Here are the women of Ayame again. They are carrying something called a Dashi.
This is a ornamented float that people carry around during the festivals. Each district has their own traditional dashi, which members carry together and display with great pride.
Usually it's the men who carry the dashi on their shoulders, as it is quite heavy. But the group Ayame, coming from the kanji 'colorful' and 'women' (彩女), is an all-women association. So this is a photo of the energetic women carrying the dashi. They all shout in time to the rhythm of the drums while moving forward slowly in synchronized steps. With the audience participating by shouting out or whistling, it's really very festive.
7 comments:
And I can attest to the fact that those mikoshi are very heavy indeed!!!
Your festival sounded like a lot of fun!
cheers from utsunomiya!
Girl power!!!
Could almost hear it.
Cool! What do the various dashis represent?
wow , awsome shots !!
Last time I was in Japan; the tour guide told us that the festival is a great opportunity for young people to mingle.
Thankyou, I'm glad you liked the photos of the ever powerful women of Ayame!
UtsunomiaDailyPhoto- Have you really carried those around? It must of been some experience!
Laurie- I'm not an expert, but I've heard that it was believed that the gods used mountains as steps to come down to earth and the dashi represents a mountain so the gods can come ane rest among us. The word Dashi uses the kanji 'mountain' and 'car' (山車) so I guess it's like a portable shrine :)
White Oleander- It definately is! I like how the whole city comes out to enjoy it :)
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