[:ja]川越まつり(かわごえまつり)[:en]Kawagoe Festival[:]

[引用]http://simple-art-book.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2012-10-22

さて川越まつりの起源は1648年に川越藩主であった松平信綱が神輿を2基、獅子頭、太鼓を川越氷川神社へ奉納したことから始まります。松平信綱が氷川神社へ神輿などを奉納した理由は、1638年に発生した川越大火からの復興や供養のためでした。川越は小江戸という特殊な土地であったことから、江戸で催されていた天下祭(山王祭・神田祭)から影響を受けています。影響は現在まで色濃く受け継がれており、2005年には将来への伝統文化保存のために「川越氷川祭の山車行事」が国の重要無形民俗文化財の指定となりました。

[引用]http://tagenyu.info/post-228/

川越まつりで渡御する山車は高さ8メートル以上にも及び、重さは約5トンと非常に巨大です。山車が近付くと観客は首を倒して見上げてしまうくらいです。現在川越まつりで渡御を行なう山車は29台、その中には県の有形民族文化財に指定された山車もあります。それは仲町自治会が所有する「羅陵王」です。羅陵王は1862年に造られた川越まつり最古の山車なのです。人形であるはずなのにあたかも人間が佇んでいるような錯覚を覚える傑作ですので、仲町の羅陵王をぜひご覧ください。

夜間になりますと山車には提灯の灯りが灯され、祭りは風雅な雰囲気に包まれます。この頃から街中各所にて「曳っかわせ」が行われるようになります。曳っかわせとは山車同士が出会った際に行われる囃子の競わせ合いのことで、観客の視線を釘付けにしてしまう魅せ場でもあります。息の合った囃子の手さばきにも注目してみてください。[:en]Kawagoe Festival is a festival to be held in Kawagoe-shi, Saitama. It is also an important intangible folk cultural property designated as a country, and it is handed down as a pride of Kawagoe citizen. Because the festival is held at Hikawa Shrine, there are cases sometimes called Kawagoe Hikawa Festival. Strictly the name here is formal. It seems as if the Kawagoe Festival and the gorgeous luxurious mountain cars walking around the town seemed like a time slip in the Edo period. Due to its glamor, the number of visitors in 2016 reached over 980,000. In the same year, it is also a festival attracting attention from home and abroad, such as “Yama, Hokkaido and Yatai Events” are also registered as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage as a unique culture. It is counted as one of the Kanto three major festivals, and it is aligned with the great festival of Sawara in Chiba prefecture and the ordinary grand festival of Chonbukuro Shrine in Ibaraki prefecture.

[引用]http://simple-art-book.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2012-10-22

Well, the origin of the Kawagoe Festival begins with Matsudaira Shinpasu, who was the lord of Kawagoe in 1648, dedicated two shrine mikoshi, Shishigo and drums to Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine. The reason why Matsudaira Shinzan donated a mikoshi etc. to Hikawa Shinko was because of the reconstruction and sacrifice from the Kawagoe Great Fire that occurred in 1638. Because Kawagoe was a special land called Shogo Edo, it has been influenced by the Tenshi Festival (Sanno Festival, Kanda Festival) which was held in Edo. The influence has been deeply inherited to the present, and in 2005 “Kawagoe Hikawa Festival float event” was designated as the important intangible folk cultural property of the country in order to preserve the traditional culture for the future.

[引用]http://tagenyu.info/post-228/

There the floats of the floats that we will pass as the big as 8 meters high and weigh about 5 tons, which is very huge. There the 29 floor mountain is float approach, the audience will beat the neck and look up. It is “Luo Ling King” owned by Nakamachi Association. Luo Ling is the oldest float of the Kawagoe Festival that was built in 1862 It is a masterpiece to remember the illusion that human beings are standing despired being supposed to be a doll, so please take a look at Luo Ling King of Naka – machi.

At night, the lights of the lanterns are lighted on the floats, and the festival is wrapped in an elegant atmosphere. From this time “towing” will be done in various parts of the city. It is also a fascinating place that makes a spectator’s line of sight glare because it is a competition of musicians performed when floats are encountered by each other. Please also pay attention to the breath-taking handwriting.

Venue:　Saitama ken Kawagoe city
open time:
event date:　October 14 (Sat) 2017 – October 15 (Sun) 2017
Remarks concerning the opening date:　http://www.kawagoematsuri.jp/index.html
Access method (other):　(In case of coming by train) Shinjuku from JR Saikyo line get off at Kawagoe station quickly (in case of coming by car) from Kanegoshi Expressway Nerima IC ~ Kawagoe IC 21.2 km or Capital Express No. 5 Ikebukuro Line ~ Saitama Omiya line
For inquiries:　Kawagoe City Hall Tourism Division 049-224-5940[:]