仕方英語で説明

In Yamahoko parade of Gion Matsuri festival, we can find 35 Yamahoko floats. We have three kinds of them: Hoko, Yama, and Yatai. In this article, I'll show you the way to tell apart them easily.

kyotokankoyagi.com

2021.04.08

The order of Yamahoko parade 2025

Saki Matsuri 前祭巡行　7/17

Ato Matsuri 後祭巡行　7/24

Naginata Boko 長刀鉾

Naginata hoko is the most popular and famous Hoko in Gion Matsuri festival.

Naginata is a traditional Japanese sword invented in Heian period. Naginata hoko has long naginata on the roof and that is the reason why it is called “Naginata hoko. The Naginata is known for its power to take away evil spirits.

The order of Yamaboko float parade was decided on the lottery but Naginata hoko is always at the top of the parade because of its ability put away evil spirits.

Only Naginata hoko has “Ochigosan” boy on it.

He performs “Chigomai” dance during the parade.

Kanko Boko 函谷鉾

Lord Mengchang, a states person of Qin dynasty in acient China, and his collegue was on the run. They arrived at a gate in Kankokukan valley at night. The gate opened at dawn. One of them crowed as rooster and they escaped narrowly.

Kikusui Boko 菊水鉾

Kikusui Hoko was named after a well which bears the same name in the district.

Tsuki Boko 月鉾

Tsuki hoko (月鉾)　is named after “Tsukuyomi no Mikoto (月読尊)”, a son of the Deity of Yasaka shrine.

Niwatori Boko 鶏鉾

Niwatori hoko is based on an old story: In ancient China, people used a drum at lawsuits. When peace ruled the country, roosters and hens lived in the drum because there were no conflicts.

いちきしま　ひめ

• This site and article don’t recommend outing though the state of emergency was lifted. Make your decision with extreme care.
• This site cannot guarantee your safety.
• The information in this post subject to be changed.
• This site is not responsible for any disadvantages you have at all.

Introduction

たけちよ

CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME BAAAAAAHCK!!!!!

Takayamma is one of the long-lost Yamahoko floats in Gion matsuri. The last time Gozu Tenno, the Deity of Yasaka shrine, laid his eyes on it was 1826. Yamahoko parade was canceled last 2 years due to COVID-19. In 2022, Yamahoko Rengokai gave the green light to the parade and Takayama will come back to it for the first time in 196 years.

I show gratitude and respect those who engage in Gion Matsuri and the revival of Takayama. Congratulations and welcome back. 合掌

奉祝：鷹山復興・祇園祭2023：後祭山鉾巡行

祇園祭の山鉾、鷹山は2022年、196年ぶりに後祭山鉾巡行に復帰します。本稿はこれを奉祝するとともに、関係者の皆様への謝意と敬意を表し、本稿を奏上いたします。合掌

kyotokankoyagi.com

2022.07.03

鷹山、並びに関係者の皆様は2022年の巡行への復帰を目途に奮闘されていましたところ、昨年、一昨年と山鉾巡行は新型コロナウイルス感染症の影響で中止となりましたが、本年は3年ぶりに開催が予定されており、196年ぶりに巡行に復帰される運びとなります。関係者の皆様への謝意と敬意を表し、本稿を奏上いたします。合掌

The schedule of Takayama 2022

Breaking news

7/19

Taka Yama, the Falconry float

Falconry 鷹狩

Takayama is a Yamahoko floats that describes Japanese falconry. In Japan, falconry has over 1,600 years of history. Even today, we can enjoy an exhibition of it in Hamarikyu in Tokyo every January.

When did Yamahoko Parade start? : A short history of Yamahoko parade 山鉾巡行はいつから始まったか英語で説明

IntroductionGion Matsuri festival is famours for Yamahoko floats and their parade lures lots of people to the ancient ca...

kyotokankoyagi.com

2021.05.09

たけちよ

Takayama is a Hikiyama. Make sure the types of Yamahoko floats.

Why falconry?

Most of Yamahoko floats have a topic on Japanese mythology, anecdotes, and so on. Takayama was born around 15th century.  Many Yamahoko floats of the time was invented on plays of Noh.

At that time, town community gave birth to Yamahoko floats and Noh was a popular play among them because it shows citizens ancient stories, pieces of Waka and Kansi.

On the other hand, the topic of Takayama is a falconry. Falconry was popular among Shoguns and aristocrats, not among citizens. No one can tell the reason why it was taken as the topic.

