Japanese basic spirit / Matsuri & Matsuru / Shinto song

That portable shrine is called Mikoshi.
It is usually stored in local storage.
You can see Mikoshi especially in summer or autumn season because there are Shinto festival of local big shrines.
(Small shrines don't have own Mikoshi)

Most Japanese festivals are called Matsuri but Shinto's meaning is different.
It is a sacred ritual originally not just for funny event.
First of all, local people put Mikoshi in front of a shrine,
and local nature god worshiped in the shrine rides on it. 
By carrying Mikoshi around a town,local people and the town are purified and protected.

By the way, Matsuru is important verb in Japan.
It means two but unseparetable one.
1, Worship/Believe/Respect/In awe of invisible sacredness
and
2, Taking care of/Look after them

1 plus 2 = Matsuru






Matsuri by Saburo Kitajima
This song and the singer is well known in Japan.
People want to listen the song in the end of year.

Interesting thing is most Japanese people, he and music creators of this song are not reverent Shinto believer. (I think)
We don't have special education or teaching book.
But everybody knows what the song is meaning.
Shinto mind is deeply rooted in Japanese people without knowledge about Shinto.

This song is especially for men.
I'm sure all men like this song even if you are not Japanese.


 -----Japanese lyrics and translation by me -----
Otoko wa matsuri wo 
Sousa katsuide ikitekita
(Men have been living together with Matsuri)
Yama no KAMI, umi no KAMI
(God of mountains, God of the sea)
Kotoshi mo honto ni Arigato
(Thank you very much for everything you've done for us this year)
Shiroi hundoshi hikishimeta
Hadaka wakashu ni yuki ga mau
(Snow is dancing on young men who are wearing white loincloth)
Matsuri da matsuri da matsuri da hounen matsuri
(It's a Matsuri, matsuri, matsuri, Matsuri of good harvest)
Tsuchi no nioi no shimikonda
Segare sono te ga takaramono
(Soil-infused hand, My son, It's our treasure)

Otoko wa matsuri de 
Sousa otoko wo migakunda
(Men become more manly with Matsuri)
Yama no KAMI, umi no KAMI
(God of mountains, God of the sea)
Inochi wo honto ni Arigato
(Thank you very much for lives and foods)
Hune ni goshiki no hata wo tate
Umi no otoko ga kaze wo kiru
(Against the wind, fishermen sail on a ship that has five-colors flag)
Matusi da matsuri da matsuri da tairyo matsuri
(It's a Matsuri, matsuri, matsuri, Matsuri of good catch of fish)
Miroyo makka na hi ga noboru
Segare ichiban hune wo koge
(Look,The red sun is rising. My son, Row the boat the fastest)

Moero yo namida to ase koso otoko no roman
(Go for it like fire. Tear and sweat are men's dream)
Ore mo donto mata ikiteyaru
Kore ga nihon no matsuri dayo
(I'll live intensely again.That's Japanese Matsuri)





Memorial concert for 2011 Tohoku earthquake and Tsunami