>> [ APPLAUSE ] >> KYOTO'S GRANDEST FESTIVAL IS HELD THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF JULY.

THE HIGHLIGHT IS THE ELEGANT PROCESSION OF FLOATS, OFTEN REFERRED TO AS MOVING MUSEUMS.

THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF CORE KYOTO FOLLOWS GION MATSURI, A FESTIVAL GOING BACK OVER A MILLENNIUM.

THE MUSICAL ACCOMPANIMENT HAS A DISTINCT TONE AND RESIDENCE.

MANY OF THE CENTURIES OLD AFLOAT DECORATIONS ARE SURPRISINGLY FROM EUROPE AND SOUTH ASIA.

VOLUNTEERS ARE A VITAL FORCE IN KEEPING THE FESTIVAL ALIVE.

>> CORE KYOTO TAKES A LONG, IN- DEPTH LOOK AT THE PREPARATIONS FOR GION MATSURI .

>> HELLO, I AM GARY TEGLER, THE NARRATOR FOR CORE KYOTO.

THERE ARE FEW FESTIVALS IN THE WORLD LIKE GION MATSURI.

IT IS A MONTH LONG AND CULMINATES IN A PARADE OF ELABORATELY DECORATED FLOATS ON GIANT WHEELS.

THE CITIZENS OF THIS ANCIENT CAPITAL CAME ANTICIPATED, SO TODAY, WE ARE GOING TO LOOK BEHIND THE SCENES AT GION MATSURI .

GION MATSURI IS HELD UNDER THE AUSPICES OF [ INAUDIBLE ], WHICH STANDS ON A MAIN THOROUGHFARE THAT RUNS EAST-WEST.

THIS WAS ONCE CALLED [ INAUDIBLE ].

THIS SHINTO SHRINE, WHOSE MAIN DEITY IS SUSANO'O, IS BELIEVED TO WARD OFF ALL KINDS OF DISASTERS AND PLAGUES .

GION MATSURI HAS ITS ROOTS ONE OF PLAGUE BROKE OUT IN THE CAPITAL AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

A RICH WHAT WAS HELD TO EXPEL THE EPIDEMIC.

THE EMPEROR AND HIS COURT WERE CONVINCED THE DISEASE WAS CAUSED BY THE DEITY OF PLAGUES AND THE EVENTUAL SPIRITS OF PEOPLE WHO HAD SUFFERED VIOLENT DEATHS.

66 SPEAR LIKE [ INAUDIBLE ] REPRESENTING EACH OF THE COUNTRY'S PROVINCES WERE ERECTED BY ORDER OF THE EMPEROR, AND ONE OF THE SHRINE'S DEITIES WAS PARADED THROUGH THE STREETS OF THE CAPITAL TO EXPEL AND QUELL THE EVIL SPIRITS.

THIS BECAME AN ANNUAL RITUAL.

THE FESTIVAL AND ITS NUMEROUS ASSOCIATED RIGHTS IS TODAY HELD THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF JULY.

THE MOST STRIKING FEATURE OF THE FESTIVAL IS THE FLOATS.

EACH OF THE 34 FLOATS IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PARISH NEIGHBORHOODS STRETCHING WEST FROM YASAKA JINSHA .

THE EARLY FESTIVAL IS HELD ON JULY 17th, FEATURING 23 FLOATS THAT SERVE TO ATTRACT AND ABSORB THE MALEVOLENT SPIRITS.

ON THE EVENING OF THE 17th, THE YASAKA JINJA PATRON DEITIES ARE CARRIED THROUGH THE STREETS TO PURIFY THE CITY.

THERE ARE DIVINE [ INAUDIBLE ] SPENT ONE WEEK AMONG THE POPULACE .

11 FLOATS PARTICIPATE IN THE LATER FESTIVAL HELD ON THE 24th.

THEY ABSORB THE EVIL SPIRITS LINGERING THROUGHOUT THE SHRINE'S PARISH BEFORE THE DEITIES PARADED THROUGH AND PURIFY THE CITY ON THEIR RETURN TO YASAKA JINJA .

