JAPAN
‘
Map of Japan
Identification of Japan
1. Name of Japan
The Japanese names, Nihon and Nippon, are
alternative readings of written characters that mean "origin of the sun"
("Land of the Rising Sun").
European names for the country
probably originated with Marco Polo, who most likely adopted a name for Japan
used in a Chinese dialect.
The name "Yamato" is
used by archaeologists and historians to distinguish Japanese artistic genres
from their Chinese counterparts. When used as a contemporary term, Yamato has
strong associations with the imperial system, and thus with conservative
nationalist ideologies.
Contemporary Japan is considered
a highly homogeneous society, but regional variation in social and cultural
patterns has always been significant. Pride of place and identification with
local cultural patterns remain strong. Japanese people often attribute
personality traits to people from particular regions, and regional identity
often is expressed through local culinary specialties and dialects.
2.
Location and Geography
The Japanese
archipelago consists of four major islands and over six-thousand minor ones,
covering approximately 234,890 square miles (378,000 square kilometers), and
has enormous climatic variation. The four major islands are Hokkaidō, Honshū,
Shikoku, and Kyūshū. The southern island group of Okinawa (the Ryūkyū Islands)
is geographically, historically, and culturally distinct.
Japan faces the Pacific Ocean
along the entire eastern and southern coastline. To the north and west are the
Sea of Okhotsk, the Sea of Japan, and the East China Sea. The Korean peninsula
is the closest point on the Asian mainland. Japanese life has always been
oriented toward the ocean. The currents that converge offshore create fertile
and varied fishing grounds.
The climate is shaped by
Asian-Pacific monsoon cycles, which bring heavy rains from the Pacific during
the summer and fall, followed by icy winds from North Asia during the winter
that dump snow in the mountains.
There are approximately 1,500
volcanoes, and because the islands lie on major fault lines, earthquakes are
common occurrences. Only about 15 percent of the land is level enough for
agriculture, and so the population density in coastal plains and valleys is
extremely high. Because of the steep mountains, there are almost no navigable
inland waterways.
3. SymbolsLinguisti
National identity and unity are
formally symbolized by a number of conventional icons and motifs, including the
cherry blossom, the red and white national flag portraying the rising sun, and
the chrysanthemum. These symbols have contested meanings because they are
associated with the imperial family and World War II. The chrysanthemum, for
example, serves as the crest of the imperial family, and cherry blossoms were
invoked in wartime propaganda to represent the glory of kamikaze suicide
pilots. Progressive political groups resist flying the national flag and
singing the national anthem (Kimigayo) because of their wartime associations.
Stereotypical images that are
deployed in foreign representations of Japan, such as Mount Fuji, geisha, and
samurai, are not regarded by Japanese people as symbols of contemporary
identity. Contemporary Japanese culture emphasizes symbolic expressions of
local or regional identity. For example, local identity and pride are commonly
expressed through "famous local products." Almost every village,
town, and city is famous for something, often a locally distinctive folk craft,
a local culinary specialty, or a traditional song or performing art.
4.
History
Legend
attributes the creation of Japan to the sun goddess, from whom the emperors
were descended. The first of them was Jimmu, supposed to have ascended the
throne in 660 B.C. , a tradition that constituted
official doctrine until 1945.
Recorded
Japanese history begins in approximately A.D. 400, when
the Yamato clan, eventually based in Kyoto, managed to gain control of other
family groups in central and western Japan. Contact with Korea introduced
Buddhism to Japan at about this time. Through the 700s Japan was much
influenced by China, and the Yamato clan set up an imperial court similar to
that of China. In the ensuing centuries, the authority of the imperial court
was undermined as powerful gentry families vied for control.
At the same
time, warrior clans were rising to prominence as a distinct class known as
samurai. In 1192, the Minamoto clan set up a military government under their
leader, Yoritomo. He was designated shogun (military dictator). For the
following 700 years, shoguns from a succession of clans ruled in Japan, while
the imperial court existed in relative obscurity.
