Learn about the Top 5 festivals in Japan
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| Talking Japanese Culture, Season 1, Lesson 15 – |
| Top 5 Festivals in Japan |
| [INTRO] |
| Hello, and welcome to JapanesePod101.com. |
| I’m Eric. |
| In this lesson we will talk about the "Top 5 festivals in Japan". |
| === |
| The first topic (on the list) is about one of the most |
| popular and colorful summer festivals held in |
| Aomori city, called the (J: Aomori Nebuta Matsuri). |
| When this festival begins in August, tens of |
| thousands of people parade around the city with |
| giant paper lanterns in the shape of various |
| legendary characters and gods. |
| Ahead of each lantern, dancers in traditional |
| costumes jump wildly to Japanese drum and |
| flute music, making the parade very |
| exciting and upbeat. |
| === |
| The next topic (on the list) is about the Sapporo Snow |
| Festival in Hokkaido (J: Sapporo Yuki Matsuri). |
| This is one of the biggest winter festivals in Japan and is held in February. During this time, the city of |
| Sapporo becomes the stage for the big snow |
| statue contest. |
| You will see a number of huge and beautiful snow |
| sculptures such as famous people, landmarks, |
| and scenes from popular movies. |
| With a project this big, Japan’s Self-Defense Force |
| and citizen volunteers spend a month to shape |
| some 32,000 tons of snow into an icy art. |
| === |
| The next topic (on the list) is about Japan’s most |
| historical festival in Kyoto, called Gion Festival |
| (J: Gion Matsuri). |
| The festival runs the entire month of July, but the |
| biggest event is the ground procession of floats |
| called (J: Yamahoko Junkō). |
| These floats are known as “moving museums” for |
| their elaborate decoration with tapestries and |
| ornaments that are all built without using nails. |
| The highlight of the parade is the scene that happens at narrow corners when the floats make a 90-degree turn. This elaborate technique is called |
| (J: Tsuji Mawashi). |
| === |
| The next topic (on the list) is about a traditional |
| summer dance festival in Tokushima, called |
| Awa Dance Festival (J: Awa Odori). |
| This festival takes place during the Buddhist festival |
| period in summer. This period, during which the |
| spirits of the dead are believed to return to this |
| world, is called (J: Obon). |
| As part of the Obon festival, dancers wear |
| traditional costumes and chant aloud as they |
| parade through the streets. |
| Normally the male dancers move around in a very |
| dynamic way, while the female dancers parade in an elegant style, taking tiptoe steps. |
| === |
| The last topic (on the list) is about a great bonfire |
| called (J: Gozan no Okuribi) or (Daimonji no Okuribi). |
| This bonfire, held in Kyoto on August 16th every |
| year, is a festival like no other in the world. |
| To mark the end of Obon, people in Kyoto light giant |
| bonfires on five mountains surrounding the city |
| to send the souls of their ancestors back to |
| where they belong. |
| The biggest bonfire is the Chinese letter “big”, |
| which is set alight at 8pm on Mt. Daimonji. After |
| that, other letters are set alight every 5 minutes. |
| This bonfire showcases the classic culture of Kyoto |
| and announces the end of the summer. |
| === |
| That’s all we have for this lesson. |
| Japanese festivals are all very unique and culturally significant. |
| Have you seen any of those festivals? How did you like them? |
| Leave us a comment and let us know! |
| Thanks for listening and we’ll see you next time. Until then, bye! |
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Comments
HideHave you ever witnessed any Japanese traditional festival?
KevinKa san,
Konnichiwa.:smile:
That is a great experience.
I think your friend must have appreciated your pray.
Yuki 由紀
Team JapanesePod101.com
I've been lucky enough to particpate in my friend's family's O-Bon festival on three separate occassions. Of course I did not have my own ancestors there, so I prayed to theirs. I though it was great, a wonderful show of reverence for those who have gone ahead. My friend also approached the ceremonies with much pomp and circumstance. My friend's younger brother did not seem as serious, and I could swear I caught a smirk or two in his direction. But no matter, I treasure these memories like they were my own family.
Jessica-san,
konnichiwa!
Of course you can use this space and we'll give you feedback.:smile:
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Natsuko (奈津子),
Team JapanesePod101.com
Hi
I listen to our program everyday, nearly everyday. :)
and I take it as a listening material, I write down what I hear.
Is it OK if I post it here? so that if anything I listened wrong, I can get corrected by you or others?
Since the free-lifelong account cannot download the materials.
I am wondering if I can post it or better not?
thank you~
like the 1st festival.
Top 5 festivals in Japan
1. The first topic is about one of the most colorful and popular summer festivals held in 青森 city, called 青森ねぶた祭り。
When this festival begins in August, tens of thousands of people prad around the city with giant paper lanterns in the shape of various legendary characters and gods. Ahead of each lantern, dancers and traditional custom jump wildly to Japanese drum and fluent music, making the prad very exciting and out bit.