Akiba Mart Blog » History of Japan

Beautiful Festival in Japan

Susumu — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 10:00:47 +0000

I went home to Kyoto to see the Gion festival (Gion Matsuri) from July 16th to the 19th . If you say Kyoto’s summer, we say, “Gion Matsuri”. Soon after the Gion festival, the rainy season ends and humid summer begins in Kyoto.

The Gion festival is one of the three main festivals of Japan. And it is most beautiful festival of Japan! The festival peaks on the 17th July, when 32 beautifully decorated floats (Yamaboko floats) parade through the city. These Yamaboko floats are described as a “moving museum”.

Though I repeated visits to this festival, every time I am impressed by this festival’s beauty . If you visit Japan in summer,please visit the Gion festival in Kyoto!

The scenes of Gion festival at the corner of Oike and Shinmachi streets.

More photos are below

Naginata Float

Festival's Musicians

Mantis Float

Cool Samurai Helmet

Susumu — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 07:46:28 +0000

Now, Naoe Kanetsugu who was a Japanese samurai has grown in popularity in Japan. Because this year’s hero of the historical drama which every year NHK(Japanese state channel) broadcasts for a year, is Naoe Kanetsugu.
Despite Naoe Kanetsugu was a just warrior serving Uesugi Kenshin and Uesugi Kagekatsu, he is so popular that his drama was made. It’s true that he was so faithful samurai warrior Japanese likes and there are some interesting anecdotes about him.But,what makes him so popular?
I think one of the best reasons is that his samurai helmet is pretty gorgeous.
Watch this!

His samurai helmet was decorated with a kanji symbol. As you may know, this kanji symbol is “Ai” means love and one of the most popular kanji symbols.

Hmm,very cool! I’m sure he really stood out from the crowd on the battlefield

Kanetugu's samurai helmet

Kanji symbol ai