鼕行列 - Do-gyoretsu

On the third of November, there will be a great parade of huge drums in Matsue. It is called the Do-gyoretsu. For many years there were no women allowed in this parade. In the last few years, however, there have been a few ladies participating in the festival. The last two or three years have seen a couple of new drum floats and one team composed of all women. Isn’t that great? Now we can see those girls beating the big drums with great energy and contributing to the happiness of the festival.

十一月三日、松江市で巨大な太鼓の大行列があります。これは鼕行列と呼ばれています。長い間、この行列に女性が加わることは許されていませんでしたが、ここ数年は数人の女性が参加しています。 二、三年前から二つの新しい鼕台が加わり、一つはメンバーが女性ばかりです。すごい。その女性たちがとてもエネルギッシュに鼕を打ち、祭りの楽しさを盛り上げてくれます。

When I first saw them, I thought that it wouldn’t last. However, they have come back again and again. Good for you ladies, keep it up! The drummers for all the floats have been practicing here and there around the city. We can hear the deep throb of the drums at as they practice so as to be perfect for the “big day”. How I admire the people who join in this festival and come out for practice in all kinds of weather! Their perseverance and unselfish efforts must be admired.

当初は長くは続かないだろうと思っていましたが、毎年その鼕台が見えます。素晴らしいことです。ずっと続けてください。 松江市内のあちらこちらで、鼕台の打ち手が練習しています。「その日」に備え、完ぺきを目指して練習する重々しい鼕の音が聞こえます。この祭りのためにどんな天気でも休まず練習する人たちには、本当に感心します。その忍耐力と利他的な努力は称賛に値します。

Each drum represents a part of the city and the people from that district all come out to help. My town has no drum, but we are small. It is too bad. During the parade, little children and their mothers join in, doing their bit to help by pulling the floats along the street. The children are so small that it seems they can’t do anything, but the float moves along. Those children are so cute! I must have hundreds of pictures of them.

それぞれの鼕は松江市の各地区を代表し、その地区の人たちみんなが手伝いに出掛けます。私が住んでいる地区は小さな地区なので、鼕がありません。とても残念です。鼕行列には小さな子供や母親も加わり、鼕台を引っ張って道を歩いていきます。子供たちは小さいので何も出来ないように思えますが、鼕台は動いていきます。子供たちはとても可愛くて、私は何百枚もの写真を撮らねばなりません。