Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri
Japan
- Osaka, KishiwadaPosted on September 19, 2009 by Stefan
Filed under Gallery, Life, Kishiwada Danjiri, Matsuri
Danjiri festivals (だんじり祭) are popular all over Japan and the most famous one of all of them happens to take place close to my place in Kishiwada. Danjiri are large wooden carts (danjiri guruma) in the shape of a shrine or temple. The carts, often being crafted out of wood, are very ornate, with elaborate carvings.
Danjiri Matsuris happen in all kind of sizes from small towns with just a single float pulling it slowly around the street to bigger and more energetic ones. The Kishiwada Danjiri got so famous because of the reckless driving of the floats, often resulting in damages to nearby houses, injuries, and sometimes even fatalities. Once a 4 tonne heavy Danjiri float is rolling it doesn’t stop easily (Youtube Video) .
The Kishiwada Danjiri festival is divided principally into two festivals. The first is held in September and is the more famous of the two. The second occurs in October, is less famous but involves more Danjiri. The September Festival is itself divided in two. Again, the more famous is the Kishiwada danjiri centering around the Castle and runs from the Nankai line down to the seaside. The other Danjiri festival occurs in Haruki Town and centres around Nankai Haruki Station. The September Festival involves 34 Danjiri. In October the towns between the Nankai line and the mountains hold their own Danjiri Festivals. These involve 47 Danjiri and centre around the JR stations of Kumeda, Shimomatsu and Higashi-Kishiwada.
Unfortunately the energetic part of the spectacle mentioned before only seems to be happening during the day. I was a bit late to the festival (had to take care of our dog during the day) so i only got to see the evening part of the festival where they hang lanterns on the floats and parade them around. Luckily there are several other similar danjiris happening around my town over the next couple of weeks, so i am sure i will get a chance for some pictures of one during the day soon.
Transport: The festival takes place north-west between the Takojizo and Kishiwada Nankai Railway stations. I was parking my car in Kaizuka and took the train (one stop) from there. The festival is very popular and draws a lot of people, so public transport is the best option because parking will be very limited.
Websites: The official website is the one from Kishiwada City.
I think danjiri is famous for its enthusiasm, as you wrote, some get injured and sometimes people die. I am a pacific person,;;) so it is a bit hard even to iamgine why they can offer their lives to matsuri.
Well, maybe better than die in nothing~~Like, we try bungee jumping without fasten the umbilical cord~:D
I got this one from another website: “[if a member of the team dies or someone from the public gets killed by a danjiri, that neighborhood will reap the rewards of a bountiful harvest. The team members and bystanders alike are reputed to believe that they the risk of injury is a consequence of courage and accept a dramatic death as a consequence of a dramatic life]“.
Sounds like Japanese “Samurai Spirit” to me … all for the macabre entertainment of us matsuri lovers
.
I now so regret not having gone during the day to see it … but looks like i will get another chance on 10th of October. Kishiwada is having another Danjiri at this date.
yes, as aoi said there were some people dead by Danjiri matsuri… And there are insurances of building for crash against Danjiri. It must be one of the most energetic and manly matsuri in Japan!!
I knew a guy who came from Kishiwada, he became restless near Danjiri season. I looked for his face on your pictures…
Then, I think I found him of 30 years before! These boys will lose them head in September entire their life!
I tried to make a search for it. I think there was one death back in 2002 and police tried to shut down the festival. I guess i better enjoy this festival before they succeed with that!