ON JULY 31st, A RITUAL IS HELD AT THE SHRINE TO PROCLAIM THAT THE FESTIVAL HAS ENDED WITHOUT INCIDENT.

IN THIS SPECIAL, WE FOLLOW THE WORKINGS OF THE HOKA HOKO FLOAT.

THE FLOAT STANDS AT AROUND 25 METERS TALL AND WEIGHS ABOUT 10 TONS.

THE FLOAT'S NAME DERIVES FROM THE MONKS WHO SPREAD BUDDHIST TEACHINGS.

A FIGURINE OF ONE SITS AT THE FLOAT'S MAST.

THE NEIGHBORHOOD ALONG [ INAUDIBLE ] IS HOME TO THE HOKA HOKO.

ON JULY 1st, A RITUAL IS HELD AT THE COMMUNITY CENTERS IN EACH FLOAT NEIGHBORHOOD, MARKING THE START OF GION MATSURI .

PEOPLE WHO PLAY CENTRAL ROLES IN THE FESTIVAL ATTEND THE RIGHT AND SHARE IS SACRED SAKE.

>> A CALLER SIMILAR TO A BOAT [ INAUDIBLE ] FOR THE PROCESSION.

THE CALLERS HAVE THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF SIGNALING AND GUIDING THE PEOPLE PULLING THE FLOAT.

>> WANTS THE ORIGINAL CEREMONY IS OVER, [ INAUDIBLE ], AS EACH OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS BEGINS REHEARSING THE FESTIVAL'S MUSICAL ACCOMPANIMENT, AND THE HOKA HOKO NEIGHBORHOOD IS NO DIFFERENT.

THE 35 MEMBERS OF THE HOKA HOKO ENSEMBLE RANGE IN AGE FROM SIX TO 76.

>> [ MUSIC ] >> THE ENSEMBLE CONSISTS OF GONGS, DRUMS, AND FLOATS.

-- FLUTES.

EVIL SPIRITS ARE THOUGHT TO BE FOND OF CHEERFUL AND LIVELY THINGS, SO DURING THE PROCESSION, THE ENSEMBLE PLAYED TO ATTRACT THEM TO THE FLOAT AND CARRY THEM AWAY.

>> [ MUSIC ] >> THE MUSICAL ACCOMPANIMENT VARIES FROM FLOAT TO FLOAT.

THE HOKA HOKO HAS 35 TUNES .

>> THE MUSIC SEEMS TO HAVE SO MANY INTRICATE PATTERNS.

SO, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT, HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE YOU TO LEARN?

>> THE GONGS KEEP THE RHYTHM.

>> ♪ >> HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN PLAYING FOR?

>> I AM PLAYING FOR THREE YEARS BUT >> THREE YEARS?

AND YOU'RE GOING TO SHOW ME HOW TO DO THE PATTERNS?

>> YES.

PLEASE REMEMBER THIS RHYTHM.

♪ >> A SIMPLE RHYTHM, REPEATING.

READY?

♪ >> PERFECT.

YES.

LET'S PLAY TOGETHER.

>> OKAY.

♪ >> HOW WAS IT?

>> IT WAS GOOD.

LOVE THE SOUND.

>> YOUR PERFORMING IS VERY GOOD.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> ON THIS DAY, FOUR NEW CHILDREN JOIN THE ENSEMBLE FOR THE FIRST TIME.

>> [ APPLAUSE ] >> [ APPLAUSE ] >> TWO OF THEM ARE HIS TWIN SONS.

♪ >> TAMAGUCHI AND HIS FAMILY LIVE OUTSIDE THE NEIGHBORHOOD HE BECAME INVOLVED 20 YEARS AGO AND WAS FASCINATED WITH GION MATSURI.

HE HOPED ONE DAY, HIS CHILDREN WOULD FOLLOW IN HIS FOOTSTEPS.

>> HORI SHINYA HAS BEEN PART OF THE ENSEMBLE FOR 50 YEARS.

THE YOUNG CHILDREN REMIND HIM OF HIMSELF WHEN HE FIRST JOINED.

♪ >> YOUNG PEOPLE CARRY THE FUTURE OF THE FESTIVAL.

