Matsuri
Matsuri ( Japanese 祭 り or 祭 ) are Japanese folk festivals. They differ in regional characteristics and are often related to the local Shinto shrine or Buddhist temple.
Matsuri are exuberant festivals that have arisen from the annual course of the farmers. There is no nationwide Matsuri in all of Japan, but spring festivals at the time of the cherry blossom ( Hana-Matsuri ) and autumn festivals associated with the rice harvest are characteristic. Dance, music, sake and food are associated with the Matsuri . The highlight is the festive procession of the Mikoshi shrines.
Famous Matsuri
- Aoi-Matsuri in Kyoto
- Gion-Matsuri in Kyoto
- Hakata Gion Yamakasa in Fukuoka
- Hinamatsuri (girls' festival )
- Ise-machi Matsuri in Gunma Prefecture
- Jidai-Matsuri
- Kanda-Matsuri
- Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri in Kishiwada
- Nada no Kenka Matsuri in Himeji
- Nebuta Matsuri
- Sanno Matsuri in Aomori
- Sanja Matsuri in Tokyo
- Sapporo Snow Festival
- Tanabata Matsuri in Asagaya , ( Tokyo )
- Tenjin Matsuri in Osaka ( Osaka Tenman-gū )
- Shingen-kō Matsuri in Kofu
- Yukimatsuri
Web links
Commons : Festivals of Japan - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files
- Bernhard Scheid: Religion in Japan: Matsuri - Religious folk festivals
- Elizabeth Moriarty: The Communitarian Aspect of Shinto Matsuri - English
- Festivals of Japan - English