Aki Matsuri, Autumn Festivals

to thank the gods for a good harvest and pray for the wellbeing of each
family in the community.



Today, or rather the second weekend of October, is the Autumn Festival at
our local shrine, I just come back from the simple but really endearing
festivities.



The local gods, who usually reside inside the shrine, are transferred to
small portable shrines (mikoshi), put in front of the shrine building and
groups of 3 men with three lion masks perform a lion dance in front of them.
The kindergarden children this year also put on colorful costumes and danced
with their paper lion mask.



This is our lion

http://www.tsccreate.co.jp/2-4.jpg

http://www.nantaku.co.jp/area/nsearch/matsuri/img/sakai.gif



Then all take the protable shrines about 500 meters to a clearance in the
forest, where more ricewine for the elders is poured and more dance for the
gods is performed. This time the lion holds a sharp sword in hand and cuts
off all evil with it.

With loud shouting they walk back to the shrine, another final dance and
that was it.



And on the following three links, you find some very similar festival, since
after all, most mountain communities in Okayama are the same.



Here are some lovely pictures of such a small village autumn festival.

http://www.e-village.jp/earth-c/html/9910oct/html/000050.html

http://www.e-village.jp/earth-c/html/9910oct/html/000052.html

Here is some kind of Lion Dance in Takebe, the village next to mine.

http://www.e-village.jp/earth-c/html/9910oct/html/000080.html



Just for the fun of it, children harvesting rice by hand. The same sceene is
also here in my village.

http://www.e-village.jp/earth-c/html/9910oct/html/000079.html



This is a site with many Japanese topics, made by children, but in Engish,
so you might enjoy to see more.

http://www.e-village.jp/earth-c/html/9910oct/html/



yamasato ni

kodomo no egao <>

aki matsuri



in the mountain village

all children laughing <>

autumn festival



It is a festival where many youngsters come back to see their parents,
bringing the children and grandchildren to the gods for a special blessing,
therefore the laughter of children is three times more than usual :o)



Come visiting next year !



Gabi san




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