Will there be a Gion Festival 2021? Gion Festival 2020 did take place, but because of
coronavirus concerns it was held in a much smaller way than usual.
In 2020, none of the Gion
Festival’s famous 34 yamaboko floats
were constructed, and the famous processions of yamaboko and portable mikoshi shrines did not take place as usual on
July 17 and July 24 did not take place. It was the first time in 58 years that
the processions didn’t take place.
Instead, 2020 saw
important Gion Festival Shinto purification rituals happen, with small groups
of key festival members participating, wearing masks. These rituals are
considered the core of the Gion Festival.
These and other rituals
(such as fire rituals by Shugendo
yamabushi “mountain monks”) seemed especially appropriate
because the festival began in the year 869 to rid the city of epidemics. In
2020 small processions also took place, but they included only central
community members, all wearing masks.
The commitment to continue with core festival activities
is commendable. But for Gion Festival fans who are not a part of the festival
community—especially anyone visiting from overseas—the unfortunate result is
not being able to attend the annual festival’s most spectacular events.
It is an ongoing
discussion within the Gion Festival community whether to hold the festival or
not. “After all, its purpose is to stop epidemics,” one community member
pointed out. At the same time, no one wants the festival to be a vector for
increased coronavirus cases. The decision puts the Gion Festival community
leadership in a painful position.
In mid-March, Kyoto’s
famous 15 Aoi Matsuri festival was canceled, to lower the chances for the
coronavirus to spread and to keep the population at ease. Japanese festivals
are notorious for their dense crowds.
The Aoi Matsuri and GionMatsuri festivals are two of Kyoto’s “Big Three,” together with the Jidai
Matsuri. “Matsuri” means “festival” in Japanese.
Last year’s decision was
announced by the Gion Festival Floats Association on April 20, 2020.
Canceling the Gion
Festival has a tremendous impact on the economy of Kyoto city and traditional
industries. For example, each year there are strong sales in the famous Kyoto chimaki talismans,
paper lanterns, and of course sales in visitors’ accommodation and dining.
The Gion Festival
leadership and Kyotoites have responded creatively with innovative ways
to support these industries. In 2020 they hosted special online sales of
chimaki, and downtown Kyotoites created a special Gion Festival atmosphere with
festival-related decorations and music.
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