Mitarashi Matsuri

Every year, around this time, Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto will hold the Mitarashi Matsuri. Shimogamo shrine is also the site for another famous Kyoto festival, the Aoi Matsuri. Located near Demachiyanagi ( for those wanting to visit Shimogamo shrine, take the Keihan line to Demachiyanagi station, walk out then cross the bridge. You will see a sign with directions to Shimogamo shrine ), it is a shinto shrine and a UNESCO heritage site.



At the entrance of Shimogamo shrine

Mitarashi Matsuri is a celebration of Seoritsu Hime's (goddess of water) purifying powers. This goddess is enshrined in the Shimogamo shrine.



The other side of the entrance. See the people?

The story goes that as Princess Seoritsu was wading in the stream that flows through Shimogamo shrine, she found a fine arrow floating and picked it up.



Entrance again. Another view

When she got home, she placed the arrow next to her pillow and lo and behold, when she got into the bed, the arrow changed into a handsome young prince!



Rows of lanterns hung along the corridor

Then, nine months later, the princess gave birth to Seoritsu Hime. Hehe, we all know wht happened that night.



This is for TJ who likes lanterns.

I went with my labmates and Ton the first night. Brought my trusty Olympus with me but sadly enough, after only two pictures, the camera's batteries died! So I had to return and this time, brought along the Kiss.



In the shrine grounds.

The place was so beautiful, as you can see, plenty of lanterns were hung everywhere. In the main shrine, you can pray to your respective gods ( your birth year's animal sign ) with a toss of a 5 yen coin ( 5 yen is the best coin to use ) and then clap your hands twice and wish for your hearts desire.



Through the main stage. At the background is the entrance gate.

The main shrine room was beautiful. All dark except for the lamps illuminating the room. What a pity I could not take a picture of that place since I did not have a tripod then. Perhaps Patrick and Puay got a nice pic of that place?



The people in the icy cold stream water.

Then, for 200¥, you can wade in the stream that flows through the shrine. Despite the heat of summer, the water is icy cold! I love it! You would be given a candle which you will light along the way. The candles will be placed at the designated site. The picture is blur, unfortunately. I took many pictures of this scene, but since the lighting was not good, everything turned out blur, plus I have shaky hands. Too bad, cause the view was lovely.



Placing the candles.

Blur again. After wading in the stream, for a donation ( you can give as much as you want or as little as you want ), you get to drink the spring water, which was cooling and refreshing.



Another small shrine located at the stream

Then you head back towards the main ground. The first day I went, I was wearing jeans and sport shoes. This time, I knew better and came in shorts and selipar! There is another small shrine where you can pray as you get out of the stream. There will be a rope attached to a bell. Pull the rope, the bell rings, clap twice and then pray.



As I walked back towards the main grounds.

Oh yeah, by drinking the spring water, you will have a summer full of health and vitality!



Close up of the lanterns. Background is the corridor leading towards the main gate.

The place was truly gorgeous because it was only lighted up with lanterns and yellow lights. So, a more natural glow instead of the harsh fluorescent lights.



The corridor. Blur though.

Along the way towards the shrine, there were stalls selling everything from food to pet fishes and plants. There was grilled sotong.....man.....I was hungry at that time and the smell was delicious. But Ton had beef curry at his house and that was my dinner! Thank you Ton! Oishikatta!



The lanterns again at another corridor but these were probably hand made.

La marche de l'empereur

I had been wanting to watch this documentary ever since I saw the trailer. Unfortunately, although they were showing the docu-movie here, it was in the original french version - La marche de l'empereur. My three semesters of beginner french did not help me at all! And the subtitles were in japanese.

However, since I already know the gist of the story so to speak, I could follow the movie. But the visuals, the cinematography was absolutley STUNNING! Yup, I was stunned. The penguins themselves were worthy of the Oscars. That alone was worth watching for.

