Arriving at Asahara Shrine in Katakai where the festival is being held, we just walked along the street in front of the shrine with lots of stalls on each side of it until the fireworks display in the afternoon began. They had a very big one what is called San(3)-shaku dama (90cm shell), also in the daytime. The much bigger (biggest in the world) one called Yon(4)-shaku dama (120cm shell), which weighs 420kg, was to be seen at 10 o'clock at night, which create an illumination of 800 meters in diameter in the sky. They say the fireworks were originally votive offerings made to shrines by the people of Ojiya.
main street of Katakai
Yon-shaku dama
dedicator, and size and numbers of fireworks
I had not known that a sumo-tournament was also held in the festivel. It is called Hono-Zumo, which means sumo-tournament to be dedicated to gods of the shrines. I was extreme-really moved by the amature westlers' performance. It is not a sport. It is not a game or a fight, either. I think that if you had been with us in Katakai, you could have had the same feeling as I had.
ritual sumo matches at the shrine
beyond the trees are reserved seats for fireworks viewing
simple and beautiful
