If you just want to jump ahead to the new photo gallery it’s here.
The last time I went to this festival was in 2019. Immediately after returning home, I began dreaming of switching to a full-frame camera to deal with the lack of light in the evenings. So I waited and waited, and finally bought a Lumix S5. But then a number of major events happened in my life, and I didn’t return until now. There was the pandemic, of course, the arrival of our daughter, and the deaths of my father and mother-in-law.
But this year was different, and it was finally time to return.
The Gōdo Sanno Festival dates back to the 12th century. The main event is the procession of seven portable shrines surrounded by bales of lit taimatsu carried by men who are not allowed to stop until the procession is complete.
It’s a wild and dangerous festival, especially if you’re a drunken participant, but being out after midnight with (or without) a camera in a small town in Gifu certainly makes you feel alive.
I’ve created a gallery of more photos from the festival here.
SeanBreslin.jp 
Leave a comment