Can you imagine marching through the brutal landscape to find your mating place? They were a sight, marching in single file through the frozen ground, a line of black against the stark white landscape. Then after mating, to care for your eggs through freezing blizzards and months without food? That was the duty for the papas, while the mamas went back to the ocean to hunt and would later return in spring in time to see their newborns hatch. Then, it would be the mamas turn to care for the babies.

There would be many times that you would go *awww* at the sight of the furry little baby penguins, but since it is a documentary and not a fairytale, reality creeps in. The harsh climate is deadly to the young ones and the sight of frozen eggs and dead hatchlings are enough to make you grab your heart and go "NO!". The thought that some of the penguins after having endured la marche and months of caring for their eggs and young only to loose them to the cold is heartbreaking. Then there will be predators lurking about, babies would loose their mothers and mothers would loose their babies.

If you get a chance, don't miss this one. I wish I could understand french since the narratives complimented the documentary instead of distracting or spoiling it. There were three narrators in the french version. Morgan Freeman is the narrator for the english version.

I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed La marche de l'empereur. It was definately more fun than War of the Worlds.

Up close and personal

Cicada nymph casing, macro look



Still fiddling with the camera. Took this one with flash in the lab room, with the desk's flourescent light shining on it. I need more practice.

Cicadas...you either love them or hate them

Yeah, cicada season. The whole place is abuzz with their singing! Patrick has a very informative post on cicadas at his website. So head over there.

I have just two close ups of the cicada nymph casing which I found hanging in front of my lab the other day. So placed it against the sunlight and took pictures. You guys judge which is the best. Btw, Puay, this is still my old Olympus.

Upside down moth

Saw this moth lying on its wings on my way back to the lab. Picked it up and photographed it and then set it free. Hope it flew to somewhere safe.

Gion Matsuri

This is going to be a very long post as there are a lot of pictures. A friend of mine had already posted this topic on his site.

This matsuri or festival was organized by the head priest of the Yasaka Jinja back in 898 AD during a time when Kyoto was troubled by plague. This procession of floats and carriages was designed to appease the Shinto Gods so that the plague would end. When it ended, this matsuri still continued and remained very popular till this day. It is so popular that many will travel from all over Japan just to attend this festival. In fact it is one of Japan's most famous festival. During the 15th century, wealthy citizens decorated the floats with rich and colourful materials or ornaments that were imported from other countries, which you will see in the photos. It is a month long festival, of which the highlight would be the Yamahoko junko or the parade of floats. Before the main parade (Yamahoko Junko) day on the 17th of July, night festivals will be held where visitors get to see the floats on display, all lighted up with beautiful lanterns and stuff themselves with food and beer.

Yamahoko Junko

I am going to start off first with the parade and then move on to the night festival. The parade consists of two kinds of floats: Yama - carried by men on their shoulders using long poles and Hoko - pulled by men using ropes and wheels.



The procession will be led by the Naginata Boko (a Hoko float) which is the one in this picture, every year. It is the only float which has a boy chosen to be the celestial or sacred child whereas the rest have only puppets. He is at the front side of the boat, sitting at the top. The rest of the floats will be have to obey the order drawn by the Mayor of Kyoto. Naginata means halbeard, a weapon believed to have the power to exorcise the evil spirits causing the plague.



The celestial boy, who is flanked by two page boys (not in the picture).



Hosho Yama float, carried by 16 men, the figure representing the warrior Hosho risking his life to get the plum blossoms for his lady friend from the Emperor's garden. It is worshipped as the God of love and apparently you can get talisments for happy marriage in front of the boat.



Before each Yama or Hoko, there will be a parade of men preceeding it, who are probably from the society, association, temple or shrine involved with the float.



A look at the back part of the Kikusui Boko float. See the intricate tapestry? Gorgeous.



Men or boys playing the traditional instruments on top of the Hoko floats. See the beautiful decorations of tapestry hanging at the side of the float?