First contact
with the West came in about 1542, when a Portuguese ship off course arrived in
Japanese waters. Portuguese traders, Jesuit missionaries, and Spanish, Dutch,
and English traders followed. Suspicious of Christianity and of Portuguese
support of a local Japanese revolt, the shoguns of the Tokugawa period
(1603–1867) prohibited all trade with foreign countries; only a Dutch trading
post at Nagasaki was permitted. Western attempts to renew trading relations
failed until 1853, when Commodore Matthew Perry sailed an American fleet into
Tokyo Bay. Trade with the West was forced upon Japan under terms less than
favorable to the Japanese. Strife caused by these actions brought down the
feudal world of the shoguns. In 1868, the emperor Meiji came to the throne, and
the shogun system was abolished.
People in Japan
The people of Japan
are mostly the residents of the islands of Honshu, Kyushu, Hokkaido and
Shikoku, apart from these Japanese people has also settled in various parts of
the world. 'Nipponjin' and 'Nihonjin' are the two Japanese terms which means
people of Japan or Japanese people .
Contemporary
scientific researches have shown that the people of Japan have genetic
resemblance to the Tibetans. Some theories have evolved in recent years which
associate the origin of the Japanese people with the 'Jomon' clan and the
native Yayoi people. The term 'Japanese people' had a wider approach during the
colonial times as it was used to refer to the residents of Taiwanese population
and the Korean populace. Population wise Japan ranks tenth worldwide and
the recent census of 2002 declare that there are about 127 million Japanese
people in the world living in Japan and in other parts of the planet. The
Japanese population is facing a steady decline in the recent years as the birth
rate has dropped considerably.
People of Japan all
over the world have a homogenous and identical culture, tradition and language.
The national language of Japan is Japanese which is of the Altaic language
group. The Japanese language is comparatively easy to enunciate and pronounce.
The main religions which are practiced by most of the people of Japan are
Buddhism and Shinto. Religions do not play a big role in the everyday life of
Japanese people and sometimes both the religions are practiced at a time by few
of them.
The population of Japan is high in comparison to the area of the country thus the density is also relatively high. Most of the people are urban residents and concentration is limited to the cities. The low lands by the coasts give shelter to a mass of people in Japan. The parts of the world other than their native land where Japanese people has most emigrated are Latin American countries and United States.
Japanese people encompass the ethnic community who can trace their roots to the island nation of Japan on the Pacific Ocean. Japanese people refer to the Japanese residing on the Japanese archipelago and to those who have emigrated from their country of origin. All those Japanese people who do not reside in their ancestral land are referred to by the name of Nikkeijin or more popularly as the Nikkei people. In the whole class of Japanese people we might also include all those Yamato Japanese people who are ethnically Japanese rather than by nationality. The total number of Japanese people worldwide is almost 130 million.
The population of Japan is high in comparison to the area of the country thus the density is also relatively high. Most of the people are urban residents and concentration is limited to the cities. The low lands by the coasts give shelter to a mass of people in Japan. The parts of the world other than their native land where Japanese people has most emigrated are Latin American countries and United States.
Japanese people encompass the ethnic community who can trace their roots to the island nation of Japan on the Pacific Ocean. Japanese people refer to the Japanese residing on the Japanese archipelago and to those who have emigrated from their country of origin. All those Japanese people who do not reside in their ancestral land are referred to by the name of Nikkeijin or more popularly as the Nikkei people. In the whole class of Japanese people we might also include all those Yamato Japanese people who are ethnically Japanese rather than by nationality. The total number of Japanese people worldwide is almost 130 million.
