What is Matsuri (Japanese Cultural Festival)? (2)
What is Matsuri (Japanese Cultural Festival)? (2): The Reason Why Matsuri Has Seasonality Understanding the Reason Behind the Seasonality of Matsuri (Japanese Festivals) Yesterday, I explained why Matsuri (Japanese festivals) are held only once a year. The timing of these festivals is determined by their purpose, often based on specific historical days related to the shrine. In this post, I will discuss the seasonality of Matsuri (Japanese festivals) and the reasons behind it. Reisai (annual festivals) are held at different times depending on the shrine, as each shrine has a unique historically significant day. For example, even among major shrines in Japan, the dates for Reisai are quite different: Examples of Reisai (Annual Festivals) Dates: Kasuga Taisha: March 13 Katori Shrine: April 14 Heian Shrine: April 15 Izumo Taisha: May 14 Kamo Shrine: May 15 Atsuta Shrine: June 5 Yasaka Shrine: June 15 Hikawa Shrine: August 1 Kashima Shrine: September 1 Dazaifu Tenmangu: September 25 Meiji Shrine: November 3 Exploring the Seasonal Significance and Reasons Behind the Diverse Dates of Reisai in Japan Why are the dates of these Reisai so different across Japan? This is because Japan has traditionally been an agricultural society, with a yearly