Gion Festival begins in Kyoto

Gion Festival begins in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - Masato Hirai (front) takes part in the "Osendo no Gi" ritual to pray for the safety and success of Gion Matsuri (Gion Festival) at Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto City on July 1, 2014, as the month-long summer festival opened the same day. Hirai was selected as "Chigo," the poster boy who rides on the leading "Naginatahoko" float during the "Yamahoko Jungyo" parade in the festival.

Well-dressed girls holding battledores and balls

Well-dressed girls holding battledores and balls

People dressed up in New Year's kimono pose for a photograph holding battledores and kemari balls. The girls in the back row have hair arranged in marumage style with floral pins, while the ones in the front row have theirs in chigo-mage style, the style for baby girls.==Date:unknown, Place:unknown, Photo:unknown, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number51‐147‐0]

Daiyuzan saijoji temple

Daiyuzan saijoji temple

A photo taken at Saijoji Temple, Mt. Daiyu (located in present-day Minami Ashigara City). Priests, chigo (children in a Buddhist procession) and donated bells are seen in the photo. The tengu (long-nosed goblin) is the symbol of Mt. Daiyu. This statue does not exist at present, probably due to contribution to the government during World WarⅡ. This photo may date back to the mid-Meiji era. Chigo wore hakama (long kimono trousers) before World WarⅡ.==Date:unknown, Place:Minamiashigara, Photo:Ogawa Kazumasa, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number5‐27‐0]