The Japanese
are a homogeneous group who consider themselves as a unified community wherein
there is no room for social disparity. The Japanese are not very comfortable
with the western system of society. They like to follow their own culture in
all spheres of life. Japanese people lay a lot of stress on customs and follow
them strictly. The Japanese are a very industrious community and the idea of dependency
is looked down upon.The Japanese people are also very particular about their
traditional language and so most of the Japanese do not take interest in
learning foreign languages. In their religious practices the Japanese people
follow the centuries old religions of Shinto and Buddhism although today some
other new and diverse religions have also become popular in the island
nation.
Although Japanese people living in Japan are culturally very conscious but their counterparts in foreign nations have adapted themselves to the cultures of the nations where they reside. The Nikkei who are mostly found in the Hawaii and the US are more comfortable using English than their original mother tongue although some of them later on learn Japanese. .
Japanese people, with their deep faith and strong cultural roots, form a very disciplined and industrious community.
Although Japanese people living in Japan are culturally very conscious but their counterparts in foreign nations have adapted themselves to the cultures of the nations where they reside. The Nikkei who are mostly found in the Hawaii and the US are more comfortable using English than their original mother tongue although some of them later on learn Japanese. .
Japanese people, with their deep faith and strong cultural roots, form a very disciplined and industrious community.
The Japanese Educational System
The schooling years
in the Japanese education system are segmented along the lines of 6-3-3-4: 6
years of primary or elementary school; 3 years of middle or junior high school;
3 years of high school; and 4 years of university. However, the
government has just announced (October 2005, Daily Yomiuri) that it is
intending to make changes in the Education Law to allow schools to merge the
6-3 division between elementary and middle schools. The key purpose for
this change is to allow elementary and middle schools to pool or share their
resources, with special regard to making available specialist teachers of
middle schools to elementary schools.
Many private schools,
however, offer a six year programme incorporating both junior high school and
high school. Specialised schools may offer a five year programme comprising
high school and two years of junior college. There are two options for tertiary
education: junior college (two years) and university (four years).
A school year has three terms: summer, winter
and spring, which are each followed by a vacation period. The school year
begins in April and ends in March of the following year.
An elementary school (from 6 years) and junior high school (3 years) education, i.e. nine years of schooling are considered compulsory (see pages on legality of homeschooling).
An elementary school (from 6 years) and junior high school (3 years) education, i.e. nine years of schooling are considered compulsory (see pages on legality of homeschooling).
This system, implemented by the School
Education Law enacted in March 1947 after WWII, owes its origin to the American
model 6-3-3 plus 4 years of university. Many other features of the Japanese
educational system, are however, based on European models.
Compulsory education covers elementary school
and junior high school. A break from the past, modern public schools in Japan
today are mostly co-ed(more than 99% of elementary schools). The Japanese
school year begins in April and students attend school for three terms except
for brief spring and winter breaks and a one month long summer holiday.
High schools may be classed into one of the following
types:
·
Elite academic high schools collect the creme de la creme of the
student population and send the majority of its graduates to top national
universities.
·
Non-elite academic high schools ostensibly prepare students for less
prestigious universities or junior colleges, but in reality send a large number
of their students to private specialist schools (senshuugakko), which teach
subjects such as book-keeping, languages and computer programming. These
schools constitute mainstream high schooling.
·
Vocational High Schools that offer courses in commerce, technical
subjects, agriculture, homescience, nursing and fishery. Approximately 60% of
their graduates enter full-time employment.
·
Correspondence High Schools offers a flexible form of schooling for
1.6% of high school students usually those who missed out on high schooling for
various reasons.
·
Evening High School which used to offer classes to poor but ambitious
students who worked while trying to remedy their educational deficiencies. But
in recent times, such schools tend to be attended by little-motivated members
of the lowest two percentiles in terms of academic achievement.
Places in Japan (3 Mount,
Casstle, Monument and Watter Falls in
Japan)
Mount in Japan
1. Mount Fuji.
Japan’s highest
mountain (3776 meters, 12,377’) is unquestionably the country’s most iconic
natural landmark. Photographed in all seasons from all angles, its near perfect
cone is climbed by one quarter million people yearly, usually during the months
of July and August. Its high visibility and traffic is partially owed to its
proximity to the Kanto, or the plain surrounding Tokyo. However the best time
to view the mountain is in the winter months when visibility is best.