♪ >> THE STREETS IN DOWNTOWN KYOTO WHERE THE HOKA HOKO RESIDES ARE LINED WITH COMPANIES AND SHOPS.

HOWEVER, THE REALITY IS THAT THE NUMBER OF OLD FAMILIES LIVING HERE IS IN DECLINE.

>> THEREFORE, FESTIVAL PREPARATIONS ARE MADE WITH THE HELP OF OUTSIDE VOLUNTEERS.

>> THE COMMUNITY IS NOT THE ONLY ONE TO SUFFER FROM A LACK OF HANDS.

>> [ APPLAUSE ] >> JUNE 23rd, MORE THAN 600 PEOPLE HAVE GATHERED IN A DOWNTOWN GYMNASIUM.

THEY ARE THIS YEAR'S VOLUNTEERS WHO WILL ASSIST WITH EVERYTHING, PULLING THE FLOATS, HANDLING THE REFRESHMENTS, AND OTHER NECESSARY TASKS.

TODAY, THEY ARE ATTENDING A BRIEFING SESSION.

>> [ APPLAUSE ] >> IN THE PAST, EACH FLOAT NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD SIGN LABOR CONTRACTS WITH VILLAGES AND YOUTH ASSOCIATIONS AND OTHER PARTS OF THE PREFECTURE TO SECURE A FLOAT [ INAUDIBLE ].

HOWEVER, IN THE 1980s, RURAL AREAS SUFFERED FROM LABOR SHORTAGES, AND THE GION MATSURI PROCESSIONS WERE AFFECTED.

ANXIOUS ABOUT THE PROCESSION'S SURVIVAL, AN ORGANIZATION CALLED KYOTO GION MATSURI VOLUNTEER 21 WAS FORMED.

EVERY YEAR, IT RECRUITS AND ASSIGNS PEOPLE TO NEIGHBORHOODS.

THE PULLERS COME FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE.

CANADIAN SHAHID HAS BEEN VOLUNTEERING FOR OVER TWO DECADES, PULLING ONE OF THE FLOATS.

THIS TIME, HE AND 17 OTHER FOREIGN RESIDENTS WILL PULL THE HOKA HOKO .

THE FLOAT WILL BE PULLED BY A TOTAL OF 50 PEOPLE, ALL OF THEM VOLUNTEERS.

THIS YEAR, HE LEADS A MIXED TEAM OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, BANK EMPLOYEES, AND FOREIGN RESIDENTS.

>> [ APPLAUSE ] >> EVERYONE LOOKS HAPPY, THEY LOOK FRIENDLY, THEY DON'T LOOK SCARED, WHICH IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART.

I AM NOT WORRIED AT ALL, I THINK IT IS GOING TO BE A REALLY GOOD TEAM.

♪ >> HE RUNS RESTAURANTS IN THE CENTER OF THE CITY.

AFTER THE BRIEFING, HE INVITES THE FOREIGN VOLUNTEERS FOR A PARTY.

>> IT IS MIGHT BE A BETTER WAY FOR EVERYONE TO GET TO KNOW, YOU KNOW, JUST SEE EACH OTHER'S FACES AND GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER, AND THEN ON THE DAY OF, IT IS MORE SPECIAL, LIKE YOU ARE PULLING WITH FRIENDS.

WHEN YOU HAVE [ INAUDIBLE ] WITH SOMEONE, IT IS FAMILY.

>> BENJAMIN OKUDA WAS BORN AND RAISED IN KYOTO AND NOW LIVES IN TOKYO.

WHEN HE WAS A KID, HE WATCHED HIS FATHER PULL THE FESTIVAL FLOATS AS A VOLUNTEER.

>> HIS FATHER JOINED MY TEAM AND HE BROUGHT HIS SON.

NOW, BENJAMIN, SORRY, STAND UP.

WOW, YOU'VE GOTTEN BIG.

WHEN HE CAME, HE WAS THIS HIGH.

THEY WERE PLAYING THE FLUTES AND EVERYTHING, AND HE WAS EXCITED, AND HIS FATHER JOINED THAT YEAR, AND I THINK HE WANTED TO, BUT HE COULDN'T BECAUSE HE WAS 10 YEARS OLD.

