白八幡宮大祭IN鯵ヶ沢町 Shirahachimangu Taisai in Ajigasawa
鯵ヶ沢町の「白八幡宮大祭」は4年に1度だけ行われ、日本人でさえ、なかなか見ることの出来ない珍しいお祭りです。
約300年前、京都の祇園祭の影響を受けて生まれたお祭りと言われていて、伝統的な装束を纏い、刀、槍、弓、鉄砲などの御神器や御神宝を捧持する町民数百人が行列をなして街の中を進みます。2基の御神輿が行列を先導し、祇園囃子を奏でる10台の山車が最後尾に配置されます。お祭りの期間中は、踊りや海上渡御も含めて、毎日異なる行事が行われます
The Shiro-Hachimanguu Festival in Ajigasawa Town takes place only once every 4 years. It is a rare sight to see, even for those living in Japan.
Said to have originated from Kyoto’s Gion Festival over 300 years ago, the festival features hundreds of townspeople dressed in traditional ceremonial clothing and carrying weapons like swords, spears, bows, and even muskets. Two portable shrines (Omikoshi in Japanese) are carried at the head of the parade, while 10 floats (called Yama) carrying the young bell ringer girls (called Miyabi) follow at the end. Each day has different events, including dancing and a parade through the bay on boats.
