Danjiri
Where: Kansai/Kinki Region
When: May/September
The danjiri is a type of wooden float found in Kansai and western Japan for Shinto festivals. The danjiri festivals are said to have begun in the Edo Period (1603-1867), although some historians say the floats themselves were in use before that. These floats are heavily decorated with hand-carved wooden panels; they weigh nearly 4 tons each and roll on wheels pulled by male and female festivalgoers. The excitement mounts whenever the danjiri makes a right-hand turn at full speed. Some men stand on top of the danjiri, which contributes to the excitement. The largest and most famous danjiri festival takes place in Kishiwada City in Osaka. Its origin is said to be the Inari Matsuri held in 1703 to pray for a good harvest by the lord of Kishiwada Castle, Nagayasu Okabe.