BUT HE JOINED WITH ME THREE YEARS AGO.

WELL, TWO YEARS AGO, THIS IS HIS THIRD YEAR.

>> I WAS VERY HAPPY TO ACTUALLY JOIN.

SO, SINCE THEN, [ INAUDIBLE ].

>> HOPEFULLY I CAN RETIRE AND HE WILL TAKE OVER MY SPOT IN THE FUTURE.

>> YEAH, I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN TAKE OVER.

>> SHAHEED WAS FASCINATED WITH JAPANESE CULTURE AND ARRIVED IN KYOTO AT AGE 26.

HE PARTICIPATED IN THE GION MATSURI FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2001, AND TO DATE HAS PULLED OVER 15 DIFFERENT FLOATS.

>> SO, CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE FIRST TIME, WHY YOU GOT INVOLVED IN GION MATSURI?

>> I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN THE FESTIVAL.

KYOTO PREFECTURE WAS OFFERING A LITTLE PROGRAM FOR FOREIGNERS TO KIND OF SHARE CULTURAL EXPERIENCES IN JAPAN.

TO BE HONEST, AFTER THE FIRST TIME, I REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT.

I REMEMBER FINISHING THE FESTIVAL, I WAS EXHAUSTED.

MY FEET HURT.

I THINK THERE WAS SOME BLOOD.

AND I JUST SAID, THIS IS THE MOST PAINFUL THING IN THE WORLD.

I DON'T LIKE PEOPLE DOING THIS EVERY YEAR.

>> WHAT CHANGED YOUR MIND?

>> JUST AS THE FOLLOWING YEAR GOT CLOSER, THE FESTIVAL STARTS AROUND JULY 1st, AND JUST HEARING THE SOUNDS IN THE STREETS AND EVERYTHING, IT JUST CAME BACK AND I WAS LIKE, I WANT TO DO THIS AGAIN.

>> SO, WHAT IS GION MATSURI FOR YOU?

X ACTUALLY, THAT'S A FUNNY QUESTION, BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN DOING IT FOR SO MANY YEARS, AND I USED TO CALL MY MOM AND SIGMA MOM, I'M DOING THIS FESTIVAL.

SHE WAS LIKE, ARE YOU PARTYING ALL THE TIME?

I WAS LIKE, NO, MOM, IT'S REALLY SPIRITUAL, IT'S REALLY BEAUTIFUL.

THE FESTIVAL IS OVER 1100 YEARS OLD.

WHEN THE FESTIVAL WAS CELEBRATING ITS 1000th ANNIVERSARY, CANADA AS A COUNTRY WAS BEING FORMED AROUND THAT TIME.

AND THE FACT THAT WE CAN BE PART OF IT, IT IS JUST SUPER SPECIAL.

>> THAT'S VERY INTERESTING.

>> YEAH.

♪ >> SHAHEED HAS ONE MEMORY THAT STANDS OUT.

IT WAS HIS FOURTH YEAR VOLUNTEERING.

>> I MET THE FLOAT PEOPLE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD PEOPLE, LIKE THE BOSSES, AND THEY LOOKED AT ME AND THEY WERE LIKE, WHO IS HE?

YOU KNOW?

AND THEY SAID NO, WE DON'T WANT THIS GUY TO DO IT, HE IS A FOREIGNER, HE IS NOT JAPANESE.

IT WAS VERY SADDENING, DISHEARTENING.

AND IT JUST LEFT A BAD FEELING, YOU KNOW, INSIDE.

BUT THE VOLUNTEER 21 COMMITTEE THAT SUPPORTS US, WHICH SUPPORTS ALL THE VOLUNTEERS, THEY JUST SAID NO, HE IS THE LEADER, HE IS TAKING CARE OF IT.

THIS IS HIS THIRD OR FOURTH YEAR AND WE BELIEVE IN HIM.

AND THEY SUPPORTED ME.

AND AT THE END OF THE FESTIVAL, I REMEMBER THE TOP GUIDES, THE ONES THAT DIDN'T EVEN LOOK AT ME IN THE EYE, CAME UP TO ME AT THE END OF IT, SHOOK MY HAND AND SAID, ANYTIME, OUR FLOAT IS YOUR FLOAT.

