Beyond the Drum
Matsuri
Japan is a country of festivals. Known as matsuri (祭) in Japanese, these events celebrate or commemorate the changing of the seasons, historical events, and traditional culture, and pretty much every city, town and neighborhood has their own, many of them going back hundreds of years or more. The matsuri database is part of an ongoing effort to document the many ways in which taiko are used.
Chichibu Yomatsuri
Date: December 2
Videos:
Chichibu Yomatsuri - December 3, 2011, part 1 - A performance by a Chichibu Yatai-bayashi Hozonkai Chichibu Shinonome-kai at the Chichibu Yomatsuri, Saturday December 3
Chichibu Yomatsuri - December 3, 2011, part 2 - Following a yatai through the streets of Chichibu at the Chichibu Yomatsuri
Chichibu Yomatsuri - December 3, 2011, part 3 - A performance by a Chichibu Yataibayashi Hozonkai at the Chichibu Yomatsuri, December 3
Hachioji Summer Matsuri
Location: Hachioji, Tokyo
Dates: First weekend in August
Website: https://www.hachiojimatsuri.jp/
Video:
Hachioji Summer Matsuri - August 2, 2008 - A collection of scenes from the 2008 Hachioji Summer Matsuri, featuring performances by many different taiko groups
Hanazono Shrine Grand Matsuri
Location: Shinjuku, Tokyo
Dates: Last weekend in May
Website: https://ohmatsuri.com/en/matsuri-list/hanazono-shrine-grand-festival
Videos:
Hanazono Shrine Grand Matsuri - May 27, 2012, part 1 - Mikoshi exit the gates of the Hanazono Shrine
Hanazono Shrine Grand Matsuri - May 27, 2012, part 2 - A matsuri-bayashi float, with youth both performing the music and pulling the float
Sanno Matsuri
Location: Hie Shrine, Nagatacho, Chiyoda, Tokyo
Dates: middle of June (major events on June 15)
Website: https://www.tenkamatsuri.jp/
Images:
Videos:
Sanno Matsuri - June 8, 2012 part 1 - A mikoshi procession through Akasaka, Tokyo
Sanno Matsuri - June 8, 2012 Part 2 - Following a matsuri-bayashi float (truck) in Akasaka, Tokyo
Sanno Matsuri - June 8, 2012 part 3 - More travels with a matsuri-bayashi float (truck) through the streets of Akasaka, Tokyo
Suga Shrine Grand Matsuri
Location: Suga, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Dates: First Sunday of June
Video: Suga Shrine Grand Matsuri - June 3, 2012 - The view around a local matsuri-bayashi stand during the mikoshi procession
Yushima Tenman-gu Grand Matsuri
Dates: Fourth weekend in May
Videos:
Yushima Tenman-gu Grand Matsuri - May 26, 2012, part 1 - Following a matsuri-bayashi float (truck) through the backstreets of Yushima, Bunkyo, Tokyo
Yushima Tenman-gu Grand Matsuri - May 26, 2012, part 2 - A mikoshi procession travels through the streets of Tokyo during the Yushima Tenman-gu Grand Matsuri
Yushima Tenman-gu Grand Matsuri - May 26, 2012, part 3 - Following a mikoshi procession through Yushima, Bunkyo, Tokyo