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67-585: Hakata Gion Yamakasa ( 博多祇園山笠 ) is a Japanese festival celebrated from the 1st until the 15th of July in Hakata , Fukuoka . The festivities are centered on the Kushida Jinja . The festival is famous for the Kakiyama, that weigh around one ton and are carried around the city as an act of float -racing. The festival is believed to be over 770 years old and attracts up to a million spectators each year. It

134-463: A "spirit altar" ( shōryōdana ) is set up in front of the Butsudan (buddhist altar) to welcome the ancestors' souls. A priest may be asked to come and read a sutra ( tanagyō ). Among the traditional preparations for the ancestors' return are the cleaning of grave sites. The welcoming fire ( mukaebi ) built on the 13th and the send-off fire ( okuribi ) built on the 15th and 16th are intended to guide

201-628: A 2022 survey, they ranked first and second, respectively, in recognition in Japan, with the Gion Matsuri in third place. There are also many Japanese festivals in which the kami are prayed to for a good harvest of rice and other crops. In agricultural festivals, different ceremonies are held in each of the four seasons, and festivals are classified into different types, such as otaue-matsuri ( 御田植祭 ) and aki-matsuri ( 秋祭り ) , according to their significance. In general, festivals held in

268-463: A minor official post at Dazaifu , in Kyūshū 's Chikuzen Province where he and his entire family was banished. He died in exile in 903. After Michizane's death, plague and drought spread and sons of Emperor Daigo died in succession. The Imperial Palace's Great Audience Hall ( shishinden ) was struck repeatedly by lightning, and the city experienced weeks of rainstorms and floods. Attributing this to

335-533: A more desirable role in the Ministry of Popular Affairs . His training and skill with Classical Chinese language and literature afforded him many opportunities to draft edicts and correspondences for officials in the court in addition to his menial duties. Records show at this time he composed three petitions for Fujiwara no Yoshifusa as well as the Emperor. Michizane also took part in receiving delegations from

402-662: A newborn baby. The tradition of bathing the Buddha originated in China and was introduced to Japan where it was first held in Nara in 606. Lion dancing is also a major tradition practiced during Buddha's Birthday and has become associated with the festival in Japan. Date: July 7 / August 5–8 (Sendai) Other Names: The Star Festival Information: It originated from a Chinese folk legend concerning two stars-the Weaver Star (Vega) and

469-483: A park may be decorated with lanterns. Some locations of cherry blossom festivals include: Following the Japanese diaspora , many places around the world celebrate similar festivals, often called matsuri . Brazil hosts the largest nikkei population in the world and some Brazilian cities host matsuri such as São Paulo and Curitiba . The United States host the 2nd largest nikkei population in

536-451: A snow maze, exploring a Japanese igloo, and eat foods from Aomori and Akita prefectures. There is a fireworks show and events held on an ice stage. This festival is held annually and features colorful lantern floats called nebuta which are pulled through the streets of Central Aomori. This festival is held from about August 2–7 every year. This event attracts millions of visitors. During this festival, 20 large nebuta floats are paraded through

603-710: A talent for poetry, and it is said that he began composing waka at the age of five. His waka appeared in various Chokusen wakashū (imperial waka anthologies) compiled at the behest of successive emperors and the Daijō Tennō (abdicated emperor) . His waka appear in the Kokin Wakashū , the Gosen Wakashū , the Shūi Wakashū , and the Shin Kokin Wakashū , among others. Michizane

670-531: Is an honorific prefix) Information: New Year observances are the most elaborate of Japan's annual events. Before the New Year, homes are cleaned, debts are paid off, and osechi (food in lacquered trays for the New Year) is prepared or bought. Osechi foods are traditional foods which are chosen for their lucky colors, shapes, or lucky-sounding names in hopes of obtaining good luck in various areas of life during

