Takayama City in Gifu Prefecture is located in the center of the largest Japanese isle. Its festival is regarded as one of the three most beautiful festivals in all of Japan. During the festival, its dazzling and luxurious floats can be seen forming a gorgeous procession through the town streets. The twenty-three floats that presently make up the procession were built during the years of the Tokugawa Shogunate (1600-1868).These floats are repaired and maintained by the artisans of the Festival Float Association.

Nakata Kinta, President of Hida Teiseki, decided to build a new lead float, `Kintokitai', when he heard one of the artisans from the Float Preservation Society say "we wish that we could not only repair the float, but make a new one". He dreamed of leaving for future generations a modern-style float that was built by gathering together the skills and techniques of Japan's best artisans. So, he invited skilled craftsmen from all over Japan to participate in the project, including the artist in charge of axles and the floats' supervisor, Nakata Akio. The artisans also included: the top Japanese carpenter Hachino Akira, master engravers, blacksmiths, lacquerers, `marionette` or doll-makers, and so on. In building the float together, all these artisans could display the best of their skills while new techniques could also be tried.

This documentary follows the ten years that it took to complete the revitalized and new `Kintokitai` festival float. Images flow of parents watching their children and children watching their parents create the float as well as artisans working and planning the float together. These moving and beautiful pictures of Hida Takayama are sure to impress and move everyone.

Credits
Written and Directed by:Hiroaki Inui
Executive Producer:Yumiko Masuda
