Shirasagi no Mai
Shirasagi no Mai (White Heron Dance) festival, founded by Asakusa Tourist Federation in November 1968 in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Meiji period, was held in Sensoji Temple in Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan on April 12, 2009.
The white heron (shirasagi) dance is one thousand years old. It is a religious rite to drive out the plague and purify the spirits on their passage to the next world.
The white faces of the dancers signify innocence, purity and gentleness. People love the beautiful snow-white figure of heron and crane (tsuru) as a symbol of peace.
According to religious belief pure white cranes inhabit the Isles of the Bless and their powerful wings are able to convey souls to the Western Paradise.
Dancers are consist of 3 warriors, 1 baton twirler, 1 feeder, 1 grand-umbrella holder, 8 white herons, 19 musicians and guardian children in traditional costumes of the Heian period (the 8th – 12th centuries).
Konnichiwa 
You went to that festival. That’s good!
Nice photos of it. Did you take your family?
I mentioned that festival (and the Horseback Archery this coming weekend) here:
http://tokyo5.wordpress.com/2009/03/18/visit-asakusa/
Are you gonna go to the 流鏑馬 (Horseback Archery) this Saturday?
> Nice photos of it. Did you take your family?
Yes, but not to the Kanamara Matsuri 🙂
> Are you gonna go to the 流鏑馬 (Horseback Archery) this Saturday?
Yes, I am planning to attend the Yabusame since I knew about it from your festival page.
>I am planning to attend the Yabusame since I knew about it from your festival page.
Oh good. I’m glad that “Festivals” page is helpful.
By the way, Yabusame is today (Saturday) in Asakusa…and tomorrow in Kamakura, too.
Nice “header” photo on your site, too!
Thanks – this is the most favorite shot I took during the recent sakura season.
I just returned from the Yabusame and & Kusajishi exhibition at Asakusa – I took a lot of pictures. Am not going to the one in Kamakura.
Sorry, live in Japan I don’t know of this festival.
I went to see Sanja Matsuri once.
I was overwhelmed with great festival.
This is a small festival that only lasted about 30 minutes. I think the Sanja Matsuri is one of the largest festivals in Japan so there probably was a lot of people – I hope to attend this festival this year.
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