The 400th Anniversary of Spring Festival In Nikko

This year 2015 is a special year for Nikko Toshogu (日光東照宮). The enshrined deity, Ieyasu Tokugawa, a founder of the Tokugawa shogunate in Edo period passed away on May 17th, 1615. Nikko was originally developed by Monk Shodo (勝道) in 766 AD but today Nikko locals as well as Tokugawa relatives celebrate 400 year anniversary for Ieyasu's death in Toshogu shrine. Based on his last will, his spirit was transferred from Kuno-zan (久能山) to Nikko. The procession called "1000 warriors" represents the process of his spirit transfer. 

Fortunately the first day hit on Sunday this year and, because of that, lots of tourists- Japanese and foreigners- were there under the beautiful blue sky and we had a terrific traffic jam!!! It took me about an hour to get from JR Nikko station to Shinkyo bridge (around 2 km) that corresponds to the same time as I spent to get from my hometown (Utsunomiya city) to JR Nikko station (around 42 km).

Bingo!

Yabusame performance started at 14:30 and finished around 15:15.

Bingo 2!!

I assume there are 4 archers shooting targets. Some but not all are very skilled!

Am I beautiful?

The little boy is called Chigo (稚児), local elementary school boys dressed in a traditional kimono and make-up.

Whoops! Did I kill photographers???

There are three targets along Omote Sando (表参道/main street to Toshogu first torii gate) and only one or two archers could manage to shoot them all.

BTW, it was also a special day for me as I launched a new lens, M. Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F2.8 PRO. All the images in this entry are taken by this!!!

Dance Performance

Four shinto priests from Toshogu shrine (東照宮) dedicate a traditional dance performance, called Azuma asobi (東遊の舞), to Ieyasu TOKUGAWA (徳川家康). It takes place at a place between Haiden Hall and Honden Main Hall of Otabisho (御旅所) at the World Heritage site in Nikko city, Tochigi prefecture. It's a rare occasion to be able to see this dance performance; once in Spring and the other in Autumn for 1000 Samurai warriors parade (百物揃千人行列).

Image from Tsukuba University Library

This is a Sepia Scenes #120, Alphabe-Thursday entry (R is for rare), and Thursday Challenge. The theme is "TEXTURE", Best Posts of the Week and brand new meme Weekend Portrait #1.


             

Oh and one more.This is also an entry for Show Me Japan Vol 1, Issue 13. If you want to see nice photos taken in Japan, don't forget to visit!

Five Storied Pagoda

Five storied pagoda (五重塔) is located between the big Torii Gate and Nio Mon Front Gate (仁王門) of Toshogu shrine (東照宮), at the World Heritage site in Nikko city, Tochigi prefecture.
Toshogu shrine is a shinto shrine complex at which Ieyasu TOKUGAWA (徳川家康) is enshrined with the name of Tosho Daigongen (東照大権現).

Ieyasu Tokugawa (Image from Wiki)

To fully enjoy what Toshogu shrine has to offer, you, as an individual, got to pay 1300 JPY (around $15), however, taking a look at this 36 meters high pagoda is absolutely free of charge!


This is a That's my world and Ruby Tuesday entry.