日本のお祭りは外国人観光客にも大人気！特に観光客の多い日本三大祭りについて外国人に聞かれた時のために、英語での説明の仕方を覚えておきましょう！
祇園祭を英語で説明してみよう
祇園祭ってどんなお祭り？
祇園祭ってどんなお祭りなの
What is Gion Matsuri like?
祇園祭は京都市内で行われるお祭りで7月1日から31日まで一カ月間続く大規模なお祭りなんだ
Gion Matsuri is a one of the biggest festival which takes place over the entire month of July in Kyoto.
にぎやかでエネルギッシュなお祭りというより、幻想的でどこか和ませてくれるお祭りって感じかな
Rather than being a festival of energy and liveliness it’s more like a mystical and serene.
へえ、一か月は長いね！一か月間同じことをするの？
Wow, one month is pretty long! Do they repeat the same thing everyday for the entire period?
Wow, one month is pretty long! Do they repeat the same thing everyday for the entire period?
ううん、神社への参拝や、山鉾の組み立て、伝統芸能の奉納、山鉾の巡行など、様々なことが行われるよ。
No, various different of events are held. For example, prayers to the shrine, assembling Yamahoko, dedicatory of traditional arts, processions of Yamahoko and more.
No, various different of events are held. For example, prayers to the shrine, assembling Yamahoko, dedicatory of traditional arts, processions of Yamahoko and more.
祇園祭のみどころは？
なるほど、でもいろいろなことをするんじゃどれを見に行くか迷うなあ
That’s great. But it’s hard to decide which event to see if there are so many things happening.
That’s great. But it’s hard to decide which event to see if there are so many things happening.
有名で観客が多いのは宵山と山鉾巡行だね
Yoiyama and processions of Yamahoko are the most famous and have visitors most.
Yoiyama and processions of Yamahoko are the most famous and have visitors most.
祇園祭の山鉾とは？
さっきも出てきたけど山鉾って何？
You’ve mentioned that Yamahoko few times, what is it?
You’ve mentioned that Yamahoko few times, what is it?
山鉾は京都の各町が出し合う山車のことで、美術工芸品で装飾されていて、動く美術館とも呼ばれたりするんだ。これが山鉾だよ。
Yamahoko is decorated floats which every town in Kyoto builds their own. They are decked with local arts and crafts that’s why some call them walking museums. Here are some pics of Yamahoko.
Yamahoko is decorated floats which every town in Kyoto builds their own. They are decked with local arts and crafts that’s why some call them walking museums. Here are some pics of Yamahoko.
わあきれい！ながい鉾みたいなのがついているのがあるのはどうして？
They are so beautiful! Why do some of them have those pike-like pole?
They are so beautiful! Why do some of them have those pike-like pole?
昔、鉾が邪気を吸い取ると考えられていたんだ。鉾をもって街中を練り歩いていたのが、祇園祭の始まりだよ。
In ancient times, people thought a pike had the power to absorb evil and they paraded along the streets with it. This was the beginning of Gion Matsuri.
In ancient times, people thought a pike had the power to absorb evil and they paraded along the streets with it. This was the beginning of Gion Matsuri.
なるほど、面白いね。
Ah wow, that’s interesting.
Ah wow, that’s interesting.
祇園祭は千年以上の歴史があって、山鉾行事はユネスコ無形文化遺産にも登録されているんだよ。
With a history of more than one thousand years, the Gion Matsuri and Yamahoko are recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage.
With a history of more than one thousand years, the Gion Matsuri and Yamahoko are recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage.
祇園祭の宵山って何？
宵山っていうのは？
How about the Yoiyama?
How about the Yoiyama?
宵山は前夜祭って感じかな。駒形提灯が灯されて、祇園囃子が奏でられるんだ。雰囲気抜群だよ。歩行者天国になって屋台もたくさん並ぶんだ。
Yoiyama is sort of the eve of the festival. Shogi, Japanese chess piece-shaped Lamps are lit and Gion music are played. It is quite atmospheric. The area gets turned into a pedestrian crossing aliened with food stands.
Yoiyama is sort of the eve of the festival. Shogi, Japanese chess piece-shaped Lamps are lit and Gion music are played. It is quite atmospheric. The area gets turned into a pedestrian crossing aliened with food stands.
お祭りの屋台大好き！
I love stands at festivals!
I love stands at festivals!
