Ogionsa has been the traditional festival in Kagoshima since Edo period for the health and prosperity of people. As many as 3,000 people participate in the festival.
CONTENTS
Schedule
Ogionsa festival was held as follows:
| 23rd July (Saturday) | 24th July (Sunday) |
| 14:00 Tenmonkan Arcade | 10:00 Starting ceremony at Yasaka Shrine |
| Traditional performance | 10:30 Portable shrine depart Yasaka Shrine |
| 17:00 Tenmonkan Park | 14:30 Ceremony at Tenmonkan |
| Traditional performance and display | 15:00-17:30 Festival at Tenmonkan |
Start Ceremony
Scorching summer sunlights hit the skins of musculer men.
Start ceremony was held at 10:30 at Yasaka Shrine.
Many musculer men filled the garden of the shrine.
Shrine god moves from the building to portable shrine (Mikoshi).
Please watch the following video of the start ceremony.
6 beautiful portable shrins depart the shrine for Tenmonkan.
Yasaka Shrine is also famous for June Lantern Festival.
Near JR Kagoshima Station
My family watched the portable shrine near JR Kagoshima Station, 500 away from Yasaka Shrine.
Some men put salt on our feet to keep away evil spirits.
They gave our baby chans to wish her healthy growth in future.
They stop at infront of a shop and chaned for the prosperity of the shop.
Water was sprayed to cool down men.
I took the following video near Kagoshima Station.
Procession at Tenmonkan Street
Course
The course of the festival procession is as follows.
Japanese Drums Performance
I waited for the procession in front of Yamakataya Depart ment Store.
Pedestrians enjoyed watching performance of Japanese drums.
Kagoshima Ambasodors & Child Portable Shrine
Procession started finally.
Kagoshima Ambassodors and children on portable shrines started procession after drum performers.
Ambassodors girls are very beautiful. Small children in traditional festival costumes are so cute!
God “Sarutahiko”
Sarutahiko is the God who guided the God Ninigi from the heaven to Japan’s land when Ninigi was ordered to rule Japan.
Sarutahiko has a long nose like a goblin.
Samurais walked along the road. If you put some money on their cages, Samurai gives you the sacred piece of the tree of Yasaka Shrine.
Dashi (Festival Vehicle)
Dashi strolls along the Tenmonkan Street.
They play traditional jolly Japanese musics in traditional ancient costumes.
I took the video of all three kinds of Dashi.
Kannyo (Imperial Lady)
Beautiful lady is in beautiful clothes.
12 Kanme
12 girls put the wodden boxes on their heads.
Chigokago (Children Carts)
Some children are completely sleeps while being carried in carts.
Cute girl waves her hands to public.
I took the following video of Kannyo, 12 Kanme and Chigokago.
They are all beautiful.
Male Portable Shrines
Men carries portable shrine. It is very impressive.
10 portable shrines appeared at Ogionsa Festival.
6 of 10 shrines are carried by men.
Female Portable Shrines
4 portable shrines are carried by women during the festival.
Kasaboko Performance
Some people put umbrellas of long bamboo trees on their head or shoulders.
The bamboo length is 7 meter. It must be very heavy!
Other Festivals of Kagoshima
Chiran Neputa Festival
Sogadon no Kasayaki
