Local festival;

*At 水分神社 'mikumari-shrine'*

Along side Koto-River, there is an old shrine made to pray for the agricultural irrigation. For the Autumn Festival there, one of my husband's band member was invited with his guitar group to perform for one of the events there. 

Sacred Ritual;

Priestess’s Dance and ancient Japanese court music　'雅楽，gagaku'
I loved the sound very much as not many chances to enjoy them.

Several performances at this event;

Kind of intriguing to hear the sound of The Ventures for this occasion:-)

Mom, portable shrine is scary;

We all ducked under the shrine.
This is for hanving healthy year...   Oh, I DO hope so!　

Rice cake '餅, Mochi' throwing which is one of the ritual in Japan as well.

*For the last, portable shrine got into the river as this shrine is 'God of water' *

Thank you very much for stopping by;

The festival at Sumiyoshi-shrine, locating next city where my husband was born, was revived 3 years ago. The first privately-owned cement company in Japan founded by Kasai Jinnpachi developed the city. This festival is to commemorate his contribution.

Let me introduce the high light of the festival; 3 Portable Shrines and the Dance of the Dragon , which is the trade mark of the company. 

First and second one was made by one of my husband's band member. 

Link to the more detail about the 2 shrine from last year.

*First one is modeled after the Tokkuri←link -shaped kiln (we put sake in tokkuri) to burn limestone.  The roof is for the protecting porpouse. This old type of kiln is no longer in use now.

*Second one is called "セメン樽, semendaru. cement barrel" 

They used to use barrels to carry cement. 

*Third  one; Another big company used to make sulfuric acid. 

                   These crock (hope the right word) were made to put them.

Enjoyed the marvelous sound, (復活, means revive) 

Dace of the dragon (trade mark of the cement company) was great.

Pictures form Local Festival

         Hello, would you let me post only pictures from the local festival;

    I'd so appreciated it if you kindly enjoy the pictures with enlarged version :-)) 

*They started for the parade*
   Carried by City office members:

    Carried by local college students:

    Carried by local high school and elementary students:

*Performances at the main venue of the event: