Aoi Matsuri in Kyoto: 2014 Report

In Heian style dress they walk the streets of Kyoto

Hugo Kempeneer May 20, 2014 - 1 min read

<p>This is this year's Saiō-Dai Lady (斎王代) seated in the Oyoyo Mikoshi and carried by these strong boys. They are approaching the entrance of the Shimogamo shrine</p>

<p>At the head of the Aoi Matsuri procession (葵祭) are Norijiri horseman (乗尻). This first part of the procession is called Roto-no-Gi (路頭の儀)</p>

<p>The Norijiri are followed by the officials of the old Imperial police force and court justice called Kebiishi (検非違使尉)</p>

<p>This is the Vice-Governor of Yamashiro (the old name for Kyoto Prefecture) during the Aoi Matsuri procession (葵祭). It’s the Yamashiro-Tsukai (山城使)</p>

<p>These horses called Sōme (走馬) are dedicated to the Deities of the Shimogama and Kamogamo shrines. They will run in front of these shrines during the annual Aoi Matsuri (葵祭) 2014 in Kyoto City!</p>

<p>These samurai warriors on horseback are called Me ryō tsukai (馬寮使) and are part of the Hon-retsu of the Aoi Matsuri (葵祭) 2014 in Kyoto City!</p>

<p>These are the famous Maibito Warriors (舞人) during the annual Aoi Matsuri (葵祭) 2014 in Kyoto City! They are ancient court dancers, well trained in martial and cultural arts</p>

<p>In the Aoi Matsuri (葵祭) there are two important personages, of course the Saiō-Dai Lady (斎王代), and the procession's highest-ranking official called Chokushi (勅使) or Imperial Messenger. His sword is decorated with gold and even the horse has a plaque on its forehead. Most likely this would have been gold also in the olden days</p>

<p>These are the Zuijin (随身), the escorts of the Chokushi (勅使) or Imperial Messenger during the Aoi Matsuri (葵祭) 2014 in Kyoto City! During the Heian dynasty they were kami warrior-guardians and bodyguards of the Emperors of Japan.</p>

<p>This is the Hiki-Uma (牽馬), a spare horse for the Chokushi (勅使) or Imperial Messenger.</p>

<p>The Aoi Matsuri (葵祭) 2014 in Kyoto City is a colorful event. This is a flower umbrella called furyu-gasa (風流傘). These furyu-gasa are sometimes called Hana-gasa or flower umbrellas and are decorated with artificial flowers</p>

<p>These horsemen in Heian attire are Beijū (陪従) or warriors who play music on ancient Japanese instruments, like the koto. They are part of the Hon-retsu (本列) procession of the Aoi Matsuri (葵祭). There are seven of them.</p>

<p>This stern looking man on horseback is a Kurazukai（内蔵使). He is a courtier carrying a scroll to be read by the Imperial Messenger.</p>

<p>The Aoi Matsuri (葵祭) 2014 in Kyoto City is a colorful event by all means, this one is a flower umbrella called furyu-gasa (風流傘). These furyu-gasa are sometimes called Hana-gasa or flower umbrellas and are decorated with artificial flowers.</p>

<p>Court ladies called myōbu (命婦), dressed in colorful kimono during the Aoi Matsuri (葵祭) 2014 in Kyoto City!</p>

<p>The long awaited Saiō-Dai Lady (斎王代) of the Aoi Matsuri (葵祭) 2014 in Kyoto City approaching.</p>

<p>This is the entourage of the Saiō-Dai (斎王代) Princess called myōbu (命婦) during the Aoi Matsuri (葵祭) in Kyoto. In the Heian period these ladies were of the fifth rank in the imperial court or mid rank noblewomen.</p>

<p>Colorful kimonos, beautiful ladies on horse back at the Aoi Matsuri (葵祭) 2014 in Kyoto City! They are called Munanori Onna (騎女) and they are the escort for the Saiō-Dai (斎王代) Princess.</p>

<p>These important looking man are court musicians called Kurōdodokoro Beijū (蔵人所陪従).</p>

<p>A colorful, ox drawn carriage called gissha (牛車), decorated with wisteria, irises and plums. These two young ladies symbolically hold the reins of this squeaking carriage. In the Heian period Emperors traveled in them and they were called “Gosho-Guruma (御所車)”. There are two of these in the parade.</p>

<p>The end of the Aoi Matsuri (葵祭) in Kyoto City</p>

A few days ago, I attended the annual Aoi Matsuri in Kyoto City. The Kyoto Shimbun carried an article on this years Saiō-Dai Lady (59th). She is Miss Risako Ota, a sophomore at Kobe University. Ota san is the eldest daughter of Toru Ota, the fourth generation owner of the Japanese confectionery "Oimatsu." In the festival’s parade, ladies dressed in the ceremonial court robes and men in traditional costumes ride on ox carriages decorated with wisteria leaves. There are 36 horses, 4 oxen, 2 ox carriages, 1 mikoshi ,and over 500 people forming the Imperial procession. Everything in the parade is adorned with the hollyhock leaf crest, also called "aoi" – thus the name of the festival.

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Hugo Kempeneer @hugo.kempeneer

I was born in Antwerp, Belgium, and enjoyed my teenage years during the peak of the "Flower Power Hippie" generation. I hitchhiked through Europe, living on a beach south of Agadir, Morocco for some time to learn English. Aside from Japan, I have lived in Indonesia, the Philippines, South Kore...