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The festival was firstly held in 1895 to raise Kyoto's morale. The loss of the capital and Imperial Court to Tokyo in 1868 has dramatically affected pride and economy of the city.
Today it is one of Kyoto's renowned Three Great Festivals - with the Aoi Matsuri, held annually in May, and the Gion Matsuri, which is held annually in July. Magnificent costumes and theatrical essential elements are the results of laborious work which have been thought over to a dot. More than 2000 people take part in this historical route and each of them has his/her own role.
Two Imperial deities - spirits of the first and the last emperors of Kyoto - being carried to the old Imperial Palace in mikoshi (portable shrines), head the procession. At midday it approaches the palace and starts majestic campaign back to the Heian Shrines.
The procession reflects Kyoto's history upside-down, beginning with soldiers of 19th century and ending with heroes of Heian period (794-1192). It's better to watch the procession standing at the side of Imperial Palace and Heian Shrines side.
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