Calendar Entries!

I would love to update the Calendar on Eternal Maiko with a listing of the major holidays celebrated in Kyoto, in Japan and particularly in the Gion District. I do not have access to this (I am not an administrator) but I thought perhaps we could start a listing here, and when the Admins agree (if the beloved Admins agree) they can add them to the Calendar -- so that there is a listing that people can check!

I also think it would be cool to keep a listing of Erikae and Misedashi in the Karyuukai, as well as major dance performances... what do people think?

To start with what I know so far:
Miyako-odori (Cherry Blossom Dance)
This performance has been a staple of Gion Kobu since 1873. The “Miyako Odori” is now entrusted to the current Master of Kyomai Dance, Yachiyo Inouye the V and takes place each Spring in the Kaburenjo Theater.
Date: April 1st - 30th
Place: Kaburenjo Theater

Kyo Odori (Kyoto Dance)
This dance is performed by the maiko and geigi of Miyagawa-cho Kabu-kai. The first performance was put on at the Miyagawa-cho Kaburen-jo Theater in 1950. Depicting famous places and things in Kyoto, the dance enjoys great popularity. After the fifth performance the stage was moved to the Minami-za Theater, but with the completion of a new Miyagawa-cho Kaburen-jo Theater in 1969, the dance returned to its original location.
Date: April 1st to 15th
Place: Kaburenjo Theater

Kitano Odori (Kitano Dance)
This is a performance of the Kamishichiken-kabukai. The rehearsal club that used to meet at Iwagami-za Theater at Kamidachiuri-Seifuku - ji Temple moved to the Kitano Club in 1902. This performance was officially begun jointly in 1952 by the Kitano Club and the Mando Club in commemoration of the 1,050th anniversary of Kitano Tenman-gu Shrine.
Date: April 15 to 25
Place: Kaburenjo Theater

Kamogawa Odori (Kamo River Dance)
This dance is performed by the maiko and geiko of Ponto-cho Hanamachi. It started in 1872 as part of the Kyoto Exposition. It was subsequently established as an annual event in Kyoto. This refined stage performance enjoys a wide range of fans.
Date: May 1 to 24
Place: Kaburenjo Theater

Aoi Matsuri
It's an annual festival of Kamigamo Jinja Shrine and Shimogamo Jinja Shrine. As costumes of festival participants and shrine buildings are decorated with hollyhock leaves (aoi), this festival is generally known as Aoi Matsuri (hollyhock festival). The main attraction of this festival is a procession of hundreds of people in ancient Japanese court costumes.
Date: May 15
Location: Kyoto Gosho (Imperial Palace) / Shimogamo Shrine / Kamigamo Shrine

Special Traditional Joint Performances by "Five Hanamachi of Kyoto"
These performances were started in 1994 in commemoration of the 1,200th anniversary of the establishment of the Heian Capital at Kyoto. They consist of wonderful traditional dances of Kyoto, preserved and continued through the ages. They are performed jointly at (by) the so-called "Five Hanamachi of Kyoto", instantly (1) Gion Kobu, (2) Ponto-cho, (3) Miyagawa-cho, (4) Gion Higashi and (5) Kamishichiken. The combination of the refined dances of the Hanamachi and the maiko dancers gathered together under one roof make for a colorful stage spectacle.
Date: Mid-June
Place: Kyoto Kaikan Theater

Kyoto Gion Matsuri
It's an annual festival of Yasaka Shrine. The highlight of this festival is Yamahoko-junko held on July 17. It's a procession of large Yamahoko floats which are decorated with traditional fabrics and so on.
Period: July 1 to 31
Location: Yasaka Shrine in Higashiyama-ku and other locations in Kyoto-city

Gozan Okuribi or Daimonji Gozan Fire Festival
Kyoto Daimonji, or Gozan Okuribi, is a well-known summer event in Kyoto. Five large bonfires are lit on the slopes of five mountains which surround Kyoto-city. It's said that fires are lit to send ancestors' spirits back at the end of Obon. The bonfires depict kanji characters and certain designs.
Date: August 16
Location: Slopes of five mountains surround Kyoto-city