737-807: Is called sansha-mairi . In the Imperial Palace at dawn on the 1st, the Emperor performs the rite of shihōhai (worship of the four-quarters), in which he offers prayers for the well-being of the nation. On January 2 the public is allowed to enter the inner palace grounds; the only other day this is possible is the Emperor's birthday (February 23). On the 2nd and 3rd days acquaintances visit one another to extend greetings ( nenshi ) and sip otoso (a spiced rice wine ). Some games played at New Year's are karuta (a card game), hanetsuki (similar to badminton), tako age ( kiteflying ), and komamawashi ( spinning tops ). These games are played to bring more luck for

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804-715: Is estimated that there are between 100,000 and 300,000 festivals across Japan, generating an annual economic impact of 530 billion yen as of 2019. As of 2024, 33 of these festivals have been registered as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists as "Yama, Hoko, Yatai, float festivals in Japan". Various folk dances, costume processions, kagura , dengaku , bugaku , and noh performed at festivals are also registered as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists. For example, 41 folk dances including bon odori from various regions of Japan are registered as " Furyu-odori " and 10 costume processions including namahage are registered as " Raihō-shin ". Japanese festivals reflect

871-482: Is in preparation for the new year holidays. Decorations and sundry goods are sold at the fair. Originally these year-end fairs provided opportunities for farmers, fisherfolk and mountain dwellers to exchange goods and buy clothes and other necessities for the coming year. Date: December 31 ( New Year's Eve ) Information: People do the general house cleaning ( Ōsōji ) to welcome coming year and not to keep having impure influences. Many people visit Buddhist temples to hear

938-481: Is known as Kanke ( 菅家 ) , and in kabuki drama he is known as Kan Shōjō ( 菅丞相 ) . Along with Taira no Masakado and Emperor Sutoku , he is often called one of the “Three Great Onryō of Japan.”. He was born into a family of scholars, who bore the hereditary title of Ason ( 朝臣 ) which predated the Ritsuryō system and its ranking of members of the court. His grandfather, Sugawara no Kiyotomo , served

1005-464: Is now very large and commercialized. About a dozen large sculptures are built for the festival along with around 100 smaller snow and ice sculptures . Several concerts and other events are also held. This lake festival is held in the beginning of February. Held in the town of Yasumiya, this festival is on the south side of Lake Towada (near the wooden statues). This festival is open all day, but at 5 pm one can enjoy activities such as going through

1072-576: Is the original form of this poem, when re-collected later in Hōbutsushū , the last phrase was modified into haru na wasure so (meaning remains unchanged), which became its popular variation. A romantic legend says the plum tree was so fond of its master that it finally flew to Dazaifu, and that tree became known as tobi-ume ( 飛梅 , 'the flying plum' ) at Dazaifu Tenman-gū (a shrine dedicated to its master). A more realistic legend says Michizane or his friend transplanted its seedling to Dazaifu. He

1139-671: Is traditionally credited with the Shinsen Man'yōshū , but the attribution has been challenged. One of his waka was included in Fujiwara no Teika 's Ogura Hyakunin Isshu : このたびは ぬさもとりあへず 手向山 紅葉の錦 神のまにまに Kono tabi wa Nusa mo toriaezu Tamuke-yama Momiji no nishiki Kami no mani-mani On this journey I have no streamers made of silk to offer up. Gods, if it pleases you, may you take instead this beautiful brocade of Mt. Tamuke's autumn colors. The poem

1206-432: Is usually organized at the level of neighborhoods, or machi. Prior to these, the local kami may be ritually installed in mikoshi and paraded through the streets. One can always find in the vicinity of a matsuri booths selling souvenirs and food such as takoyaki , and games, such as Goldfish scooping . Karaoke contests, sumo matches, and other forms of entertainment are often organized in conjunction with matsuri. If

