Soga no Kasayaki Matsuri, Sogayatsu, Jozenji Temple, Odawara, Kanagawa 曽我の傘焼まつり 曽我谷津 城前寺 小田原 神奈川 by Kari Gröhn, karigrohncom, Music, Kanashii Sake 悲しい酒
The oiled paper umbrella (kasayaki) festival is held to appease the souls of Soga brothers at their family temple Jozenji. The story of Juro and Goro is based on a real event in feudal Japan from 1193 when the brothers set their paper umbrellas on fire for torch at midnight to take revenge for their father’s murder. Today, young children dress up as the Soga brothers and set fire to old umbrellas in front of their graves.
Juro was five years old and Goro three when their father Kawazu Sukeyasu was killed by Kudo Suketsune over a long disputed issue of feudal estate. Suketsune was a cousin of Sukeyasu and an important vassal of Shogun Yoritomo. The widow married a man named Soga who adopted the elder son Juro. The younger brother Goro was sent to a Buddhist temple to become a monk. But the two brothers had other plans than reciting holy sutras. They wanted to revenge their father.
The opportunity for avenging came when Shogun Yoritomo held a hunting session at the foot of Mt Fuji. At midnight, while a heavy storm was raging Juro and Goro found drunken Suketsune in the company of a prostitute and killed him. The elder brother Juro was killed and the younger Goro was captured. Shogun Yoritomo executed Goro but at the same time he honoured the brother's deed by reinstalling their mother as the legitimate owner of her late husband's estate. Goro was 20 and Juro 22 when they died.
The feudal history of Japan is filled with stories of revenge killings (katakiuchi). The tale of the Soga brothers - Juro and Goro - is all about vendetta. The rather straightforward story ends like in an Italian nineteenth century opera. The chief characters are all dead - but honour was restored.
Hamaori matsuri, Nishihama beach, Kanagawa Japan (2011)
The Hamaori matsuri on Nishihama beach in Chigasaki, Kanagawa on 20th July 2011. Over 40 mikoshi (palanquins) from various Shintõ shrines in the surrounding area are brought down to the beach in a special annual ritual to cleanse the local gods in the sea.
Tale of the Soga Brothers 曽我物語 Mibu Nenbutsu Kyogen 壬生念仏狂言 Kari Gröhn karigrohncom
Tale of the Soga Brothers 曽我物語 Mibu Nenbutsu Kyogen 壬生念仏狂言 by Kari Gröhn karigrohncom
The feudal history of Japan is filled with stories of revenge killings (katakiuchi). The tale of the Soga brothers - Juro and Goro - is all about vendetta. They revenged their father's death in the twelfth century.
The rather straightforward story ends like in an Italian nineteenth century opera. The chief characters are all dead - but honour was restored.
Juro was five years old and Goro three when they father was killed by Kudo Suketsune over a long disputed issue of feudal estate. Suketsune was an important vassal of Shogun Yoritomo.
The widow married a man named Soga who adopted the elder son Juro. The younger brother Goro was sent to a Buddhist temple to become a monk. But the two brothers had other plans than reciting holy sutras. They wanted to kill the murderer and avenge their father.
The opportunity came when Shogun Yoritomo held a hunting session at the foot of Mt Fuji, and Suketsune had received an invitation.
Juro and Goro ordered their retainers home with a letter and charm as keepsakes for their mother. The brothers bid farewell and hurried to the hunting event. At midnight they found drunken Suketsune in the company of a prostitute and killed him.
The elder brother Juro was killed and the younger Goro was captured and executed later.
Shogun Yoritomo honoured the brother's deed by reinstalling their mother as the legitimate owner of her late husband's estate. Goro was 20 and Juro 22.
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曽我の傘焼まつり
曽我氏ゆかりの城前寺
ちょうど付属の幼稚園から歌が聞こえてきました。
Ame No Goro
This dance portrays Soga no Tokimune (better known as Goro Tokimune) as a young, strong, brave teenager who receives a letter from a cortesan confidante, Oiso no Keishozaka who is informing him of the activities and whereabouts of the villian, Kudo Suketsune.