Cultural Corner, Journey to Japan

Each season, we highlight, for our readers, different cultural topics in MISCA's Journey to Japan informational series. Topics include Japanese customs and etiquette, history, contemporary news, traditional arts and other Japan-related information.

We welcome topic suggestions and contributions from individuals and interest groups. To contribute your articles and ideas, e-mail us at: webmaster@ccilink.com

Cultural Stories

Summer Festivals
History of Ibaraki City

The Seasons of Japan

Spring--When cherry blossoms fall

from Your Guide to Japan, Japan National Tourist Organization
Springtime in Japan is one of the best times for a visit. From the first days of March, when flowering plum blossoms emerge, to the last days of May, when the last flowering cherry blossoms are falling from the trees of northern Japan, spring is a time of rebirth, of the dominion of nature and human celebration throughout the land.

Time of blooming. As the snows and chills of winter retreat across the land, peach and plum blossoms are first to appear. But it is the blossoming of the flowering cherry, or Sakura, tree, from early April to May, that truly signals the arrival of spring to the Japanese.
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Summer--Nature's play time

from Your Guide to Japan, Japan National Tourist Organization.
Summer arrives in Japan in June with the arrival of a 3-week-long rainy season. The summer begins somewhat cool with a rainy season, but when it ends in late June, much of Japan is characterized by hot, humid days. This time of year is the vacation season, when the beaches and mountain resorts are filled with crowds of people.

Season of greenery. Summer is the season of rice planting, and the time of most abundant greenery across the country. Hiking and climbing are popular activities, with the best time running from mid-July to mid-August, with a climb up Mt. Fuji as the most popular destination.

With its long exposed seacoast, sea-bathing and sports are particularly well-developed. Professional baseball is a national craze, with games scheduled regularly in many of the major cities.
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Cultural Stories

Summer Festivals

In Japan, the most spectacular of festivals are celebrated in summer. Years ago, the natsu matsuri (summer festivals) were intended to prevent epidemics, caused by the proliferation of insects brought on by Japan's long rainy season.

Ceremonies are often held at night, and participants carry huge wooden torches, parading through city streets or rice paddies calling on the kami (guardian gods) for protection. The torch fires are believed to have the power to destroy evil and to purify.

Ibaraki-jinja (shrine) Natsu Matsuri is held July 14. This procession takes to the streets of the neighborhood, parading the shrine's mikoshi and makura daiko (drum). The Ibaraki Festival is held the last weekend in July, and brings cooking contests, rows of booths and a cross-town parade to Ibaraki Central Park. Visitors get a chance at traditional bon odori dancing.

Most Japanese celebrate O'Bon from August 13 to 15. Wearing cotton summer kimono, yukata, young women light incense sticks among family graves during the obon (All-Souls') festival. According to Buddhist tradition, the souls of one's ancestors return to this world at this time of year. Many people return to their hometowns during this "Festival of the Dead." Bon odori, folk dancing, and fireworks displays are held in many places. On the 16th, people light send-off fires (okuribi) to send the souls off to return to the world of the dead.
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History of Ibaraki

In the age of Kenmu (about 1334 A.D.), Ibaraki Castle was built and owned by successive castle owners, Kiyohide Nakagawa, Katsumoto Katagiri, etc. Nakagawa was popularly called "Kiyohide of Demon" warrior and fought meritoriously at the "Incident of Honnoji Temple", and also at the Battle of Tennozan Hill, Kyoto. He was killed at 43 years of age near Lake Biwa, or Yogo Lake.

Eighteen years after Nakagawa's death, Katsumoto Katagiri became castle owner and was cooperative with Kiyomasa Kato, Masanori Fukushima, etc. during the civil wars between Katsuie Shibata and Hideyoshi Toyotomi (1536-1598). However, he was defeated at the Great Battle of Sekigahara in 1603, killed at 60 years of age, along with the Toyotomi Family, by the Tokugawa army.

In the third year of Genna (1617), Ibaraki Castle was completely destroyed and not a single historical piece of evidence remains today. Only the previously moved Cherry Gate of Ibaraki Castle remains intact at Jiko-in Temple, Ikaruga area near Nara, the family temple of Katagiri and headquarters for Sekishu style tea ceremony.

The time-honored Summer Festival of Ibaraki Shrine is quite similar to the Gion Festival of Kyoto, but the participants wear long-tailed hats and ceremonial Shinto gowns instead of summer yukata costumes.
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