七里ヶ浜親方

Most of the Yamahoko float we can see today was belong to town communities. Before Ohnin no Ran, the largest civil war in Japanese history, there were lots of floats belonged to Za, the Japanese guild. After the war, they were not able to Yamahoko Parade due to lots of reaosons, especially financial ones.

The  Goshintai figurines 御神体

Narrow escape

Takayama has three Goshintai figurines: Taka Tsukai with a falcon, Inu Tsukai with a dog, Taruoi, and Taruoi. As describe later, Takayama caught fire in 1864. It lost many parts of the float but these figurines and belongings escaped the fire narrowly because they were stored in a basement.

たけちよ

The figurine of Ho-oh of Kinkakuji also had a narrow escape.

Takatsukai 鷹遣

He has a falcon figurine in his left hand. In his right hand, he has a stick. We can’t tell what it is because of the tip piece is missing. It could be a tool to take care of the falcon’s wings. In his back, he has a small basket with foods of the falcon.

In traditional Japanese falconry, when the falcon returns to Takatsukai with a game, he takes it and gives the falcon the food in the basket instead.

Inutsukai and dog 犬遣とわんこ

He is with a dog. In traditional Japanese falconry, dogs are not retrievers. They they run into bushes or woods to forces games out of them.

NOT retrievers? Really?

Takayama used to be a figurine of a pheasant but no one knows where it is today.

Taruoi 樽負

He wears a box on his back and has Chimaki in his hands.

The box has Mokko Mon, the crest of Yasaka shrine.

Chimaki is known as amulet today but it originally is a food. At Gion Matsuri, Kusonushiyama sells eatable Chimaki.

お福さん

In early May, lots of Chimakis are available at grocery stores.

Some old documents say that it has a built-in gadget to move both of his arms to pretend to eat it.

Gion Bayashi of Takayama 鷹山の祇園囃子

A short history of Takayama

Before Ohnin no Ran (At least the 15th century)

We can tell when did Takayama participate in Yamahoko parde. The oldest record is 『祇園社記(Gion Sha Ki)』, the historical record of Gion sha temple. Takayama is in a group of Yamahoko floats which existed before Ohnin no Ran(1467-1477). Taka Tsukai , Inu Tsukai, and Taruoi are in Karusans, the Portuguese outfits. The dog has a white coat.

The 16th century

We are not sure how it looked like. The oldest record is a picture called 「日吉山王・祇園祭礼図屏風 (Hiyosi Sannno Gion Raisaizu Byobu」. Takayama has the four figurines, two Yamados, and dancers are on it.

In the floor, there are Yamados. Yamado is a something like tent on some Yamahoko floats and it has a pine tree on its top (see the photo above). Takayama had small one and large one, at the front side. Each of them has a pine tree. Takatsukai and Inutsukai are in the back of the Yamados. Near the small Yamado, Taruoi is behind of it and the dog is on the Yamado.

七里ヶ浜親方

Kuronushi yama still has two Yamados . As revealed in the following, other floats with two Yamados were developed into floats with one Yamado.

The dancers indicates that Takayama is Hikiyama (Yama with four wheels), not Kakiyama though the lower part of it is hidden in the picture: Kakiyama is carried by people like Mikoshi. Without wheels , we couldn’t carry a floats with large floor enough to have dancers on. As other Hikiyama, Takayama didn’t have a roof(s).

The 17th century

「祇園礼祭図巻 (Gion Rasisai Zukan)」painted in the late 17th century shows us that Takayana had only one Yamado with a pine tree. Taka Tsukai , Inu Tsukai, and Taruoi were in Samurai outfits. The dog was on the Yamado and had a spotted coat as we see today.

The 18th century

Koromodana-cho dsitrict has the balance sheets of Gion Matsuri. It tells us the incomes and the expenses from 1739 to 1814. It indicates that Takayama gained a roof in 1742.

A picture in 『祇園会細記』 (Gion-e Saiki)」, issued in 1757, shows us how it looked. It was a small roof over the Goshintai figurines at the front of the floor. The roof is a simple one and not the ones we can find in Hikiyamas today. Yamado was not covered with the roof.

シカさん

Compared to the roofs of Hikiyamas today, it is a primitive. But it was a sophisticated one at that time. The roof of other Hikiyamas was like a camping tent. On the other hand, the one of Takayama had a      wooden roof.

