Shinjō, Yamagata

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Shinjō (新庄市; -shi) is a city located in Yamagata, Japan.

As of 2003, the city has an estimated population of 41,568 and the density of 186.34 persons per km². The total area is 223.08 km².

The city was consolidated from several smaller villages on April 1, 1949.

1 Shinjo Matsuri
- 1.1 Yattai Parade
2 Transportation
- 2.1 Train stations
- 2.2 Major roads
3 External links

[edit] Shinjo Matsuri

One of the premier festivals of Yamagata Prefecture, Shinjo Matsuri (or Shinjo Festival) is a Summertime (late August) celebration that has occurred annually since 1755. Originally it was established by the local Daimyo (fuedal lord) to lift the spirtits of the common people after a particularly bad harvest. The current incarnation of the festival includes traditional dancing, a reinactment of the first "Daimyo Parade", traditional festival vending stalls, and the Yattai Parade.

[edit] Yattai Parade

The Yattai Parade is the premier event of Shinjo Matsuri. Each neighborhood in the city constructs large, vivid scenes from Japanese/local history, folklore, and/or fairy tales on wide floats. These are then pulled throughout the city by children both at day and at night for the three days of the festival. A traditional hayashi band of taiko drums, cymbals, shamisen, and japanese flute follow behind. The hands, feet, and faces of the figures on the floats are traditional Noh design and many floats cost as much as half a million yen to build. The floats are judged and the three winners displayed in Shinjo Staion, and the Shinjo History Center. The rest are dismantled.