The Gion Festival held in the middle of July

“They celebrate at Miyako in the month of August the festival of Gion, for such is the name of the god in whose honour it is held. It is celebrated in the following way. First of all they portion out among the streets and craftsmen all the representations which are to be carried in the procession. On the morning of the day, the people form up in a sort of procession, which is led by fifteen or more triumphal carriages covered with silk and other trappings. These carriages, which are fitted with very high masts, carry many children who sing and play on drums and flutes. Each carriage is drawn by some 30 or 40 men, and behind it process the craftsmen, to whom it belongs, with their badges of office. They all carry their weapons — lances, pikes and another type of weapon wich has the blade of a broad-sword fitted to the shaft of a lance. And in this way the carriages, accompanied by the craftsmen and people to whom they belong, pass by. After these there follow carriages of armed men; these vehicles are decorated with paintings of ancient events and with other very fine things, and throughout the whole morning they pass in due order in front of the temple of the idol in whose honour the festival is held.”

— Letter written by Father Gaspar Vilela to his colleagues of the Society of Jesus dated August 17, 1561.
Cited in Michael Cooper (1965) They Came to Japan, pp. 361-2.

Photographed by Noboru Ogata