Ashikari Yama — A Float of Longing, Reeds & Reunion”

Every July in Kyoto, Gion Matsuri transforms the city into a parade of stories and symbols. Among those stories, Ashikari Yama whispers one of the gentlest but most emotionally powerful: the story of separation, endurance, and reunion. Derived from a storied Noh play, this float reminds us that even the simplest of lives — a reed cutter, a distant spouse — can be honored in grandeur.

1. Ashikari Yama — A Float of Longing, Reeds &
Reunion”
Ashikari Yama — A Poetic Float of Separation, Hope & Reunion
Every July in Kyoto, Gion Matsuri transforms the city into a parade of stories and symbols. Among those
stories, Ashikari Yama whispers one of the gentlest but most emotionally powerful: the story of
separation, endurance, and reunion. Derived from a storied Noh play, this float reminds us that even the
simplest of lives — a reed cutter, a distant spouse — can be honored in grandeur.
The Tale Told by the Float
At its heart, the narrative behind Ashikari Yama is intuitive yet profound: lovers parted by hardship, kept
apart by poverty, yet held together by longing. The man turns to cutting reeds, the wife seeks work in
Kyoto, and after three long years, they reunite. It is a human drama elevated to ritual.
What makes the story so touching within the festival’s grandeur is its ordinariness. It isn’t a deity
descending, but a human striving. The float becomes a stage for our shared human vulnerabilities and
hopes.

2. ​

Design & Craftsmanship
Though modest in size, Ashikari Yama is rich in symbolism:
●​Rising above it all is a pine tree, marking upward aspiration and spiritual connection.
●​The statue (goshintai) of the old man is clad in Noh attire, brandishing a sickle and reed.​

●​Behind the scenes, the original statue head was created in 1537 by the famed sculptor Kō-un,
descendant of the Kei school.​

●​The costume associated with him is one of the oldest festival costumes preserved in the
Yamaboko tradition.​

These elements, carefully maintained and restored over centuries, allow us to feel continuity with the
past.
History Through Fire, War & Rebuilding

3. Ashikari Yama has not been spared the tragedies of time. Damaged in wars and fires, it was rebuilt in
1872 after the Hamaguri Rebellion, and again fully reconstructed in 2015 after over a century.
The neighborhood also recovered a tea peddling kit, once used by procession attendants, restoring it
into festival display.
These cycles of damage and revival are not just structural — they reflect a deeper commitment of
community to memory, identity, and ritual.
Ritual & Festival Role
As part of Saki Matsuri (July 10–17), Ashikari Yama is prepared, displayed, and paraded in its district. On
Yoiyama nights (14–16 July), its neighborhood opens the float to public viewing in a relaxed, intimate
setting. On July 17, it joins the grand procession, moving through Kyoto with quiet but resonant presence.
Locals also sell festival goods (T-shirts, towels, etc.) to support float maintenance — inviting visitors to be
part of sustaining the tradition.
Why Ashikari Yama Matters
●​It shows that even “ordinary people” in myth can be honored in ritual.​

●​It preserves ties to Noh drama, weaving performing arts into festival life.​

●​Its survival and restoration reflect the tenacity of community heritage.​

●​It invites empathy — viewers connect with longing, separation, hope — within a grand public
ritual.​

When you stand before Ashikari Yama, you’re not just seeing a decorative float. You’re witnessing
centuries of lived human stories, of craft preserved through adversity, and of a culture that respects both
the divine and the humble.