Comb Festival
This is a festival of appreciation for people's favorite combs. Sponsored by the Kyoto Beauty Culture Club, this festival first began in 1961. At 1:00 in the afternoon a procession of women wearing traditional hairstyles from ancient to modern times proceeds down Higashi-oji-dori to Kushizuka Tomb in the shrine precincts, where they dedicate an old combs.
Date: Fourth Monday in September
Place: Yasui Konpira-gu Shrine

Jidai Matsuri
As this festival is called the Festival of the Ages, the festival procession represents different ages in Japanese history. The procession leaves for Heian Jingu Shrine from Kyoto Gosho (Imperial Palace).
Date: October 22
Location: Heian Jingu / Kyoto Gosho

Kurama Fire Festival
This is one of the three most remarkable festivals in Kyoto. It is said to reenact the scene of the enshrined deity greeted after traveling from the Imperial Palace to Kurama-no-Sato village, at the end of the Heian Period. On the evening of the 22nd watch fires are lit at the entrances to the local houses, and at 6:00 in the evening the town is lit up with torches carried by children. Soon after that the local people, wearing straw warrior sandals, parade through the streets carrying a great torch and yelling along the way until they gather at the sacred precincts of the shrine. Two portable shrines amid the sparks from the torches present a grand sight. The return celebration is held on the 23rd.
Date: October 22 to 23
Place: Yuki - jinja Shrine, Kyoto

Gion Odori (Gion Dance)
This dance is performed by maiko and geigi of the Gion Higashi Kabu-kai. First performed in 1953, the dance is distinguished for its original planning and composition.
Date: November 1st to 10th
Location: Gion Kaikan Theater

Hasume-san,

This seems a wonderful idea! I will see what can I do about that. I will try the calendar and see if I can add the Kyoto Holidays to it.

Thank you!

P.S - Ok, so I saw the options I had available, and it seems that it's possible to do! however, it will take some work. I already added the first one(Miyako Odori). When you click on it, it will give you access to a thread, that is mostly empty by now, but It will be dedicated to write about the holiday.
The only way I add the holidays to the calendar is to make a thread about it, and I don't want to leave them empty, so I will be adding informations when I have the time. Any help will be very welcome!

Hina Matsuri 3 March Hokyo-ji Temple, Kyoto
Hina Matsuri (Doll Festival), held every year on March 3, has its roots in an ancient Chinese purification ceremony in which evil was transferred to doll surrogates (katashiro) which were then cast away on a river. Hokyo-ji is often referred to as the 'Doll Temple' due to its extensive collection of dolls.

Aoi Festival 15 May
Kamigamo Shrine, Kyoto
The Aoi (hollyhock) Festival is a solemn and formal parade dating back over 1,000 years, involving 500 people in full Heian Period court dress. An ox drawn cart is led to Kamigamo Shrine from the Imperial Palace (Gosho) where Shinto rituals take place. Sacred dances and music are performed on the way. Known as the world's oldest festival, dating from the mid 6th century.

Mifune Boat Festival 3rd Sunday in MayArashiyama, Kyoto
Thirty boats carrying participants in court dress of the Heian Period (794-1192) travel upstream on the Oi River. Leading the way are three boats carrying players performing noh dramas, gagaku musicians and shrine maidens respectively. A group of poets, dressed in ancient ceremonial robes, compose and recite symbolic verses of 17 syllables (haiku). Offerings of any impromptu poem to the deity of Kurumazaki shrine will be welcomed.

JUNE, Dances of the Six Districts: This is a two day event held at Kyoto Kaikan Hall. All five geisha districts are involved. The grand finale is a dance performed by the combined maiko.

Takigi Noh Performance 1-2 June Heian Shrine, Kyoto
Noh performances illuminated by blazing torches with the classic architecture of the Heian Shrine and the Higashiyama hills in the background. The only unreserved seats are the mats and benches at ground level.

Aoba Matsuri 15th JuneChisaku-in, Kyoto
Celebrating the birth of Kukai (aka Kobo Daishi, 774-835), the founder of the Shingon sect of Japanese Buddhism, priests and yamabushi (mountain ascetics) turn out in full regalia for a series of purification rites and an ancient fire ceremony.

Takekiri Eshiki Matsuri 20th JuneKuramadera, Kyoto
'Bamboo-cutting' festival where two teams of monks race to cut four bamboo poles representing evil serpents into three pieces.

JULY The Festival of the Dead, Bommatsuri, takes place from July 13 to 15.