1273-455: Is welcome to purchase their own haneto costume that they may too join in on the fun (Mishima, Aomori Nebuta Festival). This event is held every year. Thousands of artists from all over Tohoku and even further regions come to Nango to perform. This is the largest open-air jazz concert held in Tohoku region. This festival began in 1989, in a small venue indoors. There was such a large response from

1340-483: The Minamoto family and Sugawara no Michizane. In a rapid series of promotions beginning in 891, Michizane rose to the senior third rank in 897. According to one document signed by Michizane in 894, he already held the following posts in the court: He was appointed ambassador to China in the 890s, but instead came out in support of abolition of the imperial embassies to China in 894, theoretically in consideration for

1407-403: The kami are prayed to for a good harvest of rice and other crops. These festivals are divided into various types according to their significance and ritual practices, the most representative of which are as follows. Typical spring festival practices are minakuchi-sai ( 水口祭 ) and otaue-matsuri ( 御田植祭 ) . In minakuchi-sai , on the day of planting, soil is piled at the water intake of

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1474-500: The kami of the rice fields and send the kami back to the mountains. The typical winter festival practices are sagichō or dondoyaki ( 左義長 or どんど焼き ) and taasobi ( 田遊び ) . In sagicho or dondoyaki , kadomatsu ( 門松 ) and other New Year's decorations are burned and mochi are roasted and eaten over the flames, and in tasaburi , farm work is simulated in the Shinto shrine hall ( 拝殿 , haiden ) to pray for

1541-665: The Cherry. In some places flower viewing parties are held on traditionally fixed dates. This is one of the most popular events during spring. The subject of flower viewing has long held an important place in literature, dance, and fine arts. Ikebana (flower arrangement) is also a popular part of Japanese culture and is still practiced by many people today. Some main things people do during this event are games, folk songs, folk dance, flower displays, rides, parades, concerts, kimono shows, booths with food and other things, beauty pageant, and religious ceremonies. Families go out during weekends to see

1608-636: The Cowherd Star (Altair)-who were said to be lovers who could meet only once a year on the 7th night of the 7th month provided it did not rain and flood the Milky Way. It was named Tanabata after a weaving maiden from a Japanese legend, named Orihime who was believed to make clothes for the gods. People often write wishes and romantic aspirations on long, narrow strips of colored paper and hang them on bamboo branches along with other small ornaments. Date: July 19 Information: One traditional custom to mark

1675-522: The Environment as one of the 100 Soundscapes of Japan . The floats , called Yamakasa, are divided into two groups. The Kakiyama are the smaller, carryable floats , that are raced through the town, while the Kazariyama are stationary floats , that are built up to 13 metres high and often depict historic or mythical events of Japanese culture. Originally the Kakiyama and Kazariyama were one and

1742-640: The Kingdom of Parhae , where Michizane's skill with Chinese again proved useful in diplomatic exchanges and poetry exchange. In 877, he was assigned to the Ministry of the Ceremonial, which allowed him to manage educational and intellectual matters more than before. In addition to his offices at the court he ran the school his father founded, the Kanke Rōka ( 菅家 廊下 , lit. "Sugawara Family Hall") . In 877, he

1809-582: The ancestor's spirits back to their permanent dwelling place. Date: October- Information: The Japanese tradition of going to visit scenic areas where leaves have turned red in the Autumn. The tradition is said to have originated in the Heian era as a cultured pursuit. Date: November 11 Information: The Japanese tradition of buying and eating Pocky sticks. Date: November 15 Information: Three- and seven-year-old girls and five-year-old boys are taken to

1876-541: The angry spirit of the exiled Sugawara, the imperial court built a Shinto shrine called Kitano Tenman-gū in Kyoto, and dedicated it to him. They posthumously restored his title and office, and struck from the record any mention of his exile. Even this was not enough, and 70 years later Sugawara was deified as Tenjin-sama , a god of sky and storms. Eventually Tenjin evolved into a benign kami of scholarship. Today many Shinto shrines in Japan are dedicated to him. He became

