Naked ambition – Take part in Konomiya’s Hadaka Matsuri
Jan 27, 2015 By Bert Wishart
“You make your own luck in this world,” as the saying goes. Whoever coined the phrase could have been thinking of the Hadaka Matsuri in Konomiya, but making your luck here is no simple task. It takes strength, perseverance and a (perhaps sake induced) imperviousness to the cold. If you...[ Click to read more ]
Hiwatari Shinji – A Buddhist Fire Walking Ritual
Nov 27, 2014 By Bert Wishart
Winter in Japan can get a touch on the chilly side, can’t it. So, what’s the best way of warming up? Sitting under a kotatsu? Attaching hot kairo heat pads to your body? How about walking through fire? Okay, maybe the latter one is a bit extreme, but that doesn’t stop the...[ Click to read more ]
The Floating Mikoshi of Miya Festival
Sep 29, 2014 By Bert Wishart
Miya Festival 2014 The Miya Festival is held annually on the third or fourth Sunday of October in Gamagori, Aichi Prefecture. In 2014, this festival will take place on Sunday, October 26th 2014. Have you ever had a dream that resulted in the people of your town dragging immense...[ Click to read more ]
The Takasanji Oni Matsuri in Okazaki
Feb 01, 2013 By Ray Proper
The Takasanji Oni Matsuri (Ogre or fire festival) is held at Takasanji Temple every February on the Saturday closest to February 7th, New Year in the old Lunar Calendar in Japan. Part of the festival involves blessing the local 42, 25, and 12-year-old males; 3 are selected to participate in...[ Click to read more ]
The Luckiest Man is at Tōka-Ebisu Festival in Hyogo Prefecture
Jan 11, 2011 By Ray Proper
Nishinomiya Jinja is a Shinto shrine in Nishinomiya, in Hyogo Prefecture near Kobe, Japan. Nishinomiya Jinja is the main shrine representing the Ebisu sect of the Shinto religion and its 3,500 shrines. It is known locally as "Ebessan," and more broadly as "Ebisu Jingu." Two parts of the shrine itself are of note historically: the front gate (omote-daimon),...[ Click to read more ]
The Chunichi Newspaper Nagara River All-Japan Fireworks Festival
Jul 30, 2010 By Ray Proper
The Chunichi Nagara Gawa Fireworks Festival is held yearly on the last Saturday of July from 7:15 p.m.-8:45 p.m. This year, the festival falls on Saturday, July 31st-this weekend! This is one of the largest fireworks displays in Japan. It is a part of the All-Japan Fireworks Competition, which I...[ Click to read more ]