One of the highlights of the parade is the to watch the turning of the floats when they reach the street corner. They have to be positioned correctly at a precise angle in order for the turning to be smooth and to complete the turn in one pull. Here are the men laying out strips of bamboo on the road and later on water, which will facilitate the turning of the boat. Very interesting.



The men now getting ready to turn the float, making sure that everything is in proper order.



The turning of the float. You can see the effort that goes into the action. It is very exciting to watch and you cheer as you see them turn the float in one smooth action. Those who succeed will get applause from the appreciative crowd, whereas those who failed on the first attempt will get encouragement. The four men in the front with the fans are the ones giving the "go" word.



Boys joining the parade. Drummer boys?



The Hoko men, waiting for further instructions. Haha, sexy legs? Nice hats though.



The men standing in front of the Hoko floats giving instructions or to bolster the men's spirit during the parade.



Making sure that the wheels are moving smoothly.



On the top of the Iwato Yama float. I have no idea who the figure represents. But according to the legend, this boat is dedicated to the sun goddess.



Also during the turning of the float, this time, I centered on the "men with fans"'s faces. Er, not sure what they are called though. Can somebody help me out?



One of the more interesting floats: Fune Boko. Built in the shape of an ancient ship. According to legend, this boat was used to ferry the Empress Jingu Kogo, also known as God of safe delivery.



The front view of the Fune Boko. Gorgeous, isn't it?





Close-up view of the Fune Boko.


Gion Matsuri at Night

Before the parade, the Yama and Hoko floats are erected at specific spots along the main streets in Kyoto City, giving visitors a chance to see the boats up close, take pictures or even, for a certain amount of money, to get into to the floats and admire the interior.



The floats on display along the Shijo street. See the crowd? This week, Monday is a holiday and the parade is on a sunday. Long weekend = HUGE crowd.



Picture of a young girl wearing a yukata which is the summer kimono, getting into one of the floats. Yukatas are usually made of cotton and are light and easy to wear during summer, when compared to the kimono. Girls and women will be wearing yukatas during the Gion festival.



Close up of the lanterns hung in front of the floats. In the background, you can see the bird statue of the Fune Boko.



The Naginata Boko float all lit up. The musicians will be playing traditional music throughout the night.



Close up of the musicians. It is a hot night.



Gorgeous lanterns on display in front of the floats. Beautiful light emminating from them, giving the area a nice glow.



Little girls, all dressed in yukatas, participating in an event. Picture has been altered with Photoshop using teardrop to get rid of the grainy effect.



Besides seeing or posing in front of the floats, you can shop around. You can buy yukatas, kimonos, bags etc for a bargain here at the street stalls. Got myself a nice green yukata with a simple pattern of dragonflies and water ripples in white for only 1000¥! Pictured here are getas, which are the sandals worn together with the yukatas. It is made out of wood and cloth.



Food stalls are everywhere and you can eat till you drop. Or drink till you drop. Pictured here is the okonomiyaki which is like a Japanese pancake.



These are sticky rice flour balls which will be dipped into a sweet sauce. I honestly thought they were fish balls and I bought a stick for 500¥ (expensive!) only to realise it was not fish!!



These octopus pieces will be added to a mixture of flour, pickles, cabbage and chopped onion to make takoyaki.



For those with a sweet tooth, then this will satisfy you. Strawberries dipped in melted sugar syrup.



My friends who went with me. From the left Yumiko-san, Shiori-san and Basak-san.


Somushi

Somushi is a korean restaurant which we stumbled upon along the way. Or rather, it was only I who thought so. Probably my friends knew about its existence. A very nicely decorated restaurant, beautiful interior design and lovely deserts. Love the interesting blend of tea they serve there.



That is the bar, which was uniquely designed cause we were sitting on a platform, raised high enough so that those working or standing behind the bar will be at face level with us.



Another corner of the restaurant with lovely carved wooden tables and chairs.



Another view of the bar.



My fancy water glass on the wooden table which was decorated with dried berries. On the background is Kagaya-san, whom we met later in the day.