Old Japanese Capital Local Community Festivals: The Matsugasaki Case

Abstract

The aim of the article is to explore the importance of local festivals for building and strengthening social ties and solidarity between local community members in the Matsugasaki district of the old Japanese capital Kyoto. The analysis is based on the results of qualitative surveys conducted by the author in 2012-2013, 2015-2016 and 2018-2019 at three local festivals. During all three periods, the Summer festival and the Obon (The festival of the Dead) were studied, and during the last period, the Autumn festival, which was restored after a seven-year break, was also examined. The enterprising local actors playing a leading role in the preservation, organization and performance of these festivals have been identified, characterizing their activities and motivation. The relationships between the native and the newcomers in the neighborhood are investigated, considering the problems between them, arising from the non-admission of the newcomers to participate in the organization and performance of Obon rituals. Conclusions are reached on the ways in which local traditions have been preserved and/or changed over the years, indicating the factors influencing these processes.