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Aizu-Tajima Gion Festival Photo Report: Part 2: The Seven-Line Procession, also known as Japan's Best Bridal Procession [Minamiaizu Town, Fukushima Prefecture]
Aizu-Tajima Gion Festival Photo Report: Part 2: The Seven-Line Procession, also known as Japan's Best Bridal Procession [Minamiaizu Town, Fukushima Prefecture]
Minamiaizu Town is located in the southwestern part of Fukushima Prefecture, just a short distance south of Tochigi Prefecture."Okuaizu,"this region, also known asone of Japan's three major Gion Festivalshosts
This article willthe Aizu Tajima Gionthe second day ofprocession (main festival)show you what happened on
Check out the link below to see what happened on the first day
The Aizu-Tajima Gion Festival is said to have originated around 1185 during the Kamakura period, when the feudal lord at the time, Naganuma Munemasa, had faith in Gion and enshrined the god of Gion as the guardian deity of his castle, and held the Gion Festival together with the festival of Tadeuga Shrine, the guardian deity of Tajima
It has long been known as one of Japan's three major Gion festivals, with "Gion Shrine in the west, Tsushima Shrine in the middle, and Tadeuka Shrine in the east." For more details, please see the article below
The festival is held for three days every year from July 22nd to 24th, with the main festival taking place on the 23rd, the middle day
The main festival on the second day begins early in the morning
2025.07.22 Aizu-Tajima Gion Festival_Morning of the second day of the main festival
considered the signature event of the Aizu Tajima Gion Festival,The Nanahokaigyoretsu procession,takes place on the morning of the second day of the main festival. It begins around 7:00 AM. Spectators gradually begin to gather around the venue, Tadeuga Shrine and Nanahokaigyoretsu Street, from this time onward.
The procession departs at 7:50 a.m. along National Route 121, the main road for the previous day's evening festival, and continues for about 40 minutes until around 8:30 a.m., carrying offerings placed in seven vessels to be dedicated to Tadeuga Shrine
The "Seven-Party Procession" is said to be the best bridal procession in Japan
As you take up position in front of the shrine, you can see the head of the procession in the distance. It slowly moves forward surrounded by many spectators
The name "Seven-line vessels" comes from the vessels used to hold offerings. Currently, ten-line vessels are offered, including the seven-line vessels offered to Tadeuga Shrine and three vessels offered to Kumano Shrine
The highest temperature recorded in Tajima that day was 31.5 degrees Celsius. It was so hot that it was uncomfortable to even stand, and I imagine that everyone in their wedding attire was extremely hot
Incidentally,the bride for the Shichigyo-ki procession is being recruited from the public.Regarding the costs, subsidies are available for dressing, makeup, and wigs at local beauty salons, so if you are interested, please contact the Minamiaizu Tourism Association.
It seems that they are recruiting brides for that year until around June every year
Upon arriving at the shrine,group of the Otoya-gumi (one of the seven processions of food containers)enters the shrine building, and a dedication ceremony takes place in which the seven food containers they have carried are presented: three sake barrels containing doburoku (unrefined sake), three red bean rice containers, and one fish stand.
After the dedication ceremony of the seven-line procession, the portable shrine procession
After the dedication ritual is completed, the portable shrine departure ceremony begins. The portable shrine purification ceremony and the portable shrine moving ceremony are held, and the portable shrine leaves the shrine at around 10:00 AM
As the time for the portable shrine to be set off approaches, a person dressed in a flashy outfit consisting of a rip-off haori coat with a wave and houndstooth pattern, a five-colored sash, and a crown made of a single piece of wood on his head, walks around loudly chanting "Oshido-tsuge" and "Otate-tsuge" with grand gestures reminiscent of a Kabuki actor's rokuho-tamp
The reporters' tour ended with seeing the portable shrine set off, but after touring the town, the portable shrine returns to the shrine, where various ceremonies are completed. In the evening, just like on the first day, the large floats are paraded around and a kabuki performance is held
On the final day, the 24th, the "Izumo-ryu Taidai Kagura" is performed as a post-festival offering at the Kagura Hall of Tadeuga Shrine, marking the end of the festival.
When it comes to summer festivals in the Tohoku region, attention tends to be focused on the Nebuta Festival and Kanto Festival, which are known as the "Six Great Tohoku Festivals," but I was able to reaffirm that there are many more wonderful festivals in various places
Minamiaizu Town is quite far from both the Shinkansen and the expressway, making it difficult to access, but this festival gave us the feeling that perhaps it is precisely because of this location that the traditional "image of Japan" has been passed down to this day. If you have the opportunity, please do visit
Traveling around the Tohoku region, I enjoy drinking delicious sake and exploring the local history, traditions, and customs. I write articles based on my interests. I'm currently interested in folk performing arts, local toys, and folk beliefs
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