(C)Niigata Prefectural Tourist Association
Fox wedding parade festival of Tsugawa,Niigata prefecture.
(C)Niigata-ken Professional Photographers Society
There were many traditional legends about floating fire-balls in Japanese folklore.
Those were called Hitodama, Onibi or Kitsunebi.
A kind of ectoplasm or particles of magnetism.
Kitsunebi, fox spirit's fire/light.
Especially,Kirin mountain's kitsunebi lights were famous.
Many foxes were living in this mountain actually
and people saw Kitsunebi on a daily basis. Of course barking voice too.
and people saw Kitsunebi on a daily basis. Of course barking voice too.
Niigata prefecture is main producing area of rice plant.
This area is very important place for Japanese people because
rice means power of the Sun.
Japanese nature worship's main goddess is Amaterasu Ohomikami(God of the Sun).
This area is very important place for Japanese people because
rice means power of the Sun.
Japanese nature worship's main goddess is Amaterasu Ohomikami(God of the Sun).
Orthodox fox gods are deities of rice fields in Japan.
And they are sacred staff of Susanoo(God of the land).
As a matter of fact, there are two groups/lines of fox gods.
"Japanese original" and "Imported strict fox gods of trade off"
And they are sacred staff of Susanoo(God of the land).
As a matter of fact, there are two groups/lines of fox gods.
"Japanese original" and "Imported strict fox gods of trade off"
In this area,wedding ceremony has been held in evening time since a very long time ago.
A lantern parade of final schedule was very mysterious
and kitsunebi also followed together.
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Old people thought that foxes are also having their own wedding ceremony with human.
Fox wedding parade festival was created based on the above true story.
This festival is held on May 3 every year in Tsugawa、Aga town.
A bride is chosen from among ladies who are already planning to marry in near future.
All participants have fox like paint their faces.
All participants have fox like paint their faces.
My favorite scene is from 4:00～.
Time schedule of the parade
1, PM5:00
Bride say goodbye to her home at Sumiyoshi Shrine in Tsugawa.
2,Parade show
3,PM6:30
Cerebration dance by nursery school children.
4,PM7:45
Arrival at Kirin mountain park. Bride meets her groom.
5,PM8:00
Wedding reception.
6,PM8:45
Finale. Bride and groom take a small boat and head to the Kirin mountain.
There are other fox wedding parades in other prefectures
but this parade in Tsugawa is big and large-scale.
(C)Niigata Prefectural Tourist Association
