With the arrival off autumn come a variety of local
festivals (Matsuri), most symbolising the celebrations or prayers for a
prosperous harvest. During this time, many cities become teeming with
travellers as they enjoy watching (and sometimes even participating) the local
festivities.
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| A young man elegantly shows his sharp reflexes by dancing |
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| Everyone working together to pull the massive float |
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| Even the youngest participate in traditional dances |
Often the cities have one big festival once every three
years. We were lucky enough to be able to witness one of Shimada’s big
festivals – Obi Matsuri. This festival has been celebrated since 1609 and comes
around once every three years.
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| Awaiting the moment to start pulling the float |
The festival has a long procession, symbolising the
procession of a 100 000 units of rice (or ju man koku) – hundreds of marchers
walk gracefully in the streets, horses carrying delicately dressed children
trot slowly in procession and one (unlucky) horse carries a very large throne
on its back.
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| Horse carrying a beautifully coloured throne |
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| Portable shrine |
But what makes this procession so unique isn’t the beautiful
clothing worn by the participants nor the symbolism of the rice pickers dressed
in traditional clothes. It is actually the beautiful obi (colourful cloth
belts worn over kimono) carried and worn by oyakku (men dressed as samurai)
whilst bearing their butts for the world to see.
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| Beautiful obi |
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| Oyakku displaying the beautiful obi |
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| Colourful obi draped over heavy swords |
The oyakku wear large swords which are kept in place by
beautifully painted and printed obi, whilst some obi are deftly draped over the
heavy swords. The men carry purple parasols whilst walking in an elaborate
manner. But it is only when you turn around, mesmerized by the beautiful obi
sashes dangling on the swords, that you realize these brave men aren’t wearing
any pants…
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| And..... we aren't wearing any pants |
The reason for not wearing pants is rather unknown to me,
but the story for carrying the obi goes something like this:
Recently married women who moved to Shimada, had to go to
the main temple to pray for a safe childbirth. They dressed in their beautiful
wedding kimono with their elaborate obi dangling from their backs. Because the
process was a rather embarrassing one for a woman to endure, some brave men
decided that they will take the woman’s obi to the temple for her and pray on
her behalf for a safe childbirth.
But the festival offers much more than just od men with
their derrières exposed – there are beautiful dances done by children and women
and I also had the impression that this festival celebrates children just as
much as the beautiful women. The children in the procession are dressed in
elaborate clothing, and even the youngest are dancing in the processions.
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| Young girls wearing beautiful kimono |
The strong men bravely pulling and manoeuvring the biggest
floats through the streets and there is even a small celebration of beauty by
showing the beauty of young girls wearing and dancing in a geisha-inspired
fashion.
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| A beautiful young girl (aged 6) performing traditional dances in a geisha-inspired fashion |
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| Traditional hats and clothes |
Obi matsuri is not to be missed but only comes around once
every three years. The next festival will be during 2016.
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| After three days, locals are still beating drums and playing flutes while forcefully manoeuvring the large floats down the streets. |
Have you ever been to this festival? What’s your impression
of it?
I was truly amazed by the splendour of this festival, even
though, I have to admit, the naked behind of old men contributed to the
amazement…
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