祇園祭暴力団排除へGion Matsuri (Festival), one of Japan's Big Three Festivals - the other two are Osaka's Tenjin Matsuri and Tokyo's Kanda Matsuri - has declared mobsters persona non grata.
As part of a yakuza eradication program, gangsters will not be allowed to pull the large floats and will be denied festival happi coats.
Every year known mobsters have taken part in the festival, usually twenty to thirty such men.
A year ago April, Kyoto city passed an anti-mafia ordinance. In keeping with that, known members of organized criminal organizations will be banned from participating in the festival.
The Festival was first held in 970 C.E., and has only in rare instances not been held.
The climax of Gion Matsuri is on the day of July 17, when the massive floats adorned with tapestries are pulled around the center of the city by teams of men.
© CycleKyoto.com
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