The Great Festivals of Japan: Spectacle and Spirit

by Hiroyuki Ozawa

Japanese festivals have their roots in the mists of time--when and how they began can never be known for certain. But their modern descendants, carrying on the traditions of the past, can still be seen today--if you happen to be in Japan. If not, then you can take a virtual journey with Hiroyuki Ozawa, author and photographer, to experience the spirit, intensity, and brilliance of Japan's greatest festivals. From the northernmost tip of the country to the southernmost island, Ozawa brings to life in over 150 photos the high-spiritedness, the astonishing vitality, and the sometimes unrestrained, death-defying exuberance that lie at the heart of these festivals. Japanese festivals began as, and still basically are, occasions for the parishioners of a local shrine to commune with the god of that shrine, in connection either with the agricultural cycle or with such issues as the summertime epidemics that once plagued the cities. Aside from purification rites, offerings, and the sharing of food, which are carried out by priests, the most important element for the parishioners themselves is the procession of portable shrines (carrying the god) and decorated floats, the singing, the dancing, and other activities calculated to draw the god's attention to their needs. It is to these dramatic aspects that this book is devoted. Since the festivals are tied closely to local cultures throughout the country, the efflorescent variety and sheer diversity they display is almost incalculable. Yet a great deal of it is captured here. Japanese festivals are both unique and universal. They represent something fundamental in human nature as seen in certain local cultures throughout Japan. The Great Festivals of Japan is not only an invaluable photographic record of this phenomenon, but it also arouses that elemental spark of vitality in us all.

120 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000