The statue of Kondo Isami,
the chief Samurai of Shinsen-gumi.
In 1868, in the revolution by successors of the terror group,
he was killed and Shinsen-gumi was wiped away.
The statue is in Mibu-dera temple.
(Near from the Bus stop of Shijo-bojo.)
Gion-Matsuri is the biggest festival in Kyoto that is held through every July.
It started in 9th century. In 16th century, getting powerful and beginning autonomy, townspeople begun to manage the festival and made Yamas and Hokos (parade floats) gorgeous as today's.
The climax of the festival is Yama-Boko Junko (the parade of Yamas and Hokos) that is held on July 17.
But the true highlight is Yoi-yama (July 16), the day before the parade, I believe.
In the night of Yoi-yama, the center of Kyoto city is turned into a pedestrian precinct, where absolutely gorgeous 8 Hokos and 24 Yamas are displayed.
We can enjoy the spectacles of Yamas and Hokos, wonderful displays of heirlooms of townspeople, and various kinds of portable stalls, hearing traditional music of Gion-bayshi. On the night, around 500 or 600 thousands of people came to the area.
There are lots of people wearing Yukata, an informal cotton kimono for summer time.
If you want to enjoy watching Yamas and Hokos and the heirlooms in more relaxed mood, you'd better go there in daytime.
After enjoying all of them, I recommend you to stay there and watch the changing of the scene around sunset. It's quite fantastic.
UkiUki Essay
As Time Goes by
In 1864.
There was a terror group that was planing to set fire to Kyoto city on a windy day.
'In the disorder of the big fire, we will kill and kidnap VIPs. Then we can overthrow the government!'
Unfortunately for them, but quite fortunately for townspeople, the evil scheme was thwarted on the night of Yoi-yama. When the terrorists were having a meeting in Ikeda-ya Hotel (West of Sanjo-kobashi bridge), a famous security force Shinsen-gumi attacked them, and after a heroic battle, succeeded to wipe the group out.
Town of Kyoto was saved from the subversive activity.
Now is 1997.
133 years after the Battle in Ikeda-ya.
Yoi-yama is coming soon again.
But Ikeda-ya hotel is already gone, and there is a pinball parlor in the site of the battle.
Before the pinball salon, I think there was Kentucky Fried Chicken though I'm not sure now.
Everything is changing quickly even in this historic city.
133 years after now,
on the night of Yoi-yama in 2130.
What will be there on the site of Ikeda-ya hotel?
Will it be used as a farm to survive a food shortage?
Well, will Gion-matsuri still remain at all?
Won't Kyoto go under sea in consequence of greenhouse effect?
We have had unusual hot summer these 2 or 3 years ...
In order to hand our fantastic Gion-matsuri down to 22 century, it's certain that we have a lot to do.