In Japan……Festivals - November

Karatsu Kunchi - November 2-4 Karatsu, Saga Prefecture

Famous in Japan for its hikiyama floats. These are carried on the shoulder like ordinary mikoshi (i.e. floats) but are topped with outlandishly decorated fish, lions, samurai helmets and other paraphernalia. They lead a boisterous, sake-fuelled parade around the castle town of Karatsu. Karatsu is on the western coast of Kyushu, south of Fukuoka.

 

Ohara Festival - November 2-3 Kagoshima, Kagoshima Prefecture

At this, the 

 

largest autumn festival in Southern Kyushu, you will be treated to a street parade of no less than 22,000 dancers. Attracts crowds of over 600,000.

Betchya Festival - November 3 Kibitsu-hiko Shrine, Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture

Men wearing striking masks or dressed as lions, run around the crowded streets looking for children to 'thrash' with bamboo whisks. Legend has it that children 'beaten' in this way will be safe from illness for the coming year.

 

 FISHER’S GHOST FESTIVAL PARADE

Many thanks to the members and students who represented our Association in the Fisher’s Ghost Festival Parade on Saturday, 2nd November 2013. It was a great day, and it appeared to me we were very popular as we walked down Queen Street.

FESTIVALS (Matsuri)

There are countless local festivals (matsuri) in Japan because almost every shrine celebrates one of its own. Most festivals are held

annually and celebrate the shrine's deity or a seasonal or historical event. Some festival are held over several days.

 An important element of Japanese festivals are processions, in which the local shrine's kami

(Shinto deity) is carried through the town in mikoshi (palanquins). It is the only time of the year when the kami leaves the shrine to be carried around town.

Many festivals also feature decorated floats (dashi), which are pulled through the town, accompanied by drum and flute music by the people sitting on the floats. Every festival has its own characteristics. While some festivals are calm and meditative, many are energetic and noisy.

 

 

	CALENDAR
	November 2013 Friday 1st Saturday 2nd Friday 8th Sunday 10th Wednesday 13th Friday 15th Friday 22nd Friday 29th	January Delegation - Orientation 2 Fishers Ghost Parade January Delegation - Orientation 3 Students to Teppanyaki Restaurant General Meeting January Delegation - Orientation 4 January Delegation - Orientation 5 January Delegation - Orientation 6
	December 2013 Friday 6th Wednesday 11th Thursday 12th Friday 13th Friday 20th	January Delegation - Orientation 7 General Meeting Mayoral Reception for Outbound Delegation January Delegation - Orientation 8 January Delegation - Orientation 9
	January 2014 Friday 10th Sunday 12th Saturday 25th	January Delegation - Orientation 10 Departure of 29th Delegation to Japan Return of 29th Delegation from Japan
	February 2014 Wednesday 11th	General Meeting & Delegation Report Back
	March 2014 Wednesday 12th	General Meeting
	April 2014 Wednesday 9th Friday 11th	General Meeting & Delegation Report Back Anniversary of “Official” signing of agreement to create a Sister City Relationship between Campbelltown and Koshigaya
	May 2014 Wednesday 14th	General Meeting
	June 2014 Wednesday 11th	General Meeting