On 3rd, I watched Chichibu Yomatsuri Festival, which was held on every December 2nd and 3rd in Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture. During the festival,YataiandKasahoko
This year, a piece of good news for the festival came; as one of Yamahoko Yatai regional festivals all over Japan, the festival was newly inscribed as UNESCO Intangible cultural heritage. So it drew more persons' attention.
I had waited forYataiandKasahokocoming at a intersection crossing Seijin Street and a unnamed pass where Jigen-ji temple, one of 34 temples in Chichibu and near a crossing on Chichibu Railway Chichibu Main Line. While waiting, I heard Chichibu Main Line train passed and fireworks set off several times.
At 6:30 PM, walking on the streetsYataiandKasahokowould parade started to be prohibited, which means the time for the parade would come. The audience including me gradually got exited.
Around 7:00, the parade started and sixYataiandKasahokofinally reached a special place in front of Chichibu City Hall via Route 299, Prefectural road 73, and Seijin Street. 30 minutes later, the fireworks display started in earnest.
It was time thatYataiKasahokocame to me.
屋台の1つ 写真は宮地地区のもの a float (this image is Miyaji area)
Why I watchedYataiKasahokoat the intersection was to see their turning in "giri-mawashi" method.
At first, a person in the parade went into the bottom of the yatai and kasahoko to set a turn table while stopping, then those turned them, finally the turn table was removed and the parade kept going.
On the wayYataiandKasahokoparading, there was a railway crossing and its overhead wire above the crossing was removed when they paraded around there not to interrupt the parade.
Railway maintenance staffs watched the parade for their safety.
I had longed for watching the festival.YataiandKasahoko, fireworks, and removed overhead wire looked bright. If I would have a chance to go again, I shall see both date and the other events.