[:it]Ritorniamo a raccontarvi dei festival giapponesi e oggi parliamo del Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri.

Ogni anno, generalmente durante un fine settimana a metà settembre, le strade di Kishiwada, piccola cittadina vicina ad Osaka, sono invase dal fervore e dall’euforia del Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri (岸和田だんじり祭).

photo credits: airfrance.co.za, mainichi.jp

Le celebrazioni ebbero origine nel 1703, ad opera del daimyō Okabe Nagayasu (岡部長泰). Egli pregò gli dei shintoisti per un raccolto abbondante e questo è ancora il significato del festival. Tuttavia, ciò che rende particolare questa celebrazione è che si tratta di una gara di velocità trainando i danjiri.

photo credits: Justin Yoshida

I danjiri sono delle tradizionali strutture in legno, intagliati e finemente decorati realizzati da abili falegnami e scultori locali. Questi carri hanno la forma di piccoli santuari contenenti le divinità e, nei giorni del festival, vengono appunto trascinati per le strade del quartiere. Visto il loro peso (possono superare i 3 quintali), il festival è anche considerato un momento per dimostrare il proprio coraggio. Infatti, queste strutture devono essere trainate con il solo aiuto delle corde e a tutta velocità!

photo credits: Justin Yoshida, Justin Yoshida, japan-magazine.jnto.go.jp, MJY-shogun, Justin Yoshida

Le celebrazioni del Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri

Durante le celebrazioni del festival i danjiri coinvolti sono 35, ognuno di essi trainato da un team, rappresentanti il rispettivo distretto della città. Al controllo della struttura, sulla sua cima, c’è il daiku-gata (大工方, maestro artigiano) la cui danza selvaggia serve da incoraggiamento per la propria squadra e la folla. Viste le acrobazie in cui si cimenta, il maestro artigiano rischia costantemente la vita, ma non solo! Come possiamo facilmente immaginare, questo festival è anche pericoloso per tutti gli altri partecipanti a causa della velocità vertiginosa dei danjiri. Le schegge di legno che si lasciano alle spalle e le sgomitate per seguirli costituiscono un pericolo per la folla. Quattro ore di corsa a perdifiato che si conclude con una grande bevuta attorno al proprio carro, a cui vengono appese decine di lanterne di carta.

photo credits: rove.me, Gavin Kealy

Più di 500,000 visitatori arrivano a Kishiwada per vivere il brivido di questa celebrazione, voi cosa ne pensate? Trovate elettrizzante questa parata?[:en]Let’s return to talk about Japanese festivals and today we talk about the Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri.

Every year, generally during a weekend in mid-September, the streets of Kishiwada, a small town near Osaka, are invaded by the fervor and euphoria for the Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri (岸和田だんじ祭).

photo credits: airfrance.co.za, mainichi.jp

The celebrations originated in 1703, by the daimyō Okabe Nagayasu (部長泰). He prayed to the Shintoist gods for a bountiful harvest and this is still the meaning of the festival. However, what makes this celebration special is that it is a speed race pulling the danjiri.

photo credits: Justin Yoshida

Danjiri are traditional wooden structures, carved and finely decorated by skilled carpenters and local sculptors. These wagons have the form of small shrines containing the deities and, during the days of the festival, they are precisely dragged through the streets of the neighborhood. Given their weight (they can exceed 3 quintals), the festival is also considered a moment to demonstrate one’s courage. In fact, these structures must be towed with only the help of ropes and at full speed!

photo credits: Justin Yoshida, Justin Yoshida, japan-magazine.jnto.go.jp, MJY-shogun, Justin Yoshida

Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri celebrations

During the festival celebrations, there are 35 danjiri involved, each of them being pulled by a team, representing the respective district of the city. At the control of the structure, on its top, there is the daiku-gata (大工方, master craftsman) whose wild dance serves as encouragement for his team and the crowd. Given the stunts in which he engages, the master craftsman risks his life constantly, but not only this! As we can easily imagine, this festival is also dangerous for all other participants due to the danjiri’s dizzying speed. The wood splinters left behind and the fact that you have to elbow your way in to follow them is a danger to the crowd. Four hours of breathless running that ends with a big drinking moment around this wagon, to which dozens of paper lanterns are hung.

photo credits: rove.me, Gavin Kealy

More than 500,000 visitors come to Kishiwada to experience the thrill of this celebration, what do you think? Do you find this parade electrifying?[:ja]Let’s return to talk about Japanese festivals and today we talk about the Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri.

Every year, generally during a weekend in mid-September, the streets of Kishiwada, a small town near Osaka, are invaded by the fervor and euphoria for the Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri (岸和田だんじ祭).

photo credits: airfrance.co.za, mainichi.jp

The celebrations originated in 1703, by the daimyō Okabe Nagayasu (部長泰). He prayed to the Shintoist gods for a bountiful harvest and this is still the meaning of the festival. However, what makes this celebration special is that it is a speed race pulling the danjiri.

photo credits: Justin Yoshida

Danjiri are traditional wooden structures, carved and finely decorated by skilled carpenters and local sculptors. These wagons have the form of small shrines containing the deities and, during the days of the festival, they are precisely dragged through the streets of the neighborhood. Given their weight (they can exceed 3 quintals), the festival is also considered a moment to demonstrate one’s courage. In fact, these structures must be towed with only the help of ropes and at full speed!

photo credits: Justin Yoshida, Justin Yoshida, japan-magazine.jnto.go.jp, MJY-shogun, Justin Yoshida

Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri celebrations

During the festival celebrations, there are 35 danjiri involved, each of them being pulled by a team, representing the respective district of the city. At the control of the structure, on its top, there is the daiku-gata (大工方, master craftsman) whose wild dance serves as encouragement for his team and the crowd. Given the stunts in which he engages, the master craftsman risks his life constantly, but not only this! As we can easily imagine, this festival is also dangerous for all other participants due to the danjiri’s dizzying speed. The wood splinters left behind and the fact that you have to elbow your way in to follow them is a danger to the crowd. Four hours of breathless running that ends with a big drinking moment around this wagon, to which dozens of paper lanterns are hung.

photo credits: rove.me, Gavin Kealy

More than 500,000 visitors come to Kishiwada to experience the thrill of this celebration, what do you think? Do you find this parade electrifying?[:]