Special Kyoto Notebook 9: Gion Matsuri at a Glance

< | Shosho (Lesser Heat) / Let's Enjoy the Gion Matsuri >

The Gion Matsuri is one of Japan's largest festivals.

It would take a tremendous amount of time to see all 34 of the magnificent | Yamaboko | floats, which are often called moving museums.

If you were to look at them carefully, it would probably take years.

In such cases, it is best to get a rough overview.

In the north space of the free north-south passage on the 2nd floor of the JR Kyoto Station Building, there are panels explaining the history and charm of the Gion Matsuri, as well as miniature | Yamaboko | floats on display.


The miniatures are the work of the traditional Kyoto doll maker, Kogatanaya Chubei.

Also on display are official postcards themed around the Gion Matsuri, painted by Japanese painters with ties to Kyoto, such as Heihachiro Fukuda and Yoson Ikeda, during the Showa era.

The exhibition period is from Wednesday, July 3rd to Wednesday, July 31st.

Furthermore, at the Daimaru Kyoto store where the | Naginata-hoko | is erected, there is a special venue in front of the information desk on the first floor where you can feel the Gion Matsuri more closely.

In addition to a superb 1/10th scale replica of the | Naginata-hoko |, all 34 types of | chimaki | (amulets) awarded at each Yamaboko town are also on display.

All of these are for display only.

< Period > | Naginata-hoko | replica, all 34 types of | chimaki |
Monday, July 1st - Wednesday, July 24th

In the show window next to the main entrance on the first floor of Daimaru, facing Shijo-dori, the golden dragon head of the | Ofune-hoko | and the wooden dragon head from Takio Shrine, which served as its model, will be displayed on a rotating basis.

You can see them up close, and they are truly impressive.

<Period> | Ofune Hoko Golden Dragon Head
July 1 (Mon) - 12 (Fri)


Takio Shrine Wood-carved Dragon Head
July 13 (Sat) - 31 (Wed)

Exhibitions at Kyoto Station Building and Daimaru Kyoto Store are free.

Next is the General Exhibition Room on the 2nd floor of The Museum of Kyoto.

This requires an admission fee, but it is very informative for those who want to learn about the Gion Matsuri in depth.

Only on July 16, 17, and 24, the film theater on the same floor will specially screen the movie "Gion Matsuri" as part of the general exhibition.
It is a 167-minute color film produced by the Japan Film Revival Association in 1968, and it is quite a long feature.


It depicts the townspeople (machishu) who revived the Gion Matsuri, which had been discontinued for 33 years following the Onin War.

I have also watched it many times.

It is said that it took seven years from conception to production.

While there were pros and cons regarding historical accuracy at the time, the stars of the show, amidst an all-star cast of Showa-era actors, are the over 10,000 Kyoto citizens who participated as extras.

Given that a once-in-a-century pandemic like COVID-19 has occurred, the last scene of the Yamahoko procession, which is a festival to ward off epidemics, is thought-provoking and a masterpiece.

If you are interested in the "Gion Matsuri," I highly recommend you take a look.

(Contact Information)

Kyoto Station Building
https://www.kyoto-station-building.co.jp/contact/

Daimaru Kyoto Store
075-211-8111

The Museum of Kyoto
https://www.bunpaku.or.jp/contact/faq/
075-222-0888






I would like to present the July posts as a "Gion Matsuri" series.

<Reference> Kyoto Station Building Official Website
Daimaru Kyoto Store Official Website
The Museum of Kyoto Official Website

<(c) 2024 Text: Hoichi Shiraishi Editing/Photography: Sato Kitayama Unauthorized reproduction prohibited>