Innoshima Suigun Sea Festival

 

Innoshima, an island in the Inland Sea between Honshu and Shikoku, is one of the places most associated with the Murakami, a warrior clan of feudal Japan either called pirates or navy, depending on who was writing and when.

There are three summer festivals on Innoshima, the first in late July or early August involves a gathering of "samurai" in full regalia and then fireworks. The second, the Fire Festival, takes place towards the end of August and involves the same samurai carrying huge torches, a local dance, and then once again fireworks.

The final festival takes place the day following the Fire Festival, and this is the boat racing. Like the other two festivals, it takes place on Shimanami Beach.

The boats are traditional wooden boats known as Kohayo. Some sources suggest these were high-speed boats used for messengers, but other sources have them used in combat with archers on board.

Up to 50 teams take part and heats are held throughout the day, leading to a grand final.

Each boat has a crew of 16, 14 rowers, a drummer, and the helmsman.

There are races for school teams and women's teams, but the highlight is the men's team final.

I was climbing Mount Shirataki when I saw the festival taking place, so unfortunately, the shots were all taken from far away.

The previous post in this series on day 12 of my walk along the Chugoku Kannon pilgrimage was on the walk from Onomichi to Innoshima.

Fukuyama Yosakoi

Fukuyama Yosakoi

After exploring Tomonoura I headed back into downtown Fukuyama one more time and went to part of the second nights festiviies of the Fukuyama Summer Festival.

The performers were gathering outside the library in Central Park.

Niagari Odori dancers in their traditional outfits were milling around so I guess there would be more of that later, but for now, everyone was preparing for the Yosakoi dancing.

Yosakoi is a fairly new type of dance in Japan, invented in Kochi in the early 1950's it has become very popular throughout Japan and has even spread abroad.

Compared to most traditional Japanese dances, Yosakoi is wildly energetic and exciting.

The costumes are also very colourful and tending towards the flamboyant.

The rules are quite loose and so dancers can be quite creative in choreographing their routines.

The music is almost always prerecorded and quite varied as the rule is that just "some" of the original Yosakai song should be included....

Many Yosakoi teams utilize a  very large flag or flags

Another rule is that dancers must carry or use naruko, a kind of clacker used originally as bird scarers.

Earlier I posted on the previous evenings Niagari Odori dancing

The previous post in thi series on day 10 of my walk along the Chugoku Kannon Pilgrimage was on the very large Fukuyama Hachimangu Shrine with 30 colourful photos.

Goods From Japan

Niagari Odori Fukuyama Summer Festival

 

I arrived in Fukuyama for a two night stay on August 13th, not knowing that I would be able to see the Fukuyama Summer Festival.

It runs from August 13th to 15th and coincides with Obon, the Japanese time for honoring the ancestors.

Bon Odori is the community dance performed at this time and variations have been created in different parts of the country.

In Fukuyama the dance is called Niagari Odori and is an Intangible Folk Property of Hiroshima Prefecture.

Festivities start at Central Park and in late afternoon demonstrations of thedance and its steps are held.

Mascots gather.....

It is said that Niagari Odori has its own unique rhythm, but being uncultured I was unable to see or hear the difference between it and many other odori.

The dancers carry and use bamboo "clackers"....

The musical accompaniment is sanshin and flute....

As the sun goes down the festival kicks off with a performance by a Taiko Troupe...

Following the taiko the procession begins, starting at the park and heading out along the shopping streets...

The different groups represent a variety of organizations and NPO's and all wear different outfits...

Some are wearing yukata, and some happi coats....

The previous post in the series was on the Fukuyama Central Library.