🇯🇵 Osu Street Performers Festival 🇯🇵

Pushing through the crowds I squeezed in for the best vantage point to view the heavily costumed performers parade down the street. A blue robed man drums away while loudly announcing the arrival of the parade. Throngs of amateur photographers try to get the best angles of the passing attractions.

Also known as the Osu street festival, it takes place in Mid October in Nagoya City. The event that symbolizes this festival is the oiran procession. During the Edo period (1603-1868), a red-light district was created in Osu, and the area flourished as a major entertainment center. In commemoration of this historical background, this re-creation of a procession of oiran courtesans is held each year as the highlight of the festival. Women selected through open auditions garb themselves in gaudy oiran attire and walk in a procession through the streets of Osu.

The procession starts from the Osu Cannon temple and takes a long route along the Osu road and shopping district before ending back at the temple again.

As a large golden ball rolled down the street I excitedly asked my local Japanese friend what the cultural significance was. Was there some sort of historical story behind rolling the golden ball down the streets of Osu? There must have been something of great importance seeing the large size and how it fills up the streets. He turns to me, opens his mouth and says

"I don't know"

Disappointed, I tried doing a google search later that night but yielded no results. It remains a mystery until today.

For some reason there was a camel being carried down the streets as well. They say that one of the deities or a rabbi came to Japan on a camel to preach about God.

Looks very familiar to a certain famous somebody who also rode a camel in the middle east. Also camels are not native to Japan.

I just noticed after uploading this photo but there is a headless figure dressed in white under the gates...