From the set: The four seasons of Kyoto

Shin-Hanga
Nishiki-e
Very beautiful and fresh proof bearing the artist's red stamp and signed in pencil
Ca.1950

The Gion Matsuri in Kyoto is one of the three largest local festivals in Japan. The other two are Kanda Matsuri in Tokyo and Tenjin Matsuri in Osaka. The Gion Matsuri can be considered the largest and most spectacular.
 
It is held every year from July 1 to 31 for the celebration of the summer solstice at Yasaka Jinja Shrine. The two key dates of this celebration take place on July 17 (Saki Matsuri or pre-festival) and July 24 (Ato Matsuri or post-festival) when all thirty-four floats crisscross the main streets of the city.

Its origin dates back to the plague of 869. The emperor sent a special messenger to Yasaka Jinja, the ancient name of the shrine of Gion known to house the spirit of the brother of the sun goddess supposed to fight this evil, to pray and him To do this, he ordered the creation of sixty-six halberds representing the sixty-six provinces of the country.
Once the epidemic was stopped, the inhabitants of Kyoto decided from 970, in gratitude, to organize a festival each year.