SO THAT WAS REALLY NICE.

>> JULY 12, FIVE DAYS BEFORE THE FIRST PROCESSION.

UNDAUNTED BY THE RAIN, PEOPLE ARE ERECTING THE HOKA HOKO, A TASK THAT TAKES THREE DAYS.

FLOAT POLAR TAMAGUCHI OVERSEAS ASSEMBLING THE BACKBONE OF THE FLOAT.

HE RUNS A LANDSCAPING BUSINESS WITH HIS FATHER, SO ON THIS DAY, HE IS ASSISTED BY HIS FATHER, EMPLOYEES, AND OTHER GARDENING COLLEAGUES.

THE WEIGHT OF THE 10 TON FLOAT WHEN FULLY DECORATED AND PEOPLE JUMP ABOARD IS AROUND 12 TONS.

NOT A SINGLE NAIL IS USED.

THE WOODEN PARTS ARE HELD IN PLACE WITH ONLY ROPE, USING TRADITIONAL TECHNIQUES.

>> THE ROPES AROUND THE BODY ARE IN SHAPES OF BUTTERFLIES, AN AUSPICIOUS DESIGN.

THE FUNCTION OF THE MAST IS TO DRAW AND TRAP THE EVIL SPIRITS.

THE TOP SECTION OF THE 25 METER LONG MAST IS MADE OF BAMBOO AND WAS LAST REPLACED 15 YEARS AGO.

>> THE EMBELLISHMENT THAT CROWNS THE MAST DIFFERS BY FLOAT.

>> IT TAKES THE ENTIRE TEAM TO [ INAUDIBLE ].

>> TANIGUCHI LEADS EVERYONE AS THEY LIFT THE FLOAT UP RIGHT.

>> ASSEMBLING THE FLOAT BRINGS EVERYONE TOGETHER AND SHARPENS THEIR FOCUS FOR THE DAYS AHEAD.

>> [ APPLAUSE ] >> JULY 16th, THE DAY BEFORE THE FLOAT PROCESSION.

STREET STALLS ARE SET UP IN THE FLOAT NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THE DOWNTOWN AREA IS ENVELOPED IN A FESTIVE MOOD.

>> THIS IS THE FLOAT, LOOK AT THAT, AMAZING.

WELL, IT'S ONE OF THE LARGER FLOATS, ISN'T IT?

AND OF COURSE, CAN'T SEE THE TOP OF IT, BUT JUST LOVELY.

>> WOMEN AND CHILDREN STAND AT STALLS IN FRONT OF THE FLOAT SELLING COMMEMORATIVE ITEMS SUCH AS TOWELS AND TALISMANS.

MANY PEOPLE ARE EAGER TO BUY CHIMAKI, WHICH ARE BELIEVED TO PROTECT THEM FROM MISHAPS.

THE CHIMAKI TALISMAN IS A COMMON RECIPIENT, A YEAR FREE FROM ILLNESS AND DISASTER.

THE CHIMAKI'S DECORATIONS VARY FROM NEIGHBORHOOD TO NEIGHBORHOOD BUT IN KYOTO, MANY PEOPLE HANG THE TALISMANS OUTSIDE OF THEIR FRONT DOORS.

EVERYONE GATHERS AT THE HOKA HOKO COMMUNITY HALL IN MAY AND JUNE TO PREPARE THE CHIMAKI.

MOST OF THE PARTICIPANTS ARE WOMEN.

THEY ADORN THE CHIMAKI, WHICH IS MADE OF RICE STRAW WRAPPED IN BAMBOO AND [ INAUDIBLE ] .

ANTICIPATION BUILDS FOR THIS YEAR'S PROCESSION.

>> [ MUSIC ] >> WHAT'S THE MOST DIFFICULT PART OF MAKING THE CHIMAKI?

>> WHAT ARE THE JOYS OF SUPPORTING THE FESTIVAL FOR YOU?

>> ON THE EVE OF THE PROCESSION, EACH NEIGHBORHOOD DISPLAYS THEIR TREASURES.

