Tea utensils, tea ceremony tools, natsume, thin utensils, medium-sized natsume, vermilion, Nagatobokko, Gion Festival, Yamaboko, wood

What is Naginata Hoko?

The float that attracts the most attention at the Gion Festival is the "Naginata Hoko"
It is the oldest of the many Yamahoko floats and is the one that leads the Yamahoko procession every year.
It is called "Naginata Hoko" because there is a large naginata (long sword) attached to the tip of the spear, which is said to ward off evil and disease.
Previously, the sword used was a long sword that had been donated to Yasaka Shrine by Sanjo Kokaji Munechika in prayer for the recovery of his daughter from an illness, but since the Tenpo period (around 1830), Sanjo's long sword has been preserved, and a bamboo long sword is now on display.

Gion Festival

This festival is held at Yasaka Shrine (Gionsha) in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City, and was called "Gion Goryoe (Goryo-e)" until the Meiji period.
It is a seasonal summer event in Kyoto, and is a long festival that takes place over a month starting from July 1st.
The festival events are roughly divided into those sponsored by Yasaka Shrine and those sponsored by the Yamahokocho. The events sponsored by the Yamahokocho are generally recognized as the "Gion Festival."
Among these, only the Yamahoko festival floats have been designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
The highlight of the various events hosted by the Yamahoko towns is the Yamahoko Festival, which is divided into two parts, the Saki Festival (before the festival) and the Ato Festival (after the festival), depending on when the Yamahoko are set up.
The most famous Yamahoko events are the "Yoiyama" (the eve of the festival; the preliminary festival is held on July 14th and 16th, the latter festival is held on July 21st and 23rd) and the "Yamahoko Procession" (the preliminary festival is held on July 17th, the latter festival is held on July 24th).
Well-known rituals sponsored by Yasaka Shrine include the "Mikoshi Togyo" (Shinko: July 17th, Kanko: July 24th) and the "Mikoshi Arai" (July 10th and July 28th), and the Flower Umbrella Procession (July 24th) sponsored by the Flower Umbrella Association can also be considered an event held by Yasaka Shrine.

size	Approx. diameter 6.9 x height 7.1 cm
author	By Kizaki
material	Wood
box	Paper Box

?Tanabata tools can be found here → Please click to view.

Click here for Double Ninth Festival → Please click to view.

Click here for various autumn leaves → Please click to view.

Imaya Imaya Imaya Tea Ceremony Japanese Tea / Tea Ceremony Utensils Imaya Seikoen / Imaya Seikoen Limited Partnership / Imaya Seikoen / imaya

－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－．