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[Aizu Tajima Gion Festival Photo Report: Part 2] Seven-lined procession, also known as Japan's number one bride procession [Minami Aizu Town, Fukushima Prefecture]
[Aizu Tajima Gion Festival Photo Report: Part 2] Seven-lined procession, also known as Japan's number one bride procession [Minami Aizu Town, Fukushima Prefecture]
Minamiaizu Town is located in the southwest part of Fukushima Prefecture, just a little southerly, in Tochigi Prefecture. in this area, also known as "Okuaizu"one of Japan's three major Gion festivals is held every year?
In this article, we will show you the second day of Aizu Tajima GionFestival (main festival)
Please see the link below for information on the first day.
The Aizu-Tajima Gion Festival is said to have originated around 1185 during the Kamakura period, when the lord Naganuma Munemasa worshiped the Gion god as the god of Gion as the god of castle protection, and the Gion festival was held along with the festival at Tade Uga Shrine, the guardian of Tajima.
It has long been known as "Gion Shrine in the West, Nakatsushima Shrine, and East Tade Uga Shrine." For more information, please see the following article.
The festival takes place for three days from July 22nd to 24th each year, and the main festival is the 23rd, Chunichi.
The main event will be held from early in the morning on the second day.
2025.07.22 Aizu Tajima Gion Festival_2nd Day Morning of the main festival
The Nanada Igyo Retsu, which is said to be synonymous with the Aizu-Tajima Gion Festival will be held in the morning of the main festival on the second day. It is around 7am. At this time, spectators gradually begin to gather around Tade Uga Shrine and Shichigyo Street, which are the venues.
The line departed National Route 121, the main street of the evening festival the day before, at 7:50, and will carry offerings in seven vessels dedicated to Tade Uga Shrine for about 40 minutes until around 8:30.
The "Seven-Line Procession" is also known as the largest bride line in Japan.
2025.07.22 Aizu Tajima Gion Festival_Seven-Landscape Procession ①
When you are stolen in front of the shrine, you will see the front of the procession from a distance. You will be able to make your way slowly, surrounded by many spectators.
2025.07.22 Aizu Tajima Gion Festival_Seven-Landscape Procession ②
the "large bride procession in Japan ," and gradually you will be able to see the bride procession, the most highlight of the festival.
2025.07.22 Aizu Tajima Gion Festival_Seven-Landscape Procession ③
A vessel that contains offerings, which is the origin of the name of the seven-line ware. Currently, the seven-row steaks to Tade Uga Shrine are offered, and three three-row steaks to Kumano Shrine are added to the seven-row steaks.
On this day, Tajima recorded a maximum temperature of 31.5 degrees. Even though it was hot and painful just standing normally, I think everyone wearing bride costumes was extremely hot...
By the way, the general public is recruiting for the brides of the Seven Line Procession. Regarding costs, subsidies will be provided for kimono dressing, makeup and wigs that are used in beauty salons in the town, so if you are interested, please contact the Minami-Aizu Tourism Association.
It appears that they are recruiting people who want to brides for that year until around June every year.
Upon arriving at the shrine, the party-ya groups (a group of the seven-row steak procession) enter the shrine and a votive ceremony will be held for seven steaks of rice, three sake barrels containing the doburoku that they had brought, three red rice dishes, and one fish dish.
After the votive ritual of the seven-line ritual, the mikoshi pass is the next step.
2025.07.22 Aizu Tajima Gion Festival_Mikoshi Passing ①
After the votive ritual is over, the next ceremony will begin. A "Mikoshi purification ceremony" and "Mikoshi relocation ceremony" will be held, and the shrine will be left around 10am.
2025.07.22 Aizu Tajima Gion Festival_Mikoshi Passing ②
As the time for the portable shrine to be released approaches, a figure with a wave-shaped lace haori, five-color sashed hanging, a flashy outfit with a one-piece crown on his head," stomps out loud and shouts of "oshitotouch" and "oshitotouch" with a loud gesture that looks like he stepping on the hexagonal sides of a kabuki.
2025.07.22 Aizu Tajima Gion Festival_Mikoshi Passing ③
The interview ended when the mikoshi was seen off, but the mikoshi that had travelled around the town returned to the shrine, and after various ceremonies were completed, a large stall was held in the evening, just like on the first day, and a kabuki performance was held.
On the last day, on the 24th, the " Izumo-ryu Taiga-go-kagura " will be offered at the Kagura Hall at Tade Uga Shrine as a later festival, and all the festival will be concluded.
When it comes to summer festivals in the Tohoku region, attention tends to be focused on the Nebuta Festival and the Kanto Festival, which are also known as the "Six Great Tohoku Festivals," but we have been able to reaffirm that there are still wonderful festivals in various places.
Minamiaizu Town is difficult to access because it is quite far from the Shinkansen and the expressway, but I think that this environment has led to the traditional "image of Japan" being passed down to generations. It was a festival that made me feel that way. If you have the opportunity, please come and visit.
![Okuaizu store](https://jp.neft.asia/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/sub6-150x150.jpg.webp "Okuaizu Shoten is born where you can "know, buy, and experience" Okuaizu! [Fukushima Prefecture]")
![1618401_m](https://jp.neft.asia/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/1618401_m-150x150.jpg.webp "Maezawa Koya Village, a Japanese original landscape that remains with many traditional "masters" [Minamiaizu Town, Fukushima Prefecture]")