>> OH, WOW, AMAZING.

WOW.

>> THEY ALSO DISPLAY THE DOLL THAT LEADS THE FLOAT DURING THE PARADE.

>> CHILDREN RODE THE FLOATS AS MESSENGERS OF THE DEITIES FROM THE ANCIENT BELIEF THAT DIVINE SPIRITS DESCEND UPON CHILDREN.

THE HOKA HOKO CHILD IS A PUPPET MANIPULATED TO DANCE.

THE FLOAT DECORATIONS INCLUDE MANY CENTURIES-OLD ITEMS OF FOREIGN ORIGIN.

>> GION MATSURI IS A KYOTO FESTIVAL.

WHY IS IT THAT THERE ARE SO MANY FOREIGN OBJECTS OF BEAUTY IN THE FESTIVAL?

>> PIKES WERE ONCE USED TO WARD OFF DISEASE.

IN THE 14th CENTURY, MERCHANTS HAD AMASSED MUCH WEALTH, AND IN TIME, THESE BECAME THE MOVING MUSEUMS WE KNOW TODAY.

>> AT NIGHT, THE ENSEMBLE SITS IN THE FLOAT AND PLAYS THE FESTIVAL MUSIC, WHICH WALKS THROUGH THE STREETS, ATTRACTING VISITORS.

>> AMONG THEM ARE THE VOLUNTEER OKUDA AND HIS FATHER, WHO ONCE WAS A VOLUNTEER HIMSELF.

>> I GUESS HE SAW ME DOING THIS YEAR BY YEAR, AND THEN OF COURSE, I AM GETTING OLDER AND I AM HAPPY FOR HIM TO TAKE OVER THE HEAVY BURDEN OF PULLING THE [ INAUDIBLE ] FOR THE GION MATSURI, SO IT IS NICE THAT I CAN PASS THIS OVER TO HIM.

>> I CAME BACK FROM TOKYO THIS MORNING JUST TO PULL THIS, TO TAKE PART IN THIS FESTIVAL, SO OBVIOUSLY, I'M VERY EXCITED.

SO, I JUST HOPE [ INAUDIBLE ].

>> THE ANTICIPATION FOR TOMORROW BUILDS.

>> THE BIG DAY OF THE PROCESSION.

THE HOKA HOKO NEIGHBORHOOD BUZZES WITH PREPARATIONS.

FLOATS ARE DECORATED ON THE DAY.

THE HOKA HOKO USES REPLICAS TO PRESERVE THE PRECIOUS ORIGINALS.

>> OKAY, SO, EVERYONE, THESE ARE THE -- [ INAUDIBLE ].

>> THE 15 VOLUNTEERS GATHER AT 7:00 A.M. .

TANIGUCHI, THE LEAD CALLER, CONDUCTS A MEETING TO DISCUSS HOW TO PULL THE FLOAT.

THERE IS NO REHEARSAL.

>> IT FEELS VERY WELCOMING AS A FOREIGNER IN JAPAN, THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE TO INTEGRATE TO [ INAUDIBLE ] .

>> 23 FLOATS PARTICIPATE IN THE EARLY FESTIVAL, WHICH IS ALWAYS LED BY THE NAGINATAN HGO.

THIS IS ONLY FLOAT TO TAKE THE ROLE OF THE SACRED CHILD.

HE PERFORMS THE KEY RITUAL OF CUTTING THE SACRED ROPE, WHICH HANGS ACROSS [ INAUDIBLE ], BETWEEN THE SECULAR WORLD.

>> [ APPLAUSE ] >> ONCE THE ROPE IS CUT, THE FLOATS MAY ENTER THE REALM OF THE DEITIES.

THE PROCESSION IN THE EARLY FESTIVAL PROCEEDS EAST, NORTH, AND WEST.

BEFORE THE FLOATS RETURN TO THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS.

THE FLOATS HAVE VARIED ORIGINS.

THE TORO YAMA HAS A MANTIS, THAT PLACE IS A MANTIS FOR BEING BRAVE AND BOLD IN THE FACE OF ENEMIES, DESPITE HAVING LITTLE STRENGTH.

