Pictures from an annual festival each May in Odawara featuring a parade, lots of food and thousands of local residents wearing colorful costumes of the Tokugawa Era. The parade depicts the historical, yearly march of the daimyo to Tokyo to pay tribute and show loyalty to the Tokugawa ruler. Japanese festivals are wonderful places to mingle, eat, take pictures and experience another side of life in Japan. Most festivals are religious (mainly shinto) events, but some (like this one) focus on historical events.

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Copyright Andrew Gray 2004