presentation matsuri

日本の祭り :( にほんのまつり )

PRESENTED BY: CHRISTINE EUGENIDES, DANI JACOBS, MICHAEL STURGES, & JAY WARDELL

Japanese Festivals

さっぽろ雪 ( ゆき ) まつり :The Sapporo Snow Festival

One of the largest and most distinctive winter events in Japan.

International Snow Sculpture Contest: attracts teams from various regions of the world to compete. The subject of the statues varies and often features an event, famous

building or person.

2014 International Snow Sculpture Contest Winners

1st Place: Korea “Mobius Glove”

2nd Place: Hong Kong “The Jumping Qilin”

3rd Place: Thailand “Kingdom of Thailand”

History of Sapporo Snow Fest. The tradition started in 1950, when six high school students built

six snow statues in Odori Park. The local Japan Self-Defense Forces joined in and built the first

massive snow sculptures, for which the Snow Festival has now become famous.

Over 400 statues are made, attracting around 2 million people each year.

Attractions Stages made out of snow host musical performances for

audiences to enjoy.

At the Satoland site, visitors can enjoy long snow and ice slides as well as a huge maze made of snow.

お盆Obon-The festival of the dead

Buddhist festival for honoring one’s ancestors.

Ancestor's spirits are able to return to our world to visit their relatives.

Celebrated on the 7th month of the year from the 13th-15th

History of Obon

Based on a Buddhist text which describes a monk dancing with joy after releasing his mother’s spirit from the realm of hungry ghosts

Today people preform the Bon Dori dance along side taiko drums to keep the rhythm, anyone can join in!

First day of Obon

People clean their houses and leave food offerings (usually fruits and vegies) along with flower arrangements by a butsudan (Buddhist alter)

They also light lanterns with their family crest and place it by the alter or a fire called mukae-Bon or mukae-bi by the entryway of their home to guide their relatives spirits home

They also will visit their relatives graves and invite them to come home

Last day of Obon

At the end they place floating lanterns in lakes or rivers to help guide their relatives back to their world

 Naki Sumo/ Nakizumo Festival

Presented by マイケル · スタージェス Michael Sturges

What is the Nakizumo Festival?

The Naki Sumo Festival is a Baby Crying competition.

People bring their children to this festival

believing It will bring in good health,

and wards off evil spirits.

Nakizumo competition

Sumo wrestlers will hold up the babies in they air, and try to scare them into crying.

There will also be people who come into the ring using fright masks, yelling Naki! Naki! Naki! Which means “Cry”

After the babies cry they judge will then determine the winner.

Where does Nakizumo Festival take place?

Is held In Sensoji Temple In Tokyo

taking place in late April every year.

Believed to be over a 400 year old

tradition.

The competition Video

Wakakusa Yamaki 山焼き

When?

Where?

Why?

History

Extra Details

ありがとうございます !