Kujitori-shiki of Gion Matsuri (July 2nd, 2024)

Kujitori-shiki of Gion Matsuri

The information of Kujitori-shiki is presented here. Kujitori-shiki is held every year on July 2nd. In Kujitori-shiki, the order of Yamahoko-Junko (Float Procession) of 24 Yamahoko floats is determined by the lottery, except for 10 Yamahoko floats whose order is fixed. After Kujitori-shiki, the officials of yamahoko-cho (town) visit Yasaka Shrine to report the result of Kujitori-shiki and receive purification at Honden (main shrine).

【Kujitori-shiki 2024 Schedule (confirmation required)】

Kujitori-shiki 2024 will be held on Tuesday, July 2nd, 2024 at 10:00.
●Gion Matsuri Festival 2024 will start on July 1st, 2024 and end on July 31st, 2024.
Gion Matsuri Festival Schedule (July 1st-31st)

【Kyoto City Hall Location Map & Directions】

Address: 488 Kamihonnojimae-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
Access (How to get there): Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae bus stop (about 2 minutes on foot), Subway Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae Station (about 3 minutes on foot), Keihan Sanjo Station (about 5 minutes on foot)

【Kujitori-shiki of Gion Matsuri brief overview】

Kujitori-shiki (くじ取り式) of Gion Matsuri Festival (祇園祭) is held every year on July 2nd. Kujitori-shiki is held on July 2nd at the Kyoto City Hall Conference Room before to Former Festival Yamahoko-Junko on July 17th and Latter Festival Yamahoko-Junko on July 24th. In Kujitori-shiki, the order of Yamahoko-Junko (Float Procession, Yamaboko Parade) of 24 Yamahoko floats is determined by the lottery, except for 10 Yamahoko floats whose order is fixed. By the way, the result of Kujitori-shiki is sometimes posted on bulletin boards in yamahoko-cho (town). After Kujitori-shiki, the officials of yamahoko-cho (town) visit Yasaka Shrine to report the result of Kujitori-shiki and receive purification at Honden (main shrine).

●Floats that do not take lottery (Kuji-torazu) : Naginata Hoko (1st float of Former Festival), Kanko Hoko (5th float of Former Festival), Hoka Hoko (21st float of Former Festival), Iwato Yama (22nd float of Former Festival), Fune Hoko (23rd float of Former Festival), Hashibenkei Yama (1st float of Latter Festival), Kitakannon Yama (2nd or 6th float of Latter Festival), Minamikannon Yama (2nd or 6th float of Latter Festival), Taka Yama (10th float of Latter Festival), Ofune Hoko (11th float of Latter Festival)
●Floats that take lottery (Former Festival) : Yamabushi Yama, Hakurakuten Yama, Ashikari Yama, Kakkyo Yama, Shijokasa Hoko, Tokusa Yama, Niwatori Hoko, Aburatenjin Yama, Moso Yama, Araretenjin Yama, Kikusui Hoko, Hosho Yama, Ayakasa Hoko, Taishi Yama, Tsuki Hoko, Hakuga Yama, Toro Yama, Urade Yama
●Floats that take lottery (Latter Festival) : Jomyo Yama, Hachiman Yama, Koi Yama, Kuronushi Yama, Ennogyoja Yama, Suzuka Yama

★It is said that Kujitori-shiki originated when Gion Matsuri Festival was suspended for 33 years due to the Onin War (1467-1477), and when Gion Matsuri Festival was restored in 1500, the Muromachi Shogunate’s magistrate, Matsuda Yorisuke, started the ceremony at his private residence to avoid confusion due to the constant disputes over who would lead Yamahoko-Junko (Float Procession, Yamaboko Parade). Later, Kujitori-shiki was held at Rokkakudo (Choho-ji Temple), and in the Edo period (1603-1868), Kujitori-shiki was held in the presence of the town official Shiza-no-zoshiki who belonged to the Kyoto Shoshi-dai (Kyoto government office) and assisted the Kyoto administration, police and judiciary, and who guarded Gion Matsuri Festival and other temple and shrine festivals, and received a certificate of lot with the kao (seal) of the Kyoto Shoshi-dai. After the Meiji period (1868-1912), Kujitori-shiki was held at the Kyoto Prefectural Office, and from 1899 it was moved to the Kyoto City Hall, and after the war, Kujitori-shiki was held at Yasaka Shrine for a period of time, but since 1953, Kujitori-shiki has been held at the Kyoto City Hall Conference Room, and the date has been set on July 2nd. By the way, Kujitori-shiki is held in the presence of the mayor of Kyoto.
★The order of Yamahoko-Junko (Float Procession, Yamaboko Parade) determined at Kujitori-shiki is confirmed at kuji-aratame (くじ改め) which is held at Former Festival Yamahoko-Junko on July 17th and Latter Festival Yamahoko-Junko on July 24th. In kuji-aratame, the machi-gyoji (town magistrate) of yamahoko-cho (town) uses a sensu (folding fan) to open the fumibako (letter box) containing the kuji (lottery), opens the lid, and presents the kuji (lottery) to the bugyo (magistrate, mayor of Kyoto City). The bugyo reads out and confirms the order of the kuji (lottery), and the machi-gyoji steps back and invites the floats with the sensu (folding fan). Yamahoko floats that do not take the kuji (lottery), only greet the bugyo, and Kakiyama floats rotate.
★Kyoto City Hall consists of the main building (east and west wings), the west building, and the north building (central, east and west wings). The main building (east and west wings) was designed by Takeda Goichi and Nakano Shinichi, and the east wing was completed in 1927 and the west wing in 1931. The west building was completed in 1931, and the fourth floor extension was added in 1966. The west wing of the north building was completed in 1931, the central wing in 1964, and the east wing in 1974. The main building is a four-story RC structure with one basement level, and the east and west wings are symmetrical. The main building is said to be the oldest city hall in an ordinance-designated city.

【Kujitori-shiki of Gion Matsuri remarks】
*Events may be rescheduled or cancelled. Also, the content of the event may have changed.
祇園祭2025日程一覧(宵山屋台・山鉾巡行・・・)

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