美術品の展示があったり、実際に山鉾に乗ったり出来るから、いろんな楽しみ方ができると思うよ。
You can also see the arts exhibitions and ride Yamahoko. So there are lots of ways to enjoys the festival.
You can also see the arts exhibitions and ride Yamahoko. So there are lots of ways to enjoys the festival.
宵山も山鉾巡行も見に行ってみたい！
I really want to see both Yoiyama and the processions of Yamahoko!
I really want to see both Yoiyama and the processions of Yamahoko!
天神祭りを英語で説明してみよう
天神祭りってどんな祭り？
天神祭りはどんなお祭りなの？
What is Tenjin Matsuri like?
What is Tenjin Matsuri like?
天神祭りは菅原道真公を祀る、大阪天満宮のお祭りで、千年以上の歴史があるよ。
Tenjin Matsuri is a festival held by Osaka Tenmangu shrine, Sugawarano Michizane is enshrined at and has more than 1000 years of history.
Tenjin Matsuri is a festival held by Osaka Tenmangu shrine, Sugawarano Michizane is enshrined at and has more than 1000 years of history.
学問の神様として有名な菅原道真公だね！
Sugawarano Michizane, the famous god of literature!
Sugawarano Michizane, the famous god of literature!
そうそう。天神祭りでは道真公を神輿や船に乗せて、市内を見て回ってもらって、繁栄を祈るんだ。
Yes. In Tenjin Matsuri, they put the spirit of Michizane into Mikoshi(portable shrine) and on a ship then parades it in the city to let the spirit see the city hoping for the prosperity of the area.
Yes. In Tenjin Matsuri, they put the spirit of Michizane into Mikoshi(portable shrine) and on a ship then parades it in the city to let the spirit see the city hoping for the prosperity of the area.
天神祭りの船ってなんの役割があるの？
神輿はよく聞くけど船にも神様を乗せるんだね！
In Japan, we often hear about putting the gods onto Mikoshi, but It’s very unique that they put the god onto a ship.
In Japan, we often hear about putting the gods onto Mikoshi, but It’s very unique that they put the god onto a ship.
そう、船渡御といって100隻もの船が大阪の川を回るんだ。水都大阪ならではと言えるね。
Yes, over 100 ships parade to rivers in Osaka. It’s called Hunetogyo. It’s unique to Osaka, sometimes dubbed as a City of Water.
Yes, over 100 ships parade to rivers in Osaka. It’s called Hunetogyo. It’s unique to Osaka, sometimes dubbed as a City of Water.
祇園祭とはずいぶん違うね！
That is a tremendous difference from Gion Matsuri!
That is a tremendous difference from Gion Matsuri!
天神祭りの見どころは？
そうだね。雅な雰囲気の祇園祭に比べて、天神祭りのほうがエネルギーに満ち溢れてる感じはするね。花火も上がるよ。
Yes, while Gion Matsuri is more graceful, Tenjin Matsuri is more energetic. They even have fireworks!
Yes, while Gion Matsuri is more graceful, Tenjin Matsuri is more energetic. They even have fireworks!
花火も上がるんだ！？
Fireworks!?
Fireworks!?
そう、川岸から5,000発もの花火が上がるよ。花火目当てで来るお客さんも大勢いるんだ。
Yes, about 5000 fireworks are sent up from the riverbank. Many people visits just to see the fireworks.
Yes, about 5000 fireworks are sent up from the riverbank. Many people visits just to see the fireworks.
川面に花火が映ってきれいだろうねー
It must be so beautiful to see the river reflects the fireworks.
It must be so beautiful to see the river reflects the fireworks.
船の上から見る鑑賞プランもあったりするよ！
You can go on a tour ship to see the fireworks from it too.
You can go on a tour ship to see the fireworks from it too.
神輿も特徴的で、若い女性が神輿を担ぐ「ギャル神輿」なんていうのもあるんだ。
Mikoshi in Tenjin Matsuri is also different from the other. They have “gal mikoshi”, which is Mikoshi carried by young women.
男性の力強い神輿もいいけど、女性が担ぐ神輿は華やかさがあってよさそうだね。
It’s exciting to see men powerfully carrying the Mikoshi but women’s Mikoshi must be glamorous and nice to see as well.
It’s exciting to see men powerfully carrying the Mikoshi but women’s Mikoshi must be glamorous and nice to see as well.
