By KEITARO NISHIZAKI/ Staff Writer
May 15, 2024 at 17:53 JST
Saio-dai, the heroine of the Aoi Festival, is carried on a float as the parade proceeds in Kyoto’s Kamigyo Ward on May 15. (Yoshiaki Arai)
KYOTO—The Aoi Festival, one of this city’s three major festivals, was held on May 15, with about 500 people dressed in lavish period costumes parading through the streets of the ancient capital.
The colorful parade started at the Kyoto Gyoen National Garden at 10:30 a.m. The packed crowd watched the procession, which looked like it had stepped right out of a historical painting and stretched for about 1 kilometer.
Akiko Matsuura played the role of Saio-dai, the heroine of the festival. The 22-year-old resident of the city appeared riding on a float called “oyoyo.”
The iconic annual festival was organized by the priests of Shimogamojinja shrine and Kamigamojinja shrine, which are both on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
The festival dates to the sixth century when it was initiated to pray for abundant harvests.
The event also makes an appearance in the renowned 11th-century novel “The Tale of Genji.”
In Kyoto during the Heian Period (794-1185), the term "festival" was synonymous with the Aoi Festival, highlighting its significance in Japanese culture.
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