Business Interpreter and Sightseeing Guide in Shimane
Nakajima Overseas
Traditional Events and Festivalscompany
Matsue Samurai Procession or Warrior Parade
On a Saturday of beginning April every year, about two hundreds of Samurai
armor clad perticipants, holding swords, bows, lances, accompanied by kimono
clad ladies walk from Shirakata Tenmangu Shrine to Matsue castle . 
Kagura, Shinto dance & music
Kagura, Shinto dance & music is very popular in this area.Almost every weekend Kagura event is held somewhere.
Among many kinds of Kagura, "Yamata-no-orochi," the story of slaying eight-headed serpent by Susaoh is most famous.
Dogyoretsu, Big Drum Procession Festival
Two or three pieces of around 2meters diameter drums are placed horizontally in each float and about 12 people stirke the drums with fifty centi-meter lenght thick sticks. If you are interested in this festival, please find "Dogyoretsu" or "Matsue Dogyoretsu" in YouTube. You might be able to feel the atmosphare.
Sada Shrine, Shinto dance & music
Sada Shrine holds five Shinto rituals a year in Feb., May., Jul., Sept., and Nov.. In each ritual, special Shinto dance & music dedicated to the god.These dances are designated as Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.
Matsue Sui Touro, Matsue Paper Lantern Festa
In October every weekend beautiful lanterns are displayed along the castle moat and in the castle compound. Those lanterns are made by Matsue citizens and other applicants.
Matsue Suigosai, Water District Festival
On the first Saturday and Sunday of August, Matsue celebrates its Water District Festival and holds firework display with 9,000 shots of skyrockets and set-piece of fireworks. The events draws three hundred ninety thousands of spectators every year.Especially the shots on the water surface of Lake Shinji are the spectacle of this event.
Floating Lantern Ceremony
This is a Buddhist ceremony held on the final of Obon, which is observed for three days to welcome the souls of departed ancestors who return to visit their families. The ceremony takes place to see off the souls going back to heaven.
Morotabune Sacred Shinto Boat Ritual
The ritual means the traditon of giving up Izumo teritory to the descendant of the Sun Goddess. The god of Izumo, Okuninushi had a visit from an envoy sent by the Sun Goddess and he sent the envoy by the boats to Mihonoseki where his son was governing. This ceremony also means giving thanks to the gods of good harvest and good-catch fish. It takes place in December.