THE FUNE HOKO IS SHAPED LIKE A SHIP BASED ON THE LEGEND THAT AN EMPRESS SAILED OUT TOWARD IN HER DECEASED HUSBAND'S STEAD.

LAST-MINUTE PREPARATIONS ARE UNDERWAY OF THE HOKA HOKO.

THE ENSEMBLE BOARDS THE FLOAT.

TANIGUCHI'S TWINS ARE READY FOR THEIR FESTIVAL DEBUT.

THE HOKA HOKO IS THE 21st TO DEPART IN THE PROCESSION OF 23 FLOATS.

THE FLOATS FIRST HEAD IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION TO START FROM THE EDGE OF THE DISTRICT, TO ENSURE THE AREA IS THOROUGHLY PURIFIED.

THE DOLL REPRESENTING THE SACRED CHILD IS REVEALED.

♪ >> THE CALLERS CRY OUT AND THE HOKA HOKO DEPARTS .

>> THIS IS TRULY AN IMPRESSIVE SITE.

COMING DOWN A RATHER NARROW STREET, THIS IS THE HOKA HOKO RIGHT HERE.

AS YOU CAN SEE, ON THE TOP PART, THERE IS ACTUALLY A DOG THAT MOVES.

IT IS MOVED BY THREE PEOPLE, AND BEHIND THEM, THERE ARE 25 MUSICIANS SITTING UP THERE.

THIS IS GION MATSURI.

♪ >> THE FLOAT EMERGES ONTO THE MAIN AVENUE.

>> I MANAGED TO WORK MYSELF TO THE FRONT OF THE CROWD.

AS YOU CAN SEE, MANY, MANY PEOPLE AROUND.

THEY ARE ABOUT TO TURN THE FLOAT.

HERE, THEY LAY BAMBOO SLATS ONTO THE ROAD AND DOUSE THEM WITH WATER TO MAKE THEM SLIPPERY ENOUGH TO TURN THE NEARLY 12 TONS FLOAT.

IT IS ROTATED THREE TIMES TO FACE 90 DEGREES TO THE EAST.

THE CALLERS ARE PIVOTAL IN KEEPING EVERYONE IN SYNC.

>> THE PULLERS TAKE THEIR CUE AND TURN THE FLOAT.

>> RUPANI NEEDS TO BE IN TUNE WITH THE CALLERS AS HE DIRECTS THE PULLERS.

>> THE TURN IS COMPLETE.

>> [ APPLAUSE ] >> IT WAS GOOD, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO PUT A LITTLE MORE POWER.

BUT IT IS COMING TOGETHER, EVERYONE IS WORKING HARD.

>> WALKING BESIDE THE WHEELS ARE THE STEELERS.

THE FLOAT DOES NOT HAVE A STEERING DEVICE, SO THEY INSERT LOVERS UNDER THE WHEELS TO ADJUST ITS PATH.

♪ >> EVERYONE HAS THEIR ROLE TO PLAY AS THE FLOATS PURIFY THE CITY.

ON THIS DAY, THE FLOAT AHEAD OF THE HOKA HOKO ENCOUNTERS TROUBLE.

PART OF THE WHEEL HAS SPLIT, LEAVING THE FLOAT STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF SHIJO DORI.

THE FLOATS BEHIND IT MUST SQUEEZED PAST.

>> IT AND GET EATEN.

>> THERE IS BARELY ENOUGH ROOM FOR THE HOKA HOKO TO PROCEED.

TENSION IS HIGH.

♪ >> THE ROOTS OF THE FLOATS WERE ABOUT TO COLLIDE, SO THE HOKA HOKO HAD TO BREAK SUDDENLY.

THEY BACKUP AND TRY AGAIN.

AND THE HOKA HOKO IS THROUGH .

♪ >> NOW FOR THE SECOND TURN AT THE CORNER OF SHIJO DORI AND [ INAUDIBLE ].

THE TEMPERATURES ON THIS DAY HIT A HIGH OF 35 DEGREES CELSIUS, PULLING THE FLOATS IN THE HEAT OF SUMMER IS GRUELING.

BUT DESPITE BEING SOAKED WITH SWEAT, EVERYONE WORKS AS A TEAM.

