Odori Festival - Gujo, Japan

[Manfred M]

Odori is a major festival which is part of the Obon celebration and was described to us as the "Japanese Christmas". One of the major events was in the town of Guju, in Gifu Prefecture, in the mountains about a 2 hour drive into the mountains, from Nagoya. The highlight of the festival is an all-night dance, where the townspeople get out and dance in the streets starting around 8:00 in the evening and continue until before sunrise.


Some of the old houses along the river.






Lots of people wandering around town in traditional dress, Yukatas





As with any festival, vendors are out preparing traditional fast food.




And of course, people line up to buy the snacks.





The paths along the river are lit up by candles





To have a dance, one needs the musicians





And of course, people to dance to the traditional music





This was a big event, with a number of news trucks, camera crews and reporters covering the event.

[Shadowman]

Nice series.

[gregj1763]

Great photos and interesting, I hadn't heard of this festival.
I notice that blue croc's are part of traditional dress.

[Manfred M]

Great photos and interesting, I hadn't heard of this festival.
I notice that blue croc's are part of traditional dress.

The footwear seemed quite variable, although a lot of people were wearing geta on their feet.

[DEAN01]

Very nice series. I like the first shot.

[John 2]

Interesting and informative. You are clearly making the most of your visit.

[bnnrcn]

Very nice and informative series, thanks for sharing

[IzzieK]

Looks like you are enjoying yourself very much...how long before the wedding? Any plans of taking a side shot or two...of course you must...!! I agree with John, very informative...

[rpcrowe]

Very nice series... Reminds me of my years in Japan during the mid to late sixties.

Speaking about those years, Imagine a Japan in which the country was producing excellent merchandise (Nikon, Canon, Sony, Teak, and Panasonic for example as well as Honda Motorcycles) but, when the living costs were exceptionally low. Especially in the terms of the U.S Dollar - Japanese Yen exchange. I rented a small house in Hodogaya, midway between Yokosuka and Yokahama on the Yokosuka Train Line which cost me about 36,000 Yen per month (or about one hundred dollars)

As a further example, the exchange rate in 1966-67 was 360 Yen to the Dollar. A taxi ride started at 90 Yen for the smaller Taxi and 100 yen for the larger model. A beer (in a non-night club) usually cost 100 Yen and you could buy a small flask of Sake for 90 Yen from vending machines on the train stations.

Canon and Nikon SLR film cameras cost about $100 each and lenses were equally as inexpensive!

[Manfred M]

Looks like you are enjoying yourself very much...how long before the wedding? Any plans of taking a side shot or two...of course you must...!! I agree with John, very informative...

The wedding is next Thursday, and you are quite right, we have a lot of other activities on the go. We just spent a couple of days in Tokyo and are off to Matsumoto, Sado Island and Kanazawa for the next few days.

[Manfred M]

Richard - things sure have changed. I was in the Akihabara electronics shopping area yesterday and saw the f/2.8 70-200mm Nikkor for ¥300000 at one of the major discount stores. I can get that lens for a lot less at home (I paid about 2/3 of that a few years ago when I bought mine). Camera bodies are also more expensive than at home.

We are renting a 1 bedroom apartment for our stay here and it is running us ¥3500 per day.

[IzzieK]

Share with us some more of your images as time permit...we will all be delighted to see the modern Japan.