1943-452: The center of power at the court, and he advised the emperor to abolish the envoys to avoid this. Within the abdication of Emperor Uda, Michizane's position became increasingly vulnerable. In 901, through the political maneuverings of his rival, Fujiwara no Tokihira, who accused him of favouring Prince Tokiyo over the crown prince as the main successor to the emperor's throne, Michizane was demoted from his aristocratic rank of junior second to

2010-513: The cherry blossoms, and participate in the many festivals and activities. Date: April 8 Other Names: Flower Festival Information: Hanamatsuri celebrates the birth of the Buddha . On this day, all temples hold 降誕会 ( Gōtan-e ), 仏生会 ( Busshō-e ), 浴仏会 ( Yokubutsu-e ), 龍華会 ( Ryūge-e ) and 花会式 ( Hana-eshiki ). Japanese people pour ama-cha (a beverage prepared from a variety of hydrangea ) on small Buddha statues decorated with flowers, as if bathing

2077-568: The court after Emperor Uda's ascension. Michizane, defending the court scholars and emperor sent a letter of censure to Mototsune, and gained the favor of Emperor Uda. With his term as governor completed in 890, Michizane returned to the court in Kyoto . In Emperor Uda's struggles to restore power to the imperial family, away from the Fujiwara, a number of officials from non-Fujiwara families were promoted to key positions, including Imperial offshoots in

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2144-599: The court, and to punish as needed. In 887, Michizane had to petition and pray to the Buddhas and the Shinto kami to help relieve a drought at the time. Records of the time imply that Michizane's time as governor had met with only middling success. While serving as governor, a political conflict arose between Emperor Uda and Fujiwara no Mototsune of powerful Fujiwara clan called the Ako controversy or Akō Incident ( 阿衡事件 , akō jiken ) in 888 over Mototsune's unclear role in

2211-401: The court, if they lacked sufficient reputation, were assigned at least one term in a remote province, and Michizane was no exception. During his four-year tenure in the province, Michizane's informal poetry increased, and up to 26% of his poetry still extant was composed in this narrow time. Among his duties, based on limited records, was to tour the province, recommend outstanding individuals to

2278-427: The court, teaching history in the national school for future civil bureaucrats and even attained the third rank. His father, Sugawara no Koreyoshi , began a private school in his mansion and taught students who prepared for the entrance examination to the national school or who had ambitions to be officers of the court, including his own son Michizane. Michizane passed the entrance examination, and entered Daigaku , as

2345-519: The decline of the Tang dynasty . On the other hand, some historians point to a power struggle between Michizane and his political rivals, the influential Fujiwara no Tokihira and other Fujiwara clans , as another reason for Sugawara Michizane to advise the emperor to abolish the Japanese envoys to Tang. The theory is that if Michizane had been sent to Tang as an ambassador, he would have been removed from

2412-478: The east wind blows, flourish in full bloom, you plum blossoms! Even though you lose your master don't be oblivious to spring. Nioi okose yo can be interpreted as "spread your scent" rather than "flourish in full bloom", although such a usage of the word nioi as "scent" or "smell" is relatively modern and rare in the classical period. The above is from the 1006th poem of the Shūi Wakashū ; although this

2479-490: The end of the Bon Festival. Small paper lanterns containing a burning flame are either set afloat to a river, lake or sea or they are let go and float away into the night. Their light is intended to guide the way for deceased family members' spirits. Usually the person who lets the lantern go will write a message on the side. Date: August 13–16 Information: A Buddhist observance honoring the spirits of ancestors. Usually

2546-408: The fans that it was expanded into a large annual festival. One must purchase tickets for this event (Bernard, 2007). This summer jazz festival does not cost anything but potential members of the public still need to receive a ticket to enter the event. Japan celebrates the entire season of the cherry blossoms. There are festivals in nearly every region of Japan, and some locations, food is available or