♪ >> LINING THE STREETS IS AN ESTIMATED 140,000 SPECTATORS, WHO [ INAUDIBLE ] THE FLOAT PULLERS AS THEY PASS BY.

♪ >> EVERYTHING IS GREAT.

ONE MORE TURN AND WE ARE BACK HOME.

>> AND NOW FOR THE FOURTH AND FINAL TURN.

♪ >> JUST AFTER 2:00 P.M., 4 1/2 HOURS AFTER THE HOKA HOKO DEPARTED, IT IS ALMOST HOME.

AFTER SEVERAL HOURS, THE FLOAT IS FINALLY COMING BACK TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH MEANS THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS BEEN PURIFIED, THE CITY HAS BEEN PURIFIED, AND THE GODS I'VE BEEN SATISFIED ONCE AGAIN.

>> [ APPLAUSE ] >> AND EVERYONE IS EXCITED TO HAVE THEM BACK.

>> [ APPLAUSE ] ♪ >> THE SACRED CHILD DOLL PERFORMS A FINAL DANCE.

♪ >> [ APPLAUSE ] >> THE PROCESSION FOR THE EARLY FESTIVAL IS DONE FOR ANOTHER YEAR.

>> [ APPLAUSE ] >> TANIGUCHI'S SONS ARE HAPPY THAT THEY MADE IT THROUGH THE DAY WITHOUT A PROBLEM.

>> ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY ABOUT YOUR PARTICIPATION?

>> AS A FOREIGNER, TAKING PART IN THE FESTIVAL IS A VERY DIFFICULT THING, SO SHAHEED ASKED ME TO TAKE PART IN HIS FESTIVAL.

I'M REALLY HONORED AND THANKFUL FOR HIM TO ALWAYS DO THIS.

AND SO, I AM THE ONE WHO HAS TO TAKE OVER THIS GENERATION.

I AM THE ONE WHO HAS TO TAKE OVER, SO HOPEFULLY I COME BACK TO KYOTO EVERY YEAR.

♪ >> RUPANI HAS COMPLETED HIS [ INAUDIBLE ] GION MATSURI AS A FLOAT PULLER.

ONE THING DRIVES HIM TO KEEP IT UP.

>> TO BE HONEST, LIVING IN JAPAN HASN'T BEEN COMPLETELY EASY AS A FOREIGNER, BUT I REALIZED ONE THING, DURING THE FESTIVAL, IT IS LIKE THE WHOLE CITY BECOMES ONE.

YOU ARE NOT A FOREIGNER, YOU ARE NOT JAPANESE, YOU ARE PART OF THE GION FESTIVAL.

PEOPLE DON'T LOOK AT ME AS AN CANADIAN OR AN INDIAN OR AN AFRICAN, THEY JUST CONSIDER ME AS ONE OF THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE GION FESTIVAL, AND I JUST THINK THAT IS REALLY SPECIAL.

♪ >> IN THE EVENING AFTER THE PROCESSION, THE DEITIES ARE TAKEN TO THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY.

>> AS THEY RIDE IN DIVINE [ INAUDIBLE ], THE DEITIES USE THEIR POWERS TO PROTECT THE CITY FROM EPIDEMICS.

>> BEGINNING AS A SERIES OF RITUALS TO STAVE OFF PLAGUE IN THE NINTH CENTURY, GION MATSURI EVOLVED AS MORE AND MORE ELEMENTS WERE ADDED TO THE WAY WE KNOW IT TODAY PROBABLY CAME ABOUT IN THE 14th CENTURY WHEN WEALTHY MERCHANTS DETECT THE FLOATS WITH RARE AND PRECIOUS ARTIFACTS, MAKING THEM THE PRIDE OF THE TOWN.

IN MODERN TIMES, THE FESTIVAL FURTHER EVOLVED, TO INCLUDE JAPANESE AND FOREIGN VOLUNTEERS.

DEMONSTRATING THAT WAS STEEPED IN TRADITION, THERE IS INNOVATION, WHICH IS PROBABLY WHY THE GION MATSURI HAS ENDURED MORE THAN 1000 YEARS.

♪