@@@@@@@@Local people choose a big fir tree to the 1st of Honmiya in deep forest @@@@@
The chief priest of Suwa Shrine request to villagers "May I decide this tree to the
1st of Honmiya?" People reply "Good" or "Yoisho"
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Digital Photo Gallery @hPoem of Mts.YATSUGADAKEh@@nma`rghq`@r
o
to the Onbashira FestD
@@@@@@@@Local people
choose a big fir tree to the 1st of Honmiya in deep forest @@@@@
The chief priest of Suwa Shrine request to villagers "May I decide
this tree to the
1st of Honmiya?" People reply "Good" or
"Yoisho"
Many big tree( 200years old, 3meters round ) are waiting to be
Gods till next Spring
mEary morning prayer/ Draw Onbashira lotsn@@Jan.- Feb.2004.@
@Feb.15,2004. 8
local representatives draw lot to decide Onbasira assignments( upper)
Holy lots( mid) Joyful people and discouraged people ( below )
mShook the air and the groundn @@@@@@@ March 18, 2004.
By ax and saw The sacred
tree that is 200years old and over 1meter wide, was cut down
in 2 hours with human power only.
mTransportationn @@@ @March 25, 2004.
8 sacred logs ( 17meters long 7.5ton weight each)
transported by 4 tracks
to starting place of the festival.
@@mMake The Rope for Pulling Onbashiran@@@@@@@@@@
Some village make rope from pure rice straw, some from wisteria root.
Old and young people united to make the traditional rope. ( Hara-mura)
Preparation mMake upn for The Sacred logs Trip@@@@@@
Making several holes in the Onbasira for
Medoteko and pulling rope.
Senior men are working, young men are watching their techniques.
Veteran villagers have a pleasant time after their work finished. The
Festival start in 2days later.
Onbashira is the columns of logs that signify the Suwa Grand Shrine.
The Suwa Grand Shrine is the group of 4 shrines located around the lake
Suwa in Nagano prefecture in the center of mainland Japan.
2 shrines belong Kamisha, and 2 belong Shimosha. 200 years old fir trees,
17 meters long and over 1 diameter are elected vertically at 4 corners of
each shrine. These logs are renewed in every 6 years. 4 logs for each of 4
shrines, that means total 16 logs are brought down to the village from
the mountain.
This sacred event was done for more than
1200 years. To compare with Kamisha and Shimosha, there is not much
difference in must-do ceremony. But the time when the sacred trees were cut
down is obviously different. Kamisha has special rule to decide which village
handle which log. This is done by drawing lots. I
attended many of
the pre- events this time, and found that those pre-events are the most
important for Suwa people. More than 9 months before the festival ,
even they have no idea about the pillar which they are to handle yet,
villagers, over 2000, gathered at the forest far away to
choose the sacred trees. Also villagers gather at Honmiya shrine every
early
morning from the New year's Day to Feb.15, they support their representative
pray God for good luck in lotteries. They are wearing festival costume,
Happi coat, Harakake apron, Jikatabi shoes.
The rope making event, Medoteko poles making event are both busy works in
every village. Each village has the traditional method.
The old men
gives his technique to the young men. It is the direct and steady way to
transfer the tradition or skill to the next generation. All these events
are
served by free. I appreciate the spirit of the festival very much.
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@To 98'Onbashira Fest.
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@ @ To kamisha-Kawagoshi
To Shimosha- Satobiki @ To Japanese edition
To Local Onbashira Fest.@
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u DP.2@@@@Nov.20, QOOSD
CopyRight A.Hattori 2004.