三重県明和町・斎王まつり (令和7年6月) ・Saiō festival 2025, Meiwa, Japan
Meiwa, Mie Prefecture It’s the first Saturday in June and we’re in Meiwa, a town with a population of about 22,000, located between Ise and Matsusaka in Mie Prefecture. We’ve come here to see what is probably the most important event in the town’s cultural calendar, namely the Saiō Festival. This is the 42nd occasion on which the Saiō Festival has been held, and it always draws large crowds. The main feature of today’s festival is the Saiō Parade, in which a total of about 150 people participate. The central figure in the procession is the Saiō, after whom this festival is named. “Saiō” was the title given to the unmarried female member of the Imperial Family, who were sent,on behalf of the Emperor, to serve the Sun Goddess, Amaterasu Ōmikami, as a High Priestess at the Ise Grand Shrine. The Saiō System continued for around 600 years – from the late 7th century to the 14th century. The Saiō’s residence, Saikū, was located about 10 km from the Ise Grand Shrine. The remains of Saikū are situated here in present-day Meiwa. The centerpiece of the Saiō Festival is a re-enactment of the historical Saiō Procession – from the capital, Kyoto, to Saigū. Accompanying the Saiō, wearing a twelve-layered ceremonial kimono, are court ladies and young girls. The colourful procession recreates the elegance of the Heian period. Participants for the Saiō Procession are recruited widely, both within Mie Prefecture and beyond. This part of the festival introduces the participants in the procession, all dressed in period costumes. The women in the colourful kimonos are dressed as Heian-period court ladies. The procession’s central character, the Saiō, is now making her entrance. Alongside this year’s Saiō character, we see the previous year’s Saiō, who is handing over a ceremonial fan, which is known as a “Hiogi”. Here, a purification ritual, known as “Misogi no Gi”, is being performed . Soon, the procession will leave this area, which is close to Saiō Woods. The Saiō Procession will follow a route of about one km, along the old Ise Highway to Saikū Heian-no-Mori. The Saiō’s palanquin is now passing by. Here we see the Saiō inside her palanquin.
令和7年6月7日、三重県明和町で「斎王まつり」が開催されました。かつて伊勢神宮の斎王が、平安京から伊勢の斎宮に群行した様子を再現した「斎王群行」が見どころです。
This video shows scenes from the 2025 Saiō Festival, a festival that is held every year on the first weekend of June in Meiwa Town, Mie Prefecture. The highlight of the festival is the “Saiō Procession,” which recreates the procession of the Saiō of Ise Grand Shrine from the capital (Kyoto) to Saigū at Ise.
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