Monthly Nadeshiko News of July

In July, maiko wear light kimono and kanzashi (ornamental hairpins) on fan motif. Their appearance is a refreshing relief in muggy summer of Kyoto.

It is draped in the Gion Festival this month. Senior maiko usually wear ofuku hairstyle but during the festival, they wear katsuyama hairstyle, which is decorated with many gorgeous kanzashi. People of Kyoto feel uplifted toward the festival as they see this coiffure.

Maiko usually wear kimono with seasonal flower motif. But especially in July, they often wear kimono which have patterns related to the Gion Festival. It is another pleasure for this month.

During the period, they sometimes wear yukata(a casual cotton kimono mostly worn in summertime). If you were lucky, there will be a chance to see them wearing it on the night of Yoiyama (eve of the grand parade).

You’ll see them enjoying night stalls with their customers. It’s just so adorable.

Maiko in Yukata

Katsuyama

Highlight events in Hanamachi,July

●The 1st～
Kamishichiken beer garden at Kamishichiken Kaburen Theater

●The 7th
Miyabi-kai at Yasaka Shrine

●The 16th
Ceremony of Yoimiya at around the bottom of Gion stone steps

●The 24th
Gion hanagasa (flower umbrella) parade and dedicated dance at Yasaka Shrine

＊Miyabi-kai at Yasaka Shrine
This is　an event that Maiko and Geiko of Gion-Kobu pay a devotional visit to the Shrine. They pray for their progress in dancing and health.

At Miyabi-kai, all Maiko and Geiko gather at Yasaka Shrine with Ms.Yachiyo Inoue, the master of Japanese dancing. They all wear in matching yukata.

Yoimiya Shinshin houno shinji – the ritual event of dedication

Events in Kyoto,July

●The 1st – 31st
The Gion Festival at Hoko-machi and Yasaka Shrine

●The 1st –
Arashiyama cormorant fishing at around Togetsykyo Bridge of Arashiyama

●The 2nd – 3rd
The Star Festival at Kodaiji Temple

●The 7th

The Star Festival at Kitano Shrine, Jishu Shrine, Shiramine
Shrine, and other shrines

●The 9th
The Water Festival of Kifune at Kifune Shrine

●The 15th
The Rice Field Festival at Matsuo Shrine

●The 17th
The Gion Festival grand parade at Yamaboko (floats) parade on streets of Kyoto

●The 21th – 22th
Yoimiya-sai and Honmiya-sai at Fushimi Inari Shrine

●The 24th
Gion Flower Umbrella parade at parade on street of Kyoto

●The 24th
Monjudo Ship Departure Festival at Chionji Temple

●The 26th – 29th
Mitarashi Festival at Shimogamo Shrine

●The 28th
Tanukidani-yama Fire Walking Festival at Tanukidani-yama Fudo-in Temple

●The 31th – August 1st
Sen-nichi Mairi (One Thousand Day Visit) at Atago Shrine

At Tanukidani-yama firewalk festival, people walk on fire bed with bare feet to pray for good health

The little girls holding nursery-trees in hands are called ‘Ueme.’ They go around a front shrine three times to pray for abundant crops and huge harvest at the Rice Field Festival in Matuo Shrine.

*Yoimiya-sai is the eve of the ceremony and Honmiya-sai is the main ceremony at Fushimi Inari Shrine.

*At Mitarashi Festival, people wade in Mitarashi Pond to purify themselves at Shimogamo Shrine

The Gion Festival ～bright contrast of stillness and motion～

In the middle,　you’ll see Nakagoza Mikoshi.　On the left, there is Nishigoza-Mikoshi and Higashigoza-Mikoshi on the right. Shinko-Sai is one of the highlight event of the Gion festival.

It is said that the Gion Festival is “the festival of men”. But at the same time, it is called “the festival of stillness and dynamism”.

The reason is…the Gion Festival is famous for the grand parade of Yamaboko floats. Right after the parade, Shinko-sai starts and the town of Kyoto is full of energy.

Shinko-sai is a procession of gods. Three mikoshis (portable shrines) are usually set at Yasaka Shrine. But once a year, during the period of the Gion Festival, they move away from the shrine to Shijo Otabisho (Otabisho means “inn for gods”).

Gods pass over the Kamo River and stay in a real world where people live. All mikoshis are carried by men of Kyoto. They pour holy sake over themselves and go on streets .

The air of excitement arises from all over their bodies with special shouts of the festival. It really is a vigorous event. This is the dynamism after the grand parade.

Then stillness comes. Gods stay at the Shijo Otabisho for a week.

On the 24th, gods and mikoshis return to the Yasaka Shrine. The return parade is called as ‘The Kankosai.’

It is said that if you visit the Shijo-Otabisho during the period every day, your wish comes true. However, there is a very strict rule. You must not speak a word from your home to the Shijo-Otabisho. If you speak out a word, your wish never realizes. The custom is called “mugon mairi” or “silent visit.”

This is Shijo Otabijo where three Mikoshis from yasaka Shrine rest for a week from 17th -24th of July.

You might say “It is just a superstition!”, but I do not think so. Many maiko and geiko in hanamachi cross the Shijo Ohashi Bridge with serious face during this period.

They put palms together and pray in front of the sacred altar. It is an intriguing landscape and you might want to ask them what they pray for. But for them, it is very important and sacred ceremony during the week. So, please do not speak to them!