One of the floats being loaded up. The pole on top is about 45 feet tall.
Aaron, right after we parked our bikes. We were 20 minutes late because people kept telling us we couldn't put our bikes in various places.
Float steering devices. I'm not kidding.
I was wondering how they get people in these things. I figured a ladder, you know?
This guy pretty much won in terms of wireless gear that I saw.
Cute Japanese policewoman controlling the lights.
Aaron felt a little outclassed, I think. He was doing our video, for the most part.
I thought I was pretty clever by planning to bring a small stepstool, but that's apparently pretty normal. This guy won by bringing a standard-sized ladder out.
I have no idea what this guy is holding. Do you?
The princess of the parade being carried up the stairs into the lead float. I think she's the only princess who's a real person, though I wouldn't be surprised if she's male.
Aaron, being photogenic.
If there were any ghosts around, I suspect this guy could've busted 'em.
The cheerleaders. Again, not kidding.
They put these tapestries on the sides of the floats. Gion is supposed to be an exotic festival, and the paintings are often foreign-made or depict scenes from other countries' cultures.
Here, you can see some of the other floats. Note the plastic princess on the right.
Had to take this one for the hat.
There were... a few cops there. If you look closely, I think there might be more cops in this picture than civilians.
Theoretically, they're carrying these. They actually just nudge it along on little wheels. Carrying these things in this kind of heat would be lethal. They do lift up the smaller ones to turn them, though.
A sacred shopping cart?
The Kyoto police symbol.
Close up one of the float tips. Many of them are different. I think there were one or two others that shared this tip though.
Some guy wearing one of the variety of traditional hats.
Closer view of Princess Plastic.
Dunno what these guys are called, but I'm sure pleny of Miroku fangirls fell over themselves when they saw these guys.
Again, for the hat. It looks like "What's the weirdest thign we can get Tim to wear?" "How about this?" "What *is* that?" "Dunno."
A couple of the floats had kids in their processions. Some of them were excited, but a lot more of them were bored or... whatever this kid is.
A spear-wielding munchkin and a cool yukata-wearing guy
For the green.
For some reason, the Japanese seem to think that by sucking at being in tune, it protects them from spirits. If the spirits can hear how bad these guys sound, I can see that it might.
"We're from the umbrella school!" I guess?
Plastic float-top.
Yukata!
This guy was dutch and was using a D300 with a very expensive lens, and wearing geta.
Zhenia, who came and kept us company after being separated from the class.
Another float-topper.
This preying mantis was mechanized, and the Japanese seem to think it's the coolest thing ever. Go, mecha-mantis?
"What the hell are you guys doing?" "Uh, holding up the float?"
Japan doesn't have giraffes, so they're foreign. Get it?
I got nothin'.
I don't know if she knew I took this last one.
A man and his son (I think) posing with their yukata.
Some women who managed not to jump on Aaron - barely. The guys didn't seem to have any problems.
"Did I leave the iron on?"
"Ninja. Ninja. Ninja. Ninja. Ninja. Ninja. Damn, it's not working. Oh, well, nap time."
In America, we just drive the floats around. Japan is not quite so lazy ("modern"?)
There were... a few cameras.
Close-up of one of the float tapestries.
Aaron Dean being photogenic some more.
Pretty cute, eh?
Not so cute, but nice yukata, I thought.
There were a bunch of kids wandering around the city with little floats. It was kind of cute, but I think they were stalking us.
I have no idea how old this girl is. She might be 8, she might be 15.
