KYOTO - The Aoi Festival, one of Kyoto’s three major traditional festivals, began on May 15th with a vibrant procession of around 500 people dressed in elegant Heian-period garments making their way through the streets of the ancient capital.
At 10:30 a.m., the grand parade set off from the Kyoto Imperial Palace, with participants clad in ornate robes and ceremonial attire reminiscent of the Heian era, recreating the courtly elegance of over a thousand years ago.
The festival, which ranks alongside the Gion Festival and the Jidai Festival as one of Kyoto’s three great celebrations, traces its origins back roughly 1,400 years. It was first held to pacify poor harvests and epidemics, and to pray for abundant crops. At the heart of the event is the Saio-dai, or festival heroine, who this year is Aya Yamauchi. Wearing a multilayered ceremonial kimono known as a jūnihitoe, she graced the tail end of the procession.
The Aoi Festival, formally known as the Kamo Festival, is one of the oldest continuously held festivals in Japan, with origins that trace back over a millennium to the 6th century during the reign of Emperor Kinmei. According to ancient records, the festival began as a response to natural disasters—such as floods and poor harvests—that were believed to be the result of the displeasure of the deities of the Kamo Shrines, specifically Kamigamo and Shimogamo Shrines in Kyoto. In an effort to appease the gods and ensure a bountiful harvest, imperial envoys were dispatched to these sacred sites bearing offerings. Over time, these rituals evolved into a grand procession involving court nobles, and the tradition was formally established as an annual festival of national significance during the Heian period.
The name "Aoi" refers to the hollyhock leaves that adorn the costumes, ox-drawn carts, and horses used in the festival. These leaves were once believed to hold protective powers, warding off natural disasters and ensuring harmony with the gods. The leaves also symbolize the festival’s long-standing ties to agricultural prayer and its deep Shinto roots. During the Heian period, the Aoi Festival became a display of aristocratic culture and aesthetics, featuring finely detailed clothing, ritual performances, and courtly manners, all of which reflected the elegance and formality of the imperial court. The festival was so important that it was considered a state function, with emperors and high-ranking officials in regular attendance.
One of the central figures of the festival is the Saio or Saio-dai, a role historically held by an unmarried female member of the imperial family. The Saio was appointed through a divination ritual and lived in seclusion for purification before serving as the high priestess for the Kamo Shrines. She led the procession and participated in sacred rituals, acting as a bridge between the imperial court and the deities. Although the practice of selecting a Saio from the imperial family ended in the 14th century, the tradition was revived in modern form in 1956, with a chosen woman from Kyoto serving as the Saio-dai, dressed in the iconic twelve-layered jūnihitoe kimono.
The festival declined during periods of war and political unrest, particularly during the turbulent Muromachi and Edo periods. It was even suspended entirely at times due to economic hardship or instability. However, with the Meiji Restoration and the preservation of cultural heritage becoming a national priority, the Aoi Festival was gradually revived. Today, it is a celebrated cultural treasure of Kyoto, attracting large numbers of spectators and preserving the aesthetics and rituals of Japan’s classical court traditions. The festival not only honors ancient beliefs and agricultural rites but also serves as a living museum of Heian-period ceremony and attire, maintaining a direct connection between Japan’s past and present.
Source: YOMIURI
