My Experience as Saiodai
Shiho Kanai (Faculty of Policy Studies, 4th Year)
On May 2011, I had the opportunity to serve as the Saiodai in the Aoi Festival held in Kyoto. I was really impressed by the people living in Kyoto that this tradition festival is still celebrated every year since the Fujiwara era. I can still remember the elegant Heian costumes attendees wore, and the intricate decorations on the ox carriage and the painted paper umbrellas.
May 15 turned out to be a very sunny day with refreshing summer breeze. It wasn’t my second time to see the junihitoe, which literally means twelve-layers of traditional styled robes, but I felt the weight of history on me and I felt very nervous. Riding on the mikoshi or the carriage, we took off from Kyoto Imperial Palace, to find an unexpected number of people waiting for us and I felt more and more nervous. However, as the line moved forward, I was able to move my eyes sight from a lovely girl who was walking in front of the mikoshi, to the streets where many people stood. The people who were watching us waved and smiled and even cheered us too! Because of this, the frustrations I had before disappeared instantly. Not only that, but in Kamo street, I felt like I slipped through time in the Heian Period by looking at the new leaves reflected in the sky of Kyoto and attendees parading along the Kamogawa river. The familiar view of the Kyoto City looked very different from the top of the mikoshi, and I was able to see it from a different angle. Because of this, I felt really grateful to be able to have this valuable experience.
Kanai, center at Kyoto Imperial Palace
While I was studying at an American school during my high school year, I realized that I didn’t know much of the Japanese culture and history. On the other hand, I am very proud to be raised in a city where it is full of history and gave me the interest of knowing about the cultures of Kyoto that still exist even today. The Aoi Festival appears in many of the ancient literatures, for example, the Tale of Genji, and it is a festival that fascinated many people for many years. I am very honored that I was able to get involved in this festival with this sort of history, and this valuable experience will mean a lot to me for the rest of my life.
Serving as a 56th Saiodai and protecting the Japanese tradition wasn’t easy for me. I want to contribute and support as much as possible for this festival that is loved and protected by many people, to continue for further generations. I hope this traditional Aoi Festival will continue to be loved by many people.
