After returning to Suzu from the Ogisode Kiriko Matsuri, we immediately came across a few Kiriko near Suzu City Hall. The festival had started on the same day as the Ogisode Kiriko Matsuri. On the night of September 19, several Kiriko could be seen around town, being carried, pushed, and pulled through the streets.

With my bicycle, I followed their trails around Iida. I was struck by the contrast between the brightly lit Kiriko and the darkness of Iida Town. I also noticed how often the Kiriko had to deal with low-hanging electrical wires along the way. To my surprise, even when I was not actively chasing after them, the Kiriko would eventually pass right in front of my doorstep anyway.

The next day, around 4 PM, I decided to cycle around town again to see the festival procession. There were about six Kiriko, each with their own designs and decorations. Even the festival carriers had distinct outfits, making it possible to tell which Kiriko they belonged to.

I came back home around 5 PM, as I heard that the Kiriko would once again pass in front of my lodging place. They even lined up and took a break! While they were resting, I took the opportunity to look more closely at their individual designs. As a group, the Iida Kiriko use reeds as part of their decorations. This was the first time I had seen this variation, as many of the other Kiriko I had visited used pine instead.

When the procession resumed, I followed along again. I was able to watch the sky change color behind the Kiriko as the evening progressed. During sunset, the lit-up Kiriko lanterns at one point almost blended into the colors of the sky. As night fell, the muted navy blue of the surroundings created a strong contrast with the yellow-orange lanterns and the gold-colored ornaments on the Kiriko.

The festival procession continued deep into the night where they went to the other areas of the town. I went home half an hour later to take some rest. As I slept through the night, the sounds of taiko drums and flute could be heard. They had, again, passed through my street. I think it was around 11pm..