Name St.

Number

: Hendra Bangkit Sacipta : 120710011

Marimos Celebration Day (Marimo Matsuri)

Japan is a country which is made up by four major islands and surrounded by more 4,000 small islands. It locates on northeastern Asia between North Pacific and the Sea of Japan. Japan is having size for about 377,873 kilometers almost same as Germany and Switzerland. As a country which contains a lot of islands, Japan is also compiled by some unique. One of unique that Japan had is about the tradition. This condition is similar with Indonesia that also had so many traditions because Indonesia is made up by many islands together with many cultures. In Japan, there are many traditions whereby each region in Japan had its own tradition. These kinds of traditions are held every year in almost every region in Japan. Talking about traditions in Japan, there is one kind of tradition that is interested to be discussed. This kind of tradition is given name as Marimos Celebration Day or in the Japanese name; it is called as Marimo Matsuri. Matsuri in Japan is about the celebration day. Matsuri in Japan usually is sponsored by a temple or held by something related to religion. It is almost with some traditions happened in Indonesia that mostly held by the influence of religion such as sekaten, kasodo, and so on. In general, each region in Japan had at least one matsuri that usually held at the end of summer or beginning of fall whereby sometimes it relates with harvest time. Marimo matsuri is usually held on early October for three days. This event takes place in Akan-cho, Koshiro city, and Hokkaido prefecture. What makes this event held is about the effort to conserve the endangered marimo algae of Lake Akanko. For your information, Marimo algae grow in fresh water and gather in large numbers to form green spherical bodies. What makes

Marimo algae in Lake Akanko different with other is its diameter size. It can reach diameter size for about 30 cm while the natural Marimo algae only reach size for 10 cm. On the first day of the festival, a lecture on the growth of marimo and field trips to their habitat are held. The second day features the Marimo Dance Parade, the Marimo portable shrine and the Ceremony for Receiving Marimo, along with the Ceremony to Conserve Marimo in accordance with ancient Ainu traditions. Upon receiving marimo, gratitude is offered to the gods of Mother Nature for the past year's blessings. The festival closes with the solemn Ceremony of Returning Marimo to the Lake, when marimo are carried on a canoe accompanied by an elderly Ainu chief and returned to the depths of the lake bed. At night, you can watch the Pine Torch Procession and the fireworks display. During the festival you can also enjoy all kinds of attractions on the grounds by the lakeshore, such as game competitions and the bazaar.