On Friday, July 11, students participated in a special WOW Program centered around the Gion Festival, one of Kyoto’s most iconic summer traditions.

The Gion Festival, held annually throughout the month of July, is the grand festival of Yasaka Shrine and is counted among Japan’s three major festivals. With over a thousand years of history, the event includes spectacular processions of elaborately decorated floats known as yamaboko and attracts countless visitors from around the world.

This year’s program took place just before the Yoiyama of the festival’s first half (Saki Matsuri). Students visited the Hōkago Hōgō Preservation Society, where they had the opportunity to experience traditional chimaki (protective talisman) making firsthand. While the process was more intricate and demanding than expected, students tackled the challenge with enthusiasm, gaining insight into the delicate craftsmanship behind each creation.

In addition to the hands-on activity, students also received an in-depth explanation of the history and structure of the Hōkago float, and they were able to observe the float’s construction site up close. Witnessing the preparations in full swing just before the festival, students could feel the passion and dedication of the community. It was a powerful reminder of the importance of preserving cultural heritage and passing on traditional skills rooted in the local region.

This WOW Program offered a deeply meaningful cultural experience, allowing students to engage directly with one of Japan’s most celebrated living traditions.