屋台がたくさん出ることでも有名だから、食べ物目当てで行ってもいいね！
Tenjin-matsuri is also known for having so many food stands so you can go there just for the food too!
Tenjin-matsuri is also known for having so many food stands so you can go there just for the food too!
神田祭を英語で説明してみよう
神田祭はどんな祭り？
神田祭はどんな祭りなの？
What about Kanda Matsuri then?
What about Kanda Matsuri then?
祇園祭や天神祭と違って、神田祭は春に行われるんだ。奇数年に行われる本祭と、偶数年に行われる陰祭があるよ。
Unlike Gion Matsuri and Tenjin Matsuri, Kanda Matsuri it is held in spring. It has both Honmatsuri, and Kagematsuri. Former is held in odd-numbered years, latter is held in even-numbered years.
Unlike Gion Matsuri and Tenjin Matsuri, Kanda Matsuri it is held in spring. It has both Honmatsuri, and Kagematsuri. Former is held in odd-numbered years, latter is held in even-numbered years.
神田祭の本祭と陰祭って何？
本祭と陰祭は何が違うの？
What are Honmatsuri and Kagematsuri?
What are Honmatsuri and Kagematsuri?
本祭に比べて陰祭は小規模なんだ。一番盛り上がる宮入などは陰祭では行われないよ。
Kagematsuri is smaller than Honmatsuri. The most hyped events in Honamatsuri, like Miyairi, are not held in Kagematsuri.
Kagematsuri is smaller than Honmatsuri. The most hyped events in Honamatsuri, like Miyairi, are not held in Kagematsuri.
宮入ってなに？
What is Miyairi?
What is Miyairi?
神輿に乗っている神様に、神社に戻ってもらう行事だよ。神田祭では威勢のいい男たちが担いだ200以上の神輿が次々に神田明神に運び込まれるんだ。すごく盛り上がるよ。
It’s part of a event when the gods’ on the Mikoshi are sent back into the Shrine. In Kanda Matsuri, more than 200 mikoshi that were carry by gutty men are sent into Kanda Myojin in waves. It gets really lively.
It’s part of a event when the gods’ on the Mikoshi are sent back into the Shrine. In Kanda Matsuri, more than 200 mikoshi that were carry by gutty men are sent into Kanda Myojin in waves. It gets really lively.
200基以上の神輿はすごいね！
Having more than 200 mikoshi is amazing!
Having more than 200 mikoshi is amazing!
それだけの数の神輿が列になって練り歩くから、ビジネス街の神田や、サブカルの街秋葉原の様子ががらりと変わるんだよ。
The sight of Kanda and Akihabara, a business and otaku districts, changes so much during the festival because of the parade of so many mikoshi.
The sight of Kanda and Akihabara, a business and otaku districts, changes so much during the festival because of the parade of so many mikoshi.
神輿のほかにも、平安装束を着た人たちが行列をなして近代的な街を練り歩くから、とても面白い光景なんだ。
Not just mikoshi, but people with clothing from Heian period also parades in the modern city. It’s a wonderful scene.
歴史ある祭りなんだね。
The festival seems to have a long history too.
The festival seems to have a long history too.
神田祭の歴史は？
起源ははっきりしていないんだけど、大きな祭になったのは江戸時代からみたいだよ。徳川家康が天下統一したのち、神田明神に対する感謝の気持ちを表すために盛大に行われるようになったみたいなんだ。だから別名「天下祭」とも呼ばれているんだよ。
The origin is not clear, but it became a big festival in Edo period. After Tokugawa started ruling the whole country, he held the festival on a larger scale to show his appreciation for Kanda Myojin. So it’s also called “Tenka Matsuri(The ruler festival)”
The origin is not clear, but it became a big festival in Edo period. After Tokugawa started ruling the whole country, he held the festival on a larger scale to show his appreciation for Kanda Myojin. So it’s also called “Tenka Matsuri(The ruler festival)”
徳川家と関係の深いお祭りなんだね。
It’s a festival deeply linked with Tokugawa family isn’t it.
It’s a festival deeply linked with Tokugawa family isn’t it.
神田祭ぶらりというアプリで、過去の地図を見ながら神田祭について詳しく知ることもできるよ。
If you use the app called “Kanda Matsuri Burari”, you can know more about the festival comparing maps of old and present.
If you use the app called “Kanda Matsuri Burari”, you can know more about the festival comparing maps of old and present.
