Authored by : Julius Wahyu Ceicar I 26 Januari 2021

Japanese festival, Matsuri

Every country have their own style when expressing their feeling. For example when someone
want to express their gratitude or remembering the ancestor. Japanese express this feeling by
performing a festival called matsuri. The root of matsuri are from Chinese people festival
influenced with local Japanese culture and Shinto. At first matsuri is conducted for gratitude
after harvest, fishing haul, or success.

There are many forms of matsuri conducted in Japan now. Matsuri are divided by two
type, local matsuri and national matsuri. Local matsuri only famous in certain area, for example
Gion Matsuri in Kyoto and Awa odori in Tokushima. Gion matsuri which celebrated at 1 July
until 31 July in Gion district, Kyoto City are festival to ward off and purify evil spirit. Meanwhile
Awa odori are part of obon festival which conducted at 12 August to 15 August in Tokushima.
Awa odori are a dance accompanied by shamishen and taiko, which are the biggest dancing
festival in Japan. Festival which conducted in whole Japan for example natsumatsuri and
hanamatsuri. Natsu matsuri are summer festival where people can see beautiful fireworks called
hanabi and buy Japanese traditional snacks. Another example are matsuri to celebrate the birth of
Buddha in 8 April, hanamatsuri.

Matsuri in Japan usually sponsored by Shinto or Buddhist temple, but currently there is
also a festival which have no relation to religion. In Indonesia you can enjoy Japanese style
matsuri at Jak Japan Matsuri held September at Senayan, Jakarta. There is also other Japanese
style matsuri, Ennichisai held in June at Blok M.