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Dressed in traditional attire, an archer aims at one of three targets along a 77 yard long course in the ancient art of yabusame. |
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Yabusame riders gallop at a fast pace while trying to hit targets using a traditional bow and arrows. |
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Priests make special offerings of food and light lanterns in celebration of Obon. |
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Daimon-ji lights up the Kyoto night sky during Obon. |
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On July 8, 1853, Commodore Matthew Perry and his fleet of seven “Black Ships” arrived in Edo Bay (Tokyo) with the mission of opening Japan to American trade. |
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Kanagawa Prefecture’s Samukawa Jinja Hamaorisai Festival features portable shrines (mikoshi) which are launched into the sea. |
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Toyohama Tai Festival (Aichi Prefecture) is a fishermen’s festival which features colorful mikoshi made in the shape of sea bream or “tai.” |
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Kangensai Festival takes place in Hiroshima Bay at Itsukushima Shrine where boats are towed through the famous torii to the opposite shore while musicians on board perform classic music and dance. |
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Osaka's Tenjin Matsuri (Festival) features a procession of floats and ceremonies on boats launched into the Okawa River. |
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The Sumida River running between the City of Tokyo to the south and the suburbs to the north is host to a spectacular fireworks display, Sumidagawa Hanabi Taikai, which takes place the last Saturday in July. |