2613-772: The festival is next to a lake, renting a boat is also an attraction. Favorite elements of the most popular matsuri, such as the Nada no Kenka Matsuri of Himeji or the Neputa Matsuri of Hirosaki , are often broadcast on television for the entire nation to enjoy. Sapporo Snow Festival is one of the largest festivals of the year in Sapporo , held in February for one week. It began in 1950 when high school students built snow statues in Odori Park, central Sapporo. The event

2680-478: The first full moon of the year (around January 15). The main events of Koshōgatsu are rites and practices praying for a bountiful harvest. Date: March 3 Other Names: Sangatsu Sekku (3rd month Festival), Momo Sekku (Peach Festival), Joshi no Sekku (Girls' Festival) Information: This is the day when families pray for the happiness and prosperity of their girls to help ensure that they grow up healthy and beautiful. The celebration takes place both inside

2747-645: The home and at the seashore. Both parts are meant to ward off evil spirits from girls and women. Young girls and women put on their best kimono and visit their friends' homes. Tiered platforms for hina ningyō ( hina dolls; a set of dolls representing the emperor, empress, attendants, and musicians in ancient court dress) are set up in the home, and the family celebrates with a special meal of hishimochi (diamond-shaped rice cakes) and shirozake (rice malt with sake). Date: April Other Names: Hanami (flower viewing), Cherry Blossom Festival Information: Various flower festivals are held at Shinto shrines during

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2814-544: The local shrine to pray for their safe and healthy future. This festival started because of the belief that children of certain ages were especially prone to bad luck and hence in need of divine protection. Children are usually dressed in traditional clothing for the occasion and after visiting the shrine many people buy chitose-ame ("thousand-year candy") sold at the shrine. Date: late December Other Names: Year-end ( 年の瀬 , toshi no se ) , Year-end Fair ( 年の市 , Toshi no Ichi ) Information: Preparations for seeing in

2881-548: The long noodles. Sugawara no Michizane Sugawara no Michizane ( 菅原 道真/菅原 道眞 , August 1, 845 – March 26, 903) was a scholar, poet, and politician of the Heian period of Japan. He is regarded as an excellent poet, particularly in waka and kanshi poetry, and is today revered in Shinto as the god of learning, Tenman-Tenjin ( 天満天神 , often shortened to Tenjin ) . In the famed poem anthology Hyakunin Isshu , he

2948-508: The month of April. Excursions and picnics for enjoying flowers, particularly cherry blossoms are also common, as well as many drinking parties often to be seen in and around auspicious parks and buildings. In some areas the peach blossom, the traditional flower of Japan (the Cherry being a symbol from the Edo period symbolizing the Samurai culture), is viewed as well though these flowers earlier than

3015-545: The most notable example of an interesting spiritual transformation: a vengeful Japanese spirit, onryō or goryō , often a former aristocrat who was wrongfully killed, and consequently seeking revenge, becomes a benign deity through ritual pacification and posthumous honors. Michizane had an exceptional talent in poetry both for waka (poetry in Japanese) and kanshi (poetry in Chinese). Like his father, Michizane had

3082-442: The national academy was called at the time. After graduation he began his career in the court as a scholar as a relatively prestigious senior sixth rank upper in 870. His rank coincided with his role initially as a minor official in the court bureaucracy under the Ministry of Civil Affairs . By 874 Michizane had reached the fifth rank (his father the fourth rank), and served briefly under the Ministry of War before being transferred to

3149-433: The new year were originally undertaken to greet the toshigami , or deity of the incoming year. These begin on December 13, when the house was given a thorough cleaning; the date is usually nearer the end of the month now. The house is then decorated in the traditional fashion: A sacred rope of straw (shimenawa) with dangling white paper strips (shide) is hung over the front door to prevent evil spirits from entering and to show

