Another festival season and summer is coming to an end. The dragonflies are out and the days are getting shorter, which means fall will soon be upon us.
But before the fireworks fizzle away and the festival food stalls have packed up for good this year, one area in Japan decided to go out with a bang and surprise festival-goers with superb portable shrine, or mikoshi, recreations of some of Japan’s most popular characters, including one famous red mobile suit from the anime classic Gundam.
Earlier this month Shiobara Onsen, a local hot springs resort located in Tochigi Prefecture, held its annual September festival honoring the ascension of Emperor Taisho to the throne in 1912.
As part of the festival’s tradition, each of the six districts in the area offer up their own decorated portable shrine to be carried through the streets.
One of the floats that especially stood out this year was this red Zaku, originally piloted by Char Aznable in the Mobile Suit Gundam anime series.
▼ Even its eyes light up! Check out that antenna detailing, too.
▼ The paint job on this thing was also top-notch!
After photos of the festival started circulating online, it wasn’t long before Zaku became the fan favorite among Japanese netizens.
“What?! Is this a red Zaku portable shrine?!”
“It looks like a giant Zaku made an appearance at the Tochigi Prefecture Shiobara Onsen Festival on the front of a float. If you compare it to the people caring the float, you can see just how big it was.”“Three times faster than a regular portable shrine!!”
“I looked for someone resembling Char in the group of people carrying it, but unfortunately I couldn’t find one and it was just regular speed lol”
“My brother showed me pictures! Our local hometown’s floats were amazing! Zaku!! Just wow!!!”
Gundam fans weren’t the only ones with something to get excited about. The festival also included floats featuring Hello Kitty and Bob the Minion.
I think it’s safe to say these original portable shrines at the Shiobara Onsen Festival definitely put my little rural town to shame. I can online imagine how cool they were to see in real life!
Hopefully next year the area will bring even more of our favorite characters to life.
The amazing independent artist anime figure creations of Wonder Festival【Photos】
Giant-sized Dragon Ball sculpture created for Sapporo Snow Festival 【Photos】
Gundam can now be part of your signature in Japan with Mobile Suit Gundam personal seals【Photos】
Fights break out at Japanese fight festival
Students at Tokyo University of the Arts create amazing festival shrines of giant monsters 【Pics】
Japan reaches its lowest-ever ranking on Education First’s 2024 English Proficiency Index
One of Japan’s most beautiful hot spring towns announces new limits on number of day trippers
Japan’s new frozen sushi DIY kit – Great foodie fun, or cold-hearted abomination?【Taste test】
Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke teams up with Foxfire for outdoor apparel collaboration【Photos】
Don’t miss the swords-on-fire performances and more at Asakusa Samuraive Show this week
Beautiful Japanese garden green tea crepes waiting in Tokyo’s historical Asakusa neighborhood
Mario Kart Happy Meal toys arrive at McDonald’s Japan, and SoraNews24 has the whole set!【Photos】
79-year-old Japanese granny who fell in love with Initial D sports car finds perfect new owner【Vid】
Best all-you-can-eat okonomiyaki in Japan? Restaurant chain serves up a feast for under $14
After cancelling Halloween, Tokyo’s Shibuya neighborhood cancels New Year’s Eve too
Japanese job-quitting service contacted by other job-quitting service because employee wants to quit
Sanrio and magical girl anime PreCure join forces for new merch line【Photos】
Tokyo park’s sea of clouds, nighttime illumination, and cosplay days make now perfect time to visit
Samurai ritual suicide contest cancelled by organizer in west Japan
American jackass tourist arrested after carving name into gate at Tokyo’s Meiji Shrine【Video】
Nintendo’s controller capsule toys are so cool, even the machine you buy them from is awesome【Pics】
Tokyo Disneyland loses top-attendance crown for Japanese theme parks for second year in a row
Ghibli Park debuts first winter illumination display with Howl’s Moving Castle theme
Pringles releases a limited-edition sweet flavour in Japan
What’s the deal with akebi, the perfectly purple, alien-like fruit that’s in season now in Japan?
McDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
Foreign tourists on Shinkansen bullet train break suitcase etiquette, angering local passengers
[Deleted] Article written for April Fool’s Day 2018
Japanese government to make first change to romanization spelling rules since the 1950s
Foreigner’s request for help in Tokyo makes us sad for the state of society
Ghibli founders Toshio Suzuki and Hayao Miyazaki contribute to Japanese whisky Totoro label design
Japanese convenience store Family Mart announces abolishment of eat-in spaces
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in Japan
Life-size vibrating Legend of Zelda Master Sword for sale from Nintendo【Photos】
Studio Ghibli releases free-download board game — Here’s how to play it without reading Japanese
Attack on Titan’s gigantic monsters set to terrorize this year’s Sapporo Snow Festival 【Photos】
Crustacean Suit Gundam: man builds MSN-04 Sazabi out of a lobster’s shell
Mobile pouch curry: Gundam Cafe curries now sold online
Gundam face masks will help you stay safe when you have to be mobile during the pandemic【Photos】
The most crowded place in Tokyo? Might be the Kanda Matsuri festival, but it’s still awesome
Aomori’s fabled Nebuta Festival 2015 to feature Star Wars floats
McDonald’s Japan gives us a taste of the anime world with new series of Gundam burgers
Drink your tea in style with the new Zaku mobile suit-shaped heavy iron teapot
McDo…raemon! McDonald’s Japan offering Doraemon Shake and pie for festival season
Ippudo serves up plant-based tonkotsu ramen in Japan for a limited time
Child’s Mobile Cute Gundam entertains parent and moves Japan
Brand-new Gundam Cafe, biggest branch yet, to open in Osaka this month
Terrific Tochigi! Japanese prefecture proves its beauty with scenery showcase【Video】
Leave a Reply