Considered one of the three holy mountains in Japan, along with Tateyama and
Hakusan, there is understandably a collection of shrines on the crater rim.
Since many people climb the mountain hiking trails and facilities are well
established and there is a considerable amount of development on the mountain.
The meteorological station marks the high point of the mountain and the
country. Popular hiking routes to the summit are Gotemba, Fujinomiya, and
Kawaguchiko. All of the trails have ten stations each, which are situated
strategically to offer refreshments,lodging, and facilities for the hikers and tourists
alike. Most hikers start from the 5th station/s, which are located between
6,000’ – 7,000’ and have access by paved roads.
2.
Mount
Haku
Mount Haku,
also known as Hakusan National Park, is a dormant volcano standing 8783 feet
tall. A popular hiking destination and one of the three great mountains of
Japan, Hakusan’s best seasons are late summer and fall when the mountain is at
its most picturesque. Mount Haku is the tallest mountain in the Hokuriku
region. Even after the surrounding peaks’ snow has melted, the peak still looks
very white.Mount Haku has been designated as a national park in 1962. And so,
the mountain has had minimal human intrusion. The mountain is home to a diverse
flora. Most of these may be seen while hiking up the said mountain. It is also
home to various animals, which includes the Golden Eagle.
The
most used trails are the Hirase, Kanko and Sabo trails. The above mentioned
trails are easy enough to hike up and down in one day. Other rougher trails can
take about two or three days to conquer because of the rough terrain and
treacherous paths.
3.
Mount
Tate
Mount Tate
is the last of Japan’s three great mountains. Measuring 9892 feet above the
ground, Mount Tate is located in the Toyama area and is one of Japan’s tallest
mountains. The months to climb this mountain is from April until November.
Japan’s deepest gorge, Kurobe Gorge, is just east of Mount Tate. The best view
of the mountain is in the fall, when the mountain is filled with the colors of
the fall.
Mount Tate is easily accessible. There is a
public transport that takes tourists and hikers up to the Murodo Plateau, a
mere 1854 feet from the peak. Shopping areas and onsen baths are also present
in Murodo Plateau. At the peak of the mountain is the Oyama Shrine. Tourists
and climbers can take part in sake and receive a blessing from the priest of
the shrine. This is also the place where food, drinks and souvenirs can be
purchased. On clear days, climbers can see Shomyo Falls while climbing up the
mountain from Tateyama to Murodo Plateau.
Japanese Castles
1. Himeji
Castle
You may have seen this castle as a ninja training
school in James Bond's You Only Live Twice. It also appeared in The Last
Samurai, several Kurosawa movies, and in the TV miniseries, Shogun. Also known
as the “White Heron Castle”, Himeji Castle was originally built in the 14th
century, and then rebuilt in 1580.
2. Matsumoto
Castle
Matsumoto Castle was built in the 16th century and is
sometimes called Crow's Castle because of it's black color.
3. Shimabara
Castle
Shimabara Castle is a 5-story white castle located in
Nagasaki Prefecture. The taxes imposed on the local farmers to build the castle
were so severe that they revolted in an event called the Shimabara Rebellion.
Shimabara Castle was completed in 1624.
Waterfalls in Japan
1.
Fukuroda Falls
Fukuroda Falls or Fukurodanotaki are wonder-falls
located in the town of Daigo in Ibaraki Prefecture
, Fukuroda district. It has a height of 120 meters and
a width of 73 meters. It is regarded as the 3rd most beautiful
Japanese waterfall. The waterfalls freeze during winter.
, Fukuroda district. It has a height of 120 meters and
a width of 73 meters. It is regarded as the 3rd most beautiful
Japanese waterfall. The waterfalls freeze during winter.