Many documents Koromodana-cho has reveals that Takayama gained another roof over the Yamado in 1782.

Tenemei no Taika fire in the 18th century

In January of 1788, a small fire broke out. In the end, it burned Kyoto out. Five months later, only 12 of 34 Yamahoko floats, including Takayama, paraded. Takayama lost wheels due to the fire and took part in it as Kakiyama.

Many documents and pictures indicates that Takayama put the two roofs into a huge one after the fire but we are not sure when it took pace exactly.

The 19th century

The last time Gozutenno saw Takayama

In 1826, Takayama took part in Yamahoko Parade in typhoon and wrecked.

Genji no Taika fire in the 19th century.

Since 1826, the parts of Takayama stored in a warehouse belonged to Koromodana district. In 1864, Kinnonn no Hen, a rebellion against  Tokugawa Shogunate, took place Kyoto was devastated completely. The warehouse was a victim of it and Takayama lost its parts except the four figurines and others. They were stored in a basement of a house and escaped the fire narrowly.

七里ヶ浜親方

We can see them in Kaisyo during Atomatsuri.

The fire devastated Kyoto and prevented Kikusui Hoko and Ohfune Hoko form Yamahoko Parade. It took 89 years for Kikusui Hoko to come back to it.

シカさん

Ofune Hoko returned to the parade 150 years later (2014). And it took another 7 years to paint the dragon statue in gold. It tells us how tough to rebuild and returend to the parade.

The revival

After the fire, 33 Yamahoko floats came back to the parade by the 21th century. The last one was Ofune Hoko in 2014.

It took 190 years of struggle to find a hope. In 2016, Takayama Hozonkai was founded and joined Yamahok Rengokai.

Three year later, Takayama fought backed to the parade as Karabitsu container.

Comeback Special 2022

This year, Takayama will returns to the parade for the fist time in 196 years completely. When Gion Matsuri 2022 started, I’ll upload reports. 合掌

Gosyuin stamps

平成 Heisei

Takayam offered a simple Goshyin by the end of the summer of 2018.

Reiwa 1 (2019) 令和元年

2019 was an important year for us. New Imperial year Reiwa started and Gion Matsuri commemorated the 1150th anniversary.

Takayama issued a larger Goshuin stamp with three Goshintai figurines, a doggy, and future Takayama float on.

お福さん

放鷹 is pronounced “Hoh Yoh” and it means falconry.

Reiwa 2 (2020) 令和二年

Reiwa 3 (2021) 令和三年

Reiwa 4 (2022)令和四年

たけちよ

今しばらくお待ちください。

授与品

Tenugui, Omikuji and others are available

Bibliography

• 真弓常忠（2000）『祇園信仰』朱鷺書房
• 真弓常忠 編（2002）『祇園信仰事典』戎光祥出版
• 川嶋 將生　（2010）『祇園祭　祝祭の都』　吉川弘文館
• 北村優季　（2012）『平安京の災害史ー都市の危機と再生』 吉川弘文館
• 脇田晴子　（2016）『中世京都と祇園祭ー疫神と都市の生活』吉川弘文館
• 公益財団法人祇園祭山鉾連合会（2017）『京都・祇園祭　鷹山ふたたび』公益財団法人祇園祭山鉾連合会
• 京都市歴史資料館（2017）『鷹山ふたたびー祇園祭鷹山復興支援展ー』京都市歴史資料館
• 公益財団法人祇園祭山鉾連合会（2018）『放鷹ー祇園祭　鷹山　復興のための基本設計』公益財団法人鷹山保存会

Kuze Komagata Chigo is the most important figure in Gion Matsuri festival. On his steed, he participates in Gion Matsuri festival with put a horse head on his chest and leads a Mikoshi when it goes to downtown and comes back to Yasaka shrine. (See around 0:09 in the video.)

His name is divided into three words: “Kuze” is a name of place, “Komagata” is a kind of figurine of horse, and”Chigo” is a child. In the following chapters, I’ll show you what each word mean along with his role in the festival.

With Komagata 駒形, he is considered as the Deity

Kuze is a rural area located it the southern part of Kyoto. Kuze Komagata Chigo came from Ayato Kuninaka shrine which enshrines Suasanoo no Mikoto as Yasaka shrine does.

He has a Komagata, a wooden horse head in his chest. It is a Goshintai of Ayato Kuninaka shrine. Goshintai is an object Shinto Deity descend to. With it, he was considerd as Aramitama of Susanoo no Mikoto.

