week5 Event

Himeji Castle held many festival and events. “Oshiro-matsuri” is one of festival. First, I explain about origin. In 1948, when Japan was the postwar period, But Himeji Castle was left miraculously. So people made Himeji castle symbol of revive from war.  “Oshiro-matsuri” was held to make people cheerful and to toward new Himeji city.

“Oshiro-matsuri” is the real feeling of summer. It would be held for three days.

In 2012, The first day, in the morning, ”tournament of sketching Himeji Castle ” was held. Participant was under high school students. They enjoyed sketching Himeji Castle. Win a prizing pictures were displayed at the gallery. In the afternoon, “takigi-nou(薪能) of Himeji Castle” was held to enjoy a Noh play in free. This event was an established custom. Especially, it was held to make young people feel close to a Noh play. 2800 people visited, and they feel traditional entertainment of Himeji. In this event,  a small dram, a flute, and dress, they were used in a Noh play, ware explained. Then for the first time, 14 children who were chosen by inviting public participation appeared “Kurama-tengu(鞍馬天狗)”.

Second day, the big parade was held at o-temae street. 27 resident group took part in the resdent parade, and they took the lead of this parade. 3 lady who were the 44^th queen of Himeji Castle appear in the history parade. This parade took hour and a half hours. This parade made resident and suburb people exited. In Sou-odori(総踊り)、people danced “bansyu-ondo(播州音頭)”

Third day, “Himeji-yoki-koi-matsuri(姫路よさ恋まつり)” was held. Many dancer of Yosakoi　took part in this festival.

Yosakoi-bushi(よさこい節) and Yosakoi-naruko-bushi (よさこい鳴子節)was called Yosakoi-matsuri(よさこい祭り). This festival was born in Kochi in 1950.

In 1992, students of Hokkaido put Yosakoi-bushi of Hokkaido in Yosakoi-bushi of Kochi.

This harmonized festival called “YOSAKOI so-ran matsuri(YOSAKOIソーラン祭り)”was held. Later, Yosakoi-matsuri spread throughout the whole nation.

Yosakoi-matsuri was an energy dance that people use a clapper and move violently with music and dress. In Himeji, in 2000, Yosakoi-matsuri called “Himeji-yoki-koi-matsuri(姫路よさ恋まつり)” began with slogan of “an exchange between person and person”.

In summer, “Yukata matsuri” was held. It was real feeling of summer. This festival was biggest in the west Japan. There were 800 street vendor’s stalls.