2. Kegon Falls
Kegon Falls is ranked number one in Japan as
the most beautiful waterfall. Kegon no Taki are located at Lake Chuzenji in
Nikko National Park in Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture. It is 97 meters in height making it one of
the 3 highest waterfalls in the country. The Kegon Falls are not just
beautiful; they are infamous for suicides, especially among Japanese youth.
. It is 97 meters in height making it one of
the 3 highest waterfalls in the country. The Kegon Falls are not just
beautiful; they are infamous for suicides, especially among Japanese youth.
3. Hannoki Falls
Hannoki Falls
is located in Toyama Prefecture and is the tallest waterfall in Japan with
an astounding height of 497 meters. It is not so popular because it only has
water from April to July when the snow covering the Midagahara plateau melts.
From July to March, its neighbor, Shomyo Falls, is the tallest waterfalls in
Japan. Hannoki and Shomyo falls are twin waterfalls.
and is the tallest waterfall in Japan with
an astounding height of 497 meters. It is not so popular because it only has
water from April to July when the snow covering the Midagahara plateau melts.
From July to March, its neighbor, Shomyo Falls, is the tallest waterfalls in
Japan. Hannoki and Shomyo falls are twin waterfalls.
Monument in Japan
1. Kamakura
The outdoor Daibustu is, alongside Miyajima’s
“floating torii”, the best known monument in Japan. Kamakura is close to Tokyo,
even closer to Yokohama, so day trips from the Kanto are easy. Known as the
Great Buddha it was once housed in a building that was destroyed by a typhoon
in the 15th century. For the curious, the statue is 13.35 meters (44
feet) high and weighs 93 tons. The first mention of the bronze statue dates to
1252. Now hoards of tourists come to get their photos taken in front of the Daibutsu and the
many edible (and rotten) offerings left at its foot. The city has a long
history and perhaps that’s why the Daibutsu
stands. Although the Daibutsu
gives Kamakura its deserved recognition the city’s historical record is long
and rich. It is no accident that a period in Japanese history is named the
Kamakura period (1185-1333), which marked the beginning of the shogunate
established in the city. The city is also famous for Nichiren Buddhism, found
by the Japanese monk Nichiren and sometimes associated with radicalism. It is
also recognized as a UNESCO
World Heritage Site.
2. Hachiko Statue
In 1924, Hachikō was brought to Tokyo by his
owner, Hidesaburō Ueno, a professor in the agriculture department at the
University of Tokyo. During his owner’s life Hachikō saw him out from the front
door and greeted him at the end of the day at the nearby Shibuya Station. The
pair continued their daily routine until May 1925, when Professor Ueno did not
return on the usual train one evening. The professor had suffered a stroke at
the university that day. He died and never returned to the train station where
his friend was waiting. Hachikō was given away after his master’s death, but he
routinely escaped, showing up again and again at his old home. Eventually,
Hachikō apparently realized that Professor Ueno no longer lived at the house.
So he went to look for his master at the train station where he had accompanied
him so many times before. Each day, Hachikō waited for Professor Ueno to
return. And each day he did not see his friend among the commuters at the
station. The permanent fixture at the train station that was Hachikō attracted
the attention of other commuters. Many of the people who frequented the Shibuya
train station had seen Hachikō and Professor Ueno together each day. They
brought Hachikō treats and food to nourish him during his wait. This continued
for nine years, with Hachikō appearing only in the evening time, precisely when
the train was due at the station.
Transport in Japan
1.Rail transportation
In Japan, railways are a major means of passenger
transportation, especially for mass and high-speed transport between major
cities and for commuter transport in metropolitan areas. Seven Japan Railways Group companies, once state-owned until 1987, cover most
parts of Japan. There also are railway services operated by private rail companies,
regional governments, and companies funded by both regional governments and
private companies. Japanese trains are also famous for always being on time.