3216-425: The new year. Homes are decorated and the holidays are celebrated by family gatherings, visits to temples or shrines, and formal calls on relatives and friends. The first day of the year ( ganjitsu ) is usually spent with members of the family. People try to stay awake and eat toshikoshi soba , noodles to be eaten at midnight. People also visit Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines. Traditionally three are visited. This

3283-442: The next year's kami harvest. Matsuri ( 祭 ) is the Japanese word for a festival or holiday. In Japan, festivals are usually sponsored by a local shrine or temple , though they can be secular. Festivals are often based around one event, with food stalls, entertainment, and carnival games to keep people entertained. Some are based around temples or shrines, others hanabi ( fireworks ), and still others around contests where

3350-590: The original seven districts. Soon after the division, carrying the Yamakasa through one's own district became a competition for speed. Today, the main event, the Oiyama, is a race between the districts. The districts are Higashi-nagare, Nakasu-nagare, Nishi-nagare, Chiyo-nagare, Ebisu-nagare, Doi-nagare and Daikoku-nagare. This article related to a Japanese festival or holiday is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Japanese festival It

3417-502: The participants sport loin cloths (see: Hadaka Matsuri ). There are no specific matsuri days for all of Japan; dates vary from area to area, and even within a specific area, but festival days do tend to cluster around traditional holidays such as Setsubun or Obon . Almost every locale has at least one matsuri in late summer/early autumn, usually related to the paddy harvest . Notable matsuri often feature processions which may include elaborate floats . Preparation for these processions

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3484-407: The presence of the toshigami. It is also customary to place kadomatsu, an arrangement of tree sprigs, beside the entrance way. A special altar, known as toshidana ("year shelf"), is piled high with kagamimochi (flat, round rice cakes), sake (rice wine), persimmons, and other foods in honor of the toshigami. A fair is traditionally held in late December at shrines, temples or in local neighborhoods. This

3551-463: The rice field , seasonal flowers and twigs are placed, and sake and baked rice are offered to the mountain kami . During otaue-matsuri , young women called saotome ( 早乙女 ) enter the rice field to plant rice seedlings and pray for a good harvest. Typical summer festival practices are mushi okuri ( 虫送り ) and amagoi ( 雨乞い ) . In mushi okuri , torches are lit at night and straw dolls with pests tied to them are floated or thrown into

3618-437: The river to pray for the repulsion of pests, while in amagoi , dances are dedicated to kami and fires are lit to pray for rain. The typical fall festival practices are niiname-sai ( 新嘗祭 ) and aki-matsuri ( 秋祭り ) . In niiname-sai , new grains are offered to the kami at the imperial court and at Shinto shrines throughout Japan to thank them for the harvest, and in aki-matsuri , farmers in rural villages thank

3685-564: The same, with the large floats being carried through the city. However the Yamakasa were split up in 1898 when the electrical power lines in Hakata became too common for large Yamakasa to be carried through the streets. Hakata, once its own city, merged with Fukuoka in 1876. The festivities are mostly based in Hakata. Hakata was divided into seven districts by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1586/1587. Some of these districts have changed names and exact boundaries multiple times; they still see themselves as

3752-520: The spring pray for a good harvest for the year, festivals held in the summer pray for rice and crops to be free from pests and storm damage, festivals held in the fall offer gratitude for the harvest, and festivals held in the winter pray for a good harvest in the new year. Many secular and modern festivals are also held, with the Sapporo Snow Festival attracting 2.73 million visitors in 2019. There are many Japanese festivals in which

3819-439: The streets near Aomori JR rail station. These floats are constructed of wooden bases and metal frames. Japanese papers, called washi, are painted onto the frames. These amazing floats are finished off with the historical figures or kabuki being painted on the paper. These floats can take up to a year to complete. There is a dance portion of this festival. There are haneto dancers and they wear special costumes for this dance. Everyone

