Ring in this New Year at Japan
A festival held at Sengakuji Temple, around December 14, honouring the forty-seven loyal retainers in Akoh, is also known as Akoh Gishi-sai.\"The Forty-Seven Loyal Retainers in Akoh\" is a drama based on an incident which actually took place in 1703 when 47 vassals avenged their Master\'s death by killing his enemy
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Gishi-sai
A festival held at Sengakuji Temple, around December 14, honouring the forty-seven loyal retainers in Akoh, is also known as Akoh Gishi-sai."The Forty-Seven Loyal Retainers in Akoh" is a drama based on an incident which actually took place in 1703 when 47 vassals avenged their Master's death by killing his enemy, a popular tale performed or shown over and over again in the form of Joruri (a narrative ballad), in Kabuki as well as in movie and TV dramas until today. Be sure to check the latest information in advance as the dates may change.
Kasuga Wakamiya On-Matsuri
The On-Matsuri is another festival held at Wakamiya-jinja Shrine, in Kasuga Taisha Grand Shrine. The festival dates back to the 12th century when an epidemic prevailed, and prayers were offered at this festival. It continues to be one of the largest annual events of Nara Prefecture, attracting a great many tourists.
Okera-Mairi Festival
Start the New Year on a positive note. Okera-Mairi is the name given for the visits made to the Okera Matsuri festival from late at night on New Year's Eve to New Year's Day. This ritual is held at Yasaka-jinja Shrine in Kyoto. Okera refers to a medicinal herb that is believed to cast away the evil energy from the year that went by, and to bless us with longevity. Watch fires are lit by setting fire to the medicinal herbs’ roots on the eve of New Year and toro lanterns are also placed in two different locations in the precincts of the shrine. A perfect way to ring in the New Year!