See the video. He is in the area of Yasaka shrine. In Japan, no one, even Emperor, can be in Shinto shrine on horse back. Kuze Komagata Chigo is an exeption because he is Susanoo no Mikoto.

The two aspects of the Deity integrated

Shinto Deity has sometimes two aspects: The tender aspect called “Nigimitama (和魂)” and the rough one called “Aramitama (荒魂).” For example, Nigimitama brings us good harvest and Aramitama brings us disasters. We often see both of them put together to be a supreme state to make important Matsuri complete. For example, in Mikage matsuri, a Matsuri held prior to Aoi Matsuri festival, Aramitama and Nigimitama of Shimogamo shrine are integrated to celebrate Aoi Matsuri festival.

In Gion Matsuri, the same kind of integration is executed. It is said that both of them are merged into the supreme state. (It is very hard to translate the original sentence. It reads「一体にして二神、二神にして一体で神秘の極み」 )

Without Kuze Komagata Chigo, Mikoshis cannot leave Yasaka shrine to Otabisho. Otabisho is located downtown and the Deities of Yasaka shrine stay there about one week to put the Ekishin, the Deities who cause epidemics. (In Japan, we have good and evil Deities.) That is, without him, the aim of Gion Matsuri cannot be acomplished.

On the day of Shinkosai, he left Ayato Kuninaka shrine to Yasaka shrine. Before he reaches Yasaka shrine, he visit Hararyokaku spice shop, a ritual is held and he changes cloth and put the Goshintai on his chest to be Susanoo no Mikoto. This ritual started some 300 years ago.

It is not clear when Kuze Komagata Chigo became an integral person of Gion Matsuri. The Yasaka Jinja Monjo, the document compiled by Yasaka Shrine says that a person in charge of Komagashira (駒頭) have pawned it. Komagashira means “horse head.” It is controversial whether this Koamagashira is the same thing as Komagata Kuze Komagata Chigo has today.

These are parts of a picture called Gion-e Atomatsuri  Yamahoko Junkozu Byobu. It describes the Atomatsuri in the 17th century. In the red circle, there is a child who has a horse head in the chest. This picture tells us that there was a Chigo who wore horse head at least about 300 years ago.

When can we see Kuze Komagata Chigo? 久世駒形稚児を拝見する機会

Kuze Komagata Chigo Shasan 13 July 久世駒形稚児社参

We have two Kuze Komagata Chigo. The younger one leads Mikoshi in Shinko Sai and the other one leads it in Kanko Sai. Both of them visit Yasaka shrine on the day to pray for Susanoo no Mikoto. They are not on horses because without Komagata, they are still human beings.

14:00~ at Yasaka shrine

Sinko Sai 17 July 神幸祭

Three Mikoshis depart Yasaka shrine to Otabisho taking different routes each other. Kuze Komagata Chigo leads Nakagoza Mikoshi.

With Komagata, he is the Deity and he never touches his feet on the ground.

16:00~ at Yasaka shrine

Nakagoza Mikoshi and he leaves Yasaka shrine around 18:00 and arrives at Otabisho around 21:00.

In front of Otabisho, you can experience the most exiting moments in Gion Matsuri.

Kanko Sai 24 July 還幸祭

Nakagoza Mikoshi and he left Otabisho around 17:00.

Around 17:30, they reache a small shrine called Ohmandokoro Otabisho. In ancient times, Otabisho was located here.

After that, they arrive at Shinsen-en temple. This is the place where the first Gion Matsuri was held 1151 years ago.

Then thet arrive at Matatabisha shrine around 20:00.

In the end, they come back to Yasaka shrine around 22:00.

Ayato Kuninaka shrine 綾戸國中神社

What is Ayato Kuninaka shine?　綾戸國中神社

Ayato Kuninaka shrine is located in Minami ward of Kyoto city. Ayato Kuninaka Shrine was fusion of Ayato shrine and Kuninaka shrine. So, we can find name boards of them. It enshrines Susanoo no Mikoto. When he descended there, he made a horse head, i.e. Komagata which Kuze Komagata Chigo wears today.

Access　アクセス

About 15 minutes walk from JR Katsuragawa station. The red alien indicates the entrance. Shamusho office is next door to Sugiura farmacy.

About Ayato Kuninaka shrine 綾戸國中神社基本情報