The Gion Festival began more than a thousand years ago, when Kyoto City was suffering from a series of epidemics. The emperor called for a ritual to appease the angry spirits believed to be responsible. Eventually the ritual morphed into the Gion Festival. Nowadays it's dedicated to the deities of Yasaka Shrine, plus many others. The festival requests their protection particularly from illness, epidemics, floods, fire and earthquakes, and for our general wellbeing.
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Featuring 34 yamaboko (floats) decorated with unique international tapestries and the best of Japanese craftsmanship, the Gion Festival is also a delightful sensory experience. One of these floats is named Naginata Boko. A naginata is a longsword, which can be seen adorning the top of the float's spire extending upwards to the sky. As dozens of men pull the 10+ ton Naginata floadthrough downtown Kyoto during the July 17 procession, the blade sways to and fro. It's said that this allows the blade to cut through illness and negative energy, and shower magical healing powers on the city and its people.
