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】
McDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
All-you-can-drink Starbucks and amazing views part of Tokyo’s new 170 meter-high sky lounge
More foreign tourists than ever before in history visited Japan last month
Beautiful Sailor Moon manhole cover coasters being given out for free by Tokyo tourist center
Studio Ghibli glasses cases let anime characters keep an eye on your spectacles
Hamster abandoned at Tokyo ramen restaurant gets new home
Mister Donut ready to make hojicha dreams come true in latest collab with Kyoto tea merchant
The oldest tunnel in Japan is believed to be haunted, and strange things happen when we go there
Randomly running into a great sushi lunch like this is one of the best things about eating in Tokyo
Is the new Shinkansen Train Desk ticket worth it?
Disney princesses get official manga makeovers for Manga Princess Cafe opening in Tokyo
Starbucks reopens at Shibuya Scramble Crossing with new look and design concept
Beautiful new Final Fantasy T-shirt collection on the way from Uniqlo【Photos】
Foreign English teachers in Japan pick their favorite Japanese-language phrases【Survey】
Japanese convenience store packs a whole bento into an onigiri rice ball
We try out “Chan Ramen”, an underground type of ramen popular in the ramen community
Studio Ghibli releases Kiki’s Delivery Service chocolate cake pouches in Japan
Japan’s bone-breaking and record-breaking roller coaster is permanently shutting down
New definition of “Japanese whiskey” goes into effect to prevent fakes from fooling overseas buyers
Our Japanese reporter visits Costco in the U.S., finds super American and very Japanese things
Studio Ghibli unveils Mother’s Day gift set that captures the love in My Neighbour Totoro
Foreign passenger shoves conductor on one of the last full runs for Japan’s Thunderbird train
Domino’s Japan now sells…pizza ears?
New Japanese KitKat flavour stars Sanrio characters, including Hello Kitty
Kyoto creates new for-tourist buses to address overtourism with higher prices, faster rides
Sales of Japan’s most convenient train ticket/shopping payment cards suspended indefinitely
Sold-out Studio Ghibli desktop humidifiers are back so Totoro can help you through the dry season
Japanese government to make first change to romanization spelling rules since the 1950s
Ghibli founders Toshio Suzuki and Hayao Miyazaki contribute to Japanese whisky Totoro label design
Doraemon found buried at sea as scene from 1993 anime becomes real life【Photos】
Tokyo’s most famous Starbucks is closed
One Piece characters’ nationalities revealed, but fans have mixed opinions
We asked a Uniqlo employee what four things we should buy and their suggestions didn’t disappoint
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in Japan
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】
Latest design for gorgeous stylized Japanese Coca-Cola cans spotlights Tohoku festivals
Leave a Reply