Five stations (Shinjuku Station, Ikebukuro Station, Shibuya Station, Umeda Station, and Yokohama Station) serve more than 2 million passengers each on an
average day, making Japan the most railway using nation per capita (see Rail usage
statistics by country). The first railway
was built between Tokyo and Yokohama in 1872 and many more developed. Japan now
has one of the worlds most developed transportation networks. Road construction
is difficult because of the high areas of population and the limited amount of
usable land. Shinkansen are the high speed trains in Japan and they are known
as bullet trains. About 250 Shinkansen trains operate daily. The fastest
shinkansen trains are the N700 series Nozomi, which operate at a
maximum speed of 300 km/h. Shinkansen trains are known to be very
punctual. A train is recorded as late if it does not arrive at the specified
time.
2. Road transportation
According to Japan Statistical Yearbook 2011, Japan has approximately 1,203,600 km of roads
made up of 1,012,000 km of city, town and village roads, 129,000 km
of prefectural roads, 55,000 km of general national highways and
7,600 km of national.
Road passenger and freight transport expanded
considerably during the 1980s as private ownership of motor vehicles greatly
increased along with the quality and extent of the nation's roads. Bus
companies including the JR Bus companies operates long-distance bus service on the
nation's expanding expressway network. In addition to relatively low fares and
deluxe seating, the buses are well utilized because they continue service
during the night, when air and train service is limited.
The cargo sector grew rapidly in the 1980s, recording
274.2 billion tonne-kilometres in 1990. The freight handled by motor vehicles,
mainly trucks, in 1990, was over 6 billion tonnes, accounting for 90 percent of
domestic freight tonnage and about 50 percent of tonne-kilometres.
3. Air transport
Japan currently (2012) has 98 airports. The main
international gateways are Narita
International Airport (Tokyo area), Kansai
International Airport (Osaka/Kobe/Kyoto
area), and Chūbu
Centrair International Airport (Nagoya area). The main domestic hub is Tokyo
International Airport (Haneda Airport),
Asia's busiest airport and the world's 4th busiest airport; other major traffic
hubs include Osaka
International Airport, New Chitose Airport outside Sapporo, and Fukuoka Airport. 14 heliports are estimated to
exist (1999).
The two main airlines are Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways. Other passenger carriers include Skymark Airlines, Skynet Asia Airways, Air Do, Star Flyer and Fuji Dream Airlines. United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, formerly Northwest Airlines, are major international operators from Narita
Airport.
Tokyo International Airport is currently undergoing
construction of a new runaway, due to open in October 2010. With this opening
it will open a new international terminal along with an increase to 407,000
departures and landings.
4. Marine transport
The twenty-two major seaports designated as
special important ports by Ministry of
Land, Infrastructure and Transport include Chiba, Fushiki/Toyama, Himeji, Hiroshima, Kawasaki, Kitakyūshū, Kobe, Kudamatsu, Muroran, Nagoya, Niigata, Osaka, Sakai/Senpoku, Sendai/Shiogama, Shimizu, Shimonoseki, Tokyo, Tomakomai, Wakayama, Yokkaichi, and Yokohama.
Japan has 662 ships of with a volume of 1,000 gross register tons (GRT) or over, totaling
13,039,488 gross register tons (GRT) or 18,024,969 metric tons deadweight (DWT). There are 146 bulk ships, 49 cargo ships, 13 chemical tankers, 16 combination
bulk, 4 with combination of ore and oil, 25 container, 45 liquefied gas, 9 passenger, 2 passenger and
cargo combination ships, 214 petroleum tankers, 22
refrigerated cargo, 48 roll-on/roll-off ships, 9 short-sea passenger, and 60 vehicle carriers (1999
est.).
