July 17, 2008 – The Gion Matsuri (Festival) is one of Japan’s most famous. When I was here 2 years ago, I didn’t attend because it was pouring rain. But this year was GORGEOUS. The floats are truly spectacular with tapestries dating back centuries. Wait ‘til you see the videos I took…
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- Gorgeous, sunny day at the I-house
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- View from Campus
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- The Student Union Building
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- Rare Sight: No Students!
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- Motorbike Parking Lot
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- KSU Motor Bikes
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- Here Comes the First Float!
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- Theo-kun Waits with Rapt Attention…
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- …And so does this little guy (note the “Dericious” T-shirt!)
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- Here comes one of the smaller floats
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- Float passing by
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- Standard Bearer
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- Shinto Messenger
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- Here comes a big one—note the 12-story building it’s passing by
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- Amazing!
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- A Smaller One Passes By
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- Interesting Headgear
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- The assembled participants, large and small
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- Tasty cold soba for lunch!
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- Kishi-sensei—Itadakimaaasu!
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- All Gone…
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- Local Shop
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- Interesting neighborhood architecture
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- Buddhist—NOT Nazi—small shrine next to a new store front
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- Looking down Shijo at the towering floats
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- A “Little” Float
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- A Very BIG Float
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- Note the band and the guys on the roof
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- Another Look Down Shijo
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- Gorgeous, ancient tapestries
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- How you get on and off the thing!
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- Gion Matsuri Tapestry
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- Disassembly After the Parade
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- With the wheels removed
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- The Number 1 float being disassembled
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- Removing the Skirting
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- What they’re like underneath—no nails, just lashing together with intricate knots and ropes
journey, not destination 