豊橋祇園祭 1日目 (令和7年7月18日)・Toyohashi Gion Festival (Day 1), Japan
Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture It is July 18, 20025, and we have come to Toyohashi, the second largest city in Aichi prefecture, with a population of about 380,000.. Today is the first day of the annual three-day event known as Toyohashi Gion Festival, which is renowned for its exciting firework displays and the sound of firecrackers. Teams, representing 8 different neighborhoods of Toyohashi – which have been parading through the streets of the city – have come together at this usually busy intersection. The sound of firecrackers is deafening! The teams — each carrying a “Giant Cannon Firework” (“Ōzutsu Hanabi”) — are making their way to Yoshida Shrine, the main venue for today’s festival. Yoshida Shrine, a Shinto place of worship, is considered to be the birthplace of “Tezutsu Hanabi”, hand-held fireworks, which are a characteristic part of many festivals throughout Japan. A few of the festival teams have paused at this intersection, a few hundred meters from Yoshida Shrine. They will be joined by other teams as they make their way in a procession towards the shrine. The men are chanting “Wasshoi! Wasshoi!”, a common chant heard at festivals when heavy objects are being carried. For the time being, the traffic continues to flow. In a few minutes, the drivers will be asked to pause for a while, so that fireworks can be set off at the intersection and the men will again run around in a circle, accompanied by the noise of firecrackers. The removal of the orange tarpaulin suggests that some powerful fireworks will soon be set off. The spectacular display is over, so the teams will move the last few hundred meters to Yoshida Shrine. One by one, the teams enter Yoshida Shrine through the main “Torii” Gate. Here, a Shinto Priest is blessing one of the teams. The plant is that he is shaking is a “sakaki” (cleyera Japonica). The “sakaki” is considered to be a sacred plant. As such, it is used for purification purposes in Shinto rituals. Firefighters from Toyohashi fire department are here to hose down the trees and wooden buildings with water in order to prevent fire damage from the many fireworks that will be set off here in a couple of hours’ time. Here come the first group of men carrying “Tezutsu Hanabi” (hand-held fireworks). Over the next hour or so, they will be joined by many others, as they prepare for the main event of today’s festival. It is now 6.30, time for the first of the “Tezutsu Hanabi” (hand-held fireworks) to be set off. Toyohashi Gion Festival is the largest firework festival in the Higashi Mikawa area (eastern Aichi prefecture) This festival – with fireworks as its most notable characteristic – is said to have begun during the Edo Period (1603-1868). “Tezutsu Hanabi” (hand-held fireworks) are said to have a history of around 450 years, stretching back to their first use here at Yoshida Shrine in Toyohashi. It is said that around 12,000 fireworks, of various types, are set off at the Toyohashi Gion Festival. The next part of today’s event involves the lighting of very powerful “Giant Cannon Fireworks” (“Ōzutsu Hanabi”), one of which is being carried here. The man lying on top of the wooden frame is there to prevent any stray sparks from prematurely igniting the “Ōzutsu Hanabi” . The cover will now be taken off the “Ōzutsu Hanabi”. A powerful and spectacular firework display is about to begin
愛知県豊橋市にある吉田神社は手筒花火発祥の地です。 豊橋祇園祭はこの吉田神社の神事として始まりました。 3日間行われる豊橋祇園祭の初日の様子を動画にしました。吉田神社での手筒花火の神前放揚をご覧ください。
The Toyohashi Gion Festival began as a religious ceremony at the Yoshida Shrine in Toyohashi City, Aichi Prefecture. Yoshida Shrine is considered to be the birthplace of “Tezutsu Hanabi” (Japanese hand-held fireworks) This video was filmed on July 18, the first day of the three-day Toyohashi Gion Festival.
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