Hyogo

Jun 21, 2014 - 1 min read

Sekko Matsuri

Kasai Spring Festival

By Mark Joseph Fabon

Community writer

Each mikoshi is carried by residents of certain areas of the town and each “district”.

An early celebration before the procession starts.

This event will never be as fun as it should without these matsuri booths, where vendors sold various foods, stuffs and a playing booth like catching a gold fish.

Ame ringo, a sugar coated apple.

A group of Japanese men carrying the portable shrine down the street.

Mikoshi, a smaller type of portable shrine.

One of my favorite booths is this one, where they sell these character masks from the very popular Japanese cartoons.

This very cute little boy is ready to catch some gold fish.

The shrine of a participating district at the central ground of Sagami-Ji.

Yatai Gura,the resting place of the Yatai

These Strawberry, Vanilla and chocolate coated Banana's are not just cute but also delicious!

The musicians carrying their instruments.

These cute kids in one of the streets in the old town of Hojo really catches the attention of many photographers.

Inside the Shrine there is a little boy that plays the drums.

Abari taiko, a Japanese group that performs a dynamic movement and rhythmic grooves with a heart pounding percussions.

Taiko, or the drums.

This guys shook the Sakura and the petals fell down like a confetti and it was really beautiful.

Moving the shrine around the central ground several times before they go back to the procession down the street.

Exhausted from carrying the heavy Shrine but still lifting it up with grace and enthusiasm.

These men wearing a "tori" or "chicken" inspired head piece are very enthusiastic, chanting Yoyasa!

Of course do not forget to try the takoyaki

Chanting "Yoyasa yoyasa yoyasasa asore"

At night, lanterns displayed in front of Japanese houses are lit.

These cocks represents the East and West group. During the old time where the source of water in some area are limited, Japanese held cockfights and whoever wins will use first the available water for the rice field

Sekko Matsuri is a two day event held in Kasai every spring. A group of men bring a mikoshi down the street, with accompaniment of clackers and chanting. All the men wear a blue yukata. They will lift the yatai up and down, while moving around the area from the resting place of the shrine to the focal point of the event, where festival booths, other activities and a ceremony are held until the evening.

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Mark Joseph Fabon

By Mark Joseph Fabon

Community writer

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