The Spring Festival and Procession (May 17 and 18)
This was an exciting weekend in Nikko. One of the biggest festivals in Japan takes place during this weekend. We got caught up in the spirit of excitement along with all the other visitors to this event.
The Grand Spring Festival is held twice a year and consists of the Yabusame ceremony in which mounted archers in extravagant costumes shoot at a target while riding at high speed.
The Yabusame (Archery competition) is followed the next day by the Procession of a Thousand Warriors. These are re-enactments of old rituals and ceremonies, but for us outsiders it is primarily a show of pageantry. The most exciting part of course is watching the riders galloping uphill and shooting at the targets, but watching the elaborate costumes in both processions is the more enduring show. We watched both events and noted how, everywhere in the world, people like festivals: the pomp and ceremony, the mystery of the religious ritual for some, the day spent outdoors, the food and souvenir stands, children asleep in their parents' arms, eating sweets, the communal feeling of being together with the rest of the crowd….and, of course, the people watching is a spectacle onto itself. I got enthralled by the twins in front of me for a while. In the parade I enjoyed watching the expressions on the faces of the people: some tired, some having a ball, others utterly serious, others still seemed to be dreaming of being somewhere else.
In the evenings, we had dinners with Deb and Ian (the house owners) and our neighbours and their week-end guests. All in all it was a very good week-end - very social, great weather, great company and conversation and great food.