3886-478: The temple bells rung 108 times at midnight ( joya no kane ). This is to announce the passing of the old year and the coming of the new. The reason they are rung 108 times is because of the Buddhist belief that human beings are plagued by 108 earthly desires or passions ( bonnō ). With each ring one desire is dispelled. It is also a custom to eat toshikoshi soba in the hope that one's family fortunes will extend like

3953-600: The three major festivals in Kyoto . Gion Matsuri attracts huge crowds to see the procession of huge dashi ( 山車 , matsuri floats) and mikoshi ( 神輿 , portable shrines) , while Aoi Matsuri and Jidai Matsuri attract crowds to see the procession of people dressed in period costumes. The Aomori Nebuta Matsuri and the Tokushima Awa Odori are large, historic festivals in local cities that attract more than 2 million visitors each year, and more than 1 million visitors each year, respectively. According to

4020-408: The three major festivals in Japan, worship the onryō of Gozu Tennō , Sugawara no Michizane , and Taira no Masakado , respectively, and pray for good health and protection from natural disasters. Since these festivals are held in urban areas, each attracts hundreds of thousands to over a million spectators each year. On the other hand, Gion Matsuri, Aoi Matsuri , and Jidai Matsuri are considered

4087-598: The unique religious beliefs of the Japanese people, who worship onryō ( 怨霊 , vengeful spirits ) and violent kami , based on the background of Japan's frequent natural disasters. Based on the syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism , Japanese people worship not only the spirits that inhabit all things and the souls of their ancestors, but also terrifying onryō and violent kami that protect people from epidemics and natural disasters. For example, Gion Matsuri , Tenjin Matsuri ( ja ), and Kanda Matsuri , which are considered

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4154-498: The world and some American cities host matsuri such as Los Angeles, San Jose and Phoenix. Wales has adopted the term matsuri to name their yearly drift festival. It uses the Japanese name to show the sports Japanese heritage. The event takes place over 2 days at the Anglesey Track, and has been annual for 6 years. Date: January 1–3 (related celebrations take place throughout January) Other Names: Oshōgatsu (O

4221-468: The year. Exchanging New Year's greeting cards (similar to Christmas Cards ) is another important Japanese custom. Also special allowances are given to children, which are called otoshidama . They also decorate their entrances with kagami mochi (two mochi rice balls placed one on top of the other, with a tangerine on top), and kadomatsu (pine tree decorations). A later New Year's celebration, Koshōgatsu , literally means "Small New Year" and starts with

4288-534: Was also interested in kanshi , because in those days the immersion in the Chinese culture was regarded as a proof of refinement and scholarship. Since his excellence in kanshi was well known throughout the court, Emperor Daigo suggested he compile his Chinese poems, and therefore he published Kanke Bunsō ( 菅家文草 , "Chinese poetry by Sugawara no Michizane") and dedicated it to the emperor in 900. After his exile he continued to work on kanshi and compiled them into

4355-413: Was also promoted to professor of literature at the academy, Later, he was also appointed Doctorate of Literature ( 文章博士 , monjō hakushi ) the highest professorial office at Daigaku. This office was considered to be the highest honor a historian could achieve. In 886, Sugawara was appointed to be Provincial governor ( Kokushi ) of Sanuki Province . Modern research shows that many bureaucrats in

4422-405: Was designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan in 1979. The origin of the festival is believed to date back to 1241, when the founder of Joten-ji temple, monk Enni had people carry him around the town on a float, while praying in order to get rid of the plague which is considered to have been successful. The sound of the Yamakasa has also been selected by the Ministry of

4489-485: Was originally the 420th of the Kokin Wakashū . Another of his famous waka is a poem written in 901 just before he left Kyoto for Daizaifu by demotion. He felt deep sorrow that he would never see his precious plum tree in his residence in Kyoto again, so he talked endearingly to it: 東風吹かば にほひをこせよ 梅の花 主なしとて 春を忘るな Kochi fukaba Nioi okose yo Ume no hana Aruji nashi tote Haru o wasuru na When

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