The Gion festival (pair with B60D9)

祇園祭礼図屏風
This pair of screens depicts a scene from the Gion festival, which takes place at the Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto's Gion district. Celebrated every summer since the 800s, this is considered one of the most important festivals in Japan. Floats with tall halberds (naginata hooks) in procession captivate the thousands of spectators. The townspeople are both participants and spectators.
In each screen here can be seen a colorful procession led by a sumptuously decorated float with a halberd and followed by other floats and traditional umbrellas. Interspersed are oxcarts carrying long, flat boards (if necessary, these could be laid on the unpaved streets to allow the floats to make difficult turns). Some of the townpeople are on the floats playing music; some are pulling the floats with all their might. The rest are spectators enjoying themselves inside buildings or on the street.