Japanese Food
1. Shushi
Sushi is the most
famous Japanese dish outside of Japan, and one of the most popular dishes among the Japanese themselves. In
Japan, sushi is usually enjoyed on special occasions, such as a
celebration. During the Edo period, "sushi" refered to pickled fish preserved
in vinegar. Nowadays sushi can be defined as a dish containing rice which has been prepared with sushi vinegar. There are
many different types of sushi. Some popular ones are:
 |
Nigiri ,Small rice balls
with fish, shellfish, etc. on top. There are countless varieties of
nigirizushi, some of the most common ones being tuna, shrimp, eel, squid,
octopus and fried egg.
|
 |
Gunkan, Small cups made
of sushi rice and dried seaweed filled with seafood, etc. There are countless varieties of gunkanzushi,
some of the most common ones being sea urchin and various kinds of fish eggs.
|
 |
Norimaki, Sushi rice and seafood,
etc. rolled in dried seaweed sheets. There are countless varieties of sushi rolls differing in
ingredients and thickness. Sushi rolls prepared "inside out" are
very popular outside of Japan, but rarely found in Japan.
|
|
2. Ramen
Ramen is a noodle soup that was originally imported to Japan from China in the Meiji
Period. In more recent
decades, it has become a very popular dish in Japan, adapted to the Japanese taste. Ramen
restaurants (ramen ya) number in the thousands, and instant ramen (invented
in 1958) is popular both in and outside of Japan. Ramen noodles are about as
thin as spaghetti and are served in a soup that varies based on region, city
and even specific vendor. Ramen's popularity stems in part from the fact that
it is so inexpensive and widely available, making it an ideal option for
budget travelers. In addition to freshly prepared ramen at ramen ya, supermarkets and convenience
stores offer a large
selection of instant ramen bowls. Though ramen can be considered a one dish
meal, gyoza are a common side dish offered at ramen ya. These
Chinese style, pan fried dumplings are eaten with a soya and vinegar sauce. Shichimi (red chili mix) is
usually available on the table to be added according to taste.
Ramen can be classified according to its soup base. The most popular ones
are:
Festival in Japan
1.
Glon Matsuri
Gion Matsuri,
the festival of Yasaka Shrine, is the most famous festival in Japan. It takes place over the entire month of
July. There are many different events, but two are particularly renowned: the
Yamaboko Junko, a procession of floats on July 17th; and Yoiyama, the festive
evenings preceding the procession.
Floats and History
The word
Yamaboko refers to the two types of floats used in the procession: Yama, of
which there are 23, and hoko, of which there are 9. One of the main reasons
the Gion Matsuri is so impressive is the enormity of the hoko, which can be
up to 25 meters tall, weigh up to 12 tons, and are pulled on wheels as big as
people. Both yama and hoko are elaborately decorated and represent unique
themes. Another reason for the festival's impressiveness is its long and
almost uninterrupted history. It dates back to 869 as a religious ceremony to appease the gods during the
outbreak of an epidemic. Even today, the festival continues the practice of
selecting a local boy to be a divine messenger. The child cannot set foot on
the ground from the 13th until after he has been paraded through town on the
17th.
Main Events
Ironically, the
highlight events of Gion Matsuri do not actually take place in the Gion district, but rather on the opposite side of Kamo
River. From the 14th to the 16th, the yama and hoko are displayed within
about a half kilometer of the intersection of Karasuma and Shijo streets (see
map below). While they are on display, some of the floats can be entered by
tourists. The area becomes most exciting in the evenings, when from 18:00
until 23:00, the streets are closed to traffic and the area swells with food
stands, drink vendors, and other festival hallmarks. These festive evenings
leading up to the procession are known as Yoiyama (July 16), Yoiyoiyama (July 15) and Yoiyoiyoiyama (July
14).
The procession of floats (Yamaboko
Junko) takes place between 9:00 and 13:00 on the 17th and follows a 3 km
route along Shijo, Kawaramachi and Oike streets. Some paid seating is
provided in front of the city hall (3100 yen; advance booking required), but
because the procession takes place over quite a long route and duration, good
viewpoints can also be found elsewhere without too much trouble.
2. Nagasaki Kunchi
Festival
|