July 1-31, Gion Festival:
Gion Festival -- this is a major spectacular fesival that climaxes on July 17. Massive traditional floats topped with high poles are wheeled thru the streets. Maiko and geiko perform as part of the festival on July 17.

July 1-August 31, Kami Shichiken Beer Garden:
Kamishichiken -- this is an outdoor beer garden and an informal event. It is open to all who wish to attend and is a great opportunity to mix and visit with other maiko and geisha - who also dress informally for this event.

Gion Matsuri 17 JulyYasaka Shrine, Kyoto
Kyoto's Gion festival is one of the most popular festivals in all Japan and features the most lavishly-decorated festival floats. Hoko are wheeled floats up to 25m in length and 12 tons in weight which are pulled with ropes. Some hoko are two stories high and carry people on each level and even on the roof. Yama are smaller and are carried on the shoulders of bearers like mikoshi.
Although the festival begins at Yasaka Shrine on the 1st and continues until 31 July with many larger and smaller events taking place, the highlight of the festival is when all 25 yama floats and all 7 hoko parade through the city, watched by many thousands at every turn. The night before the procession crowds gather to see the hoko in downtown Kyoto in a festival called Yoiyama.

Sumida River Fireworks Display 27 JulySumida River, Asakusa, Tokyo
One of the largest fireworks displays in all Japan. Said to date back to Edo times (1603-1867) when firework makers would come here to compete to create the most sensational displays.

Toro Nagashi Festival 16 AugustMiyazu Bay, Kyoto Prefecture
One of the biggest Bon festival lantern floating events in all of Japan. Over 10,000 paper lanterns are set afloat on the bay with the sky above lit by spectacular fireworks.

Mando Nagashi Festival 16 August Togetsukyo Bridge, Arashiyama, Kyoto
Bon festival lantern floating event with the scenic Togetsukyo Bridge in the background. Also features traditional music and dancing as well as displays of ukai, the ancient art of cormorant fishing.

Sento Kuyo 23-24 August Nenbutsu-ji Temple, Adashino, Kyoto
A memorial service for graves that no longer have families to look after them. Candles and lanterns are lit for each of the temples 8,000 stone stupas and Buddha Statues.

Hassaku-sai September 5 Matsuo-taisha Shrine, Kyoto
A day of rituals, sumo wrestling and Buddhist dance to petition the gods for mild weather, good harvests and safety in the home.

Jidai Matsuri 22 October Heian Jingu Shrine, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
One of the most spectacular parades to be found at any of Japan's autumn festivals. Consists of over 1,700 marchers representing figures from Japanese history in a five-hour long parade. The procession starts from the Imperial Palace at noon and heads west along Marutachi dori, then south on Karasuma to Oike dori, then through Gion and Sanjo dori culminating at Heian Shrine. This is an elaborate parade of people in costumes representing the various eras of Japanese history beginning with the Heian period. The geisha take turns to play the famous beauties of each of the ages (Ono no Komachi, Murasaki Shikibu, Shizuka Gozen) the parade finishes at the Heian Shrine.

Hi Matsuri (Fire Festival) 22 October Kurama, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
One of the most "unique" of Japan's autumn festivals. The festival is held in the mountain village of Kurama, north of the city. Participants carry torches and light bonfires throughout the night. Later revelers carry a mikoshi (portable shrine) from Yuki Shrine in Kurama.


Momiji Matsuri (Maple Festival) 13 November Arashiyama, Kyoto
Momiji Matsuri, Maple Festival around Togetsu-kyo Bridge, Arashiyama, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto. Women in the 10th-century court costumes perform traditional dance on the boats, which sail on the Oi River around Togetsukyo Bridge from 10:30 am to 12 noon. Various kinds of Japanese traditional music are played on the boats from 1:30 pm to 3 pm.The festival recreates the atmosphere of the Heian court when the Emperor and his court leisurely cruised the Oi River in Kyoto. Five period-decorated boats filled with people in Heian costume, playing traditional instruments and reciting noh and kyogen begin the water parade followed by a larger flotilla of similar vessels.

Kaomise – December
In Kyoto, there were seven Kabuki stages in the 17th century but only the Minami-za Theater remains to this day.
Kaomise is literally the "Face-showing" ceremony of a theater to celebrate the opening a new season and its new troupe during the Edo Period. At Minami-za it is held in December. All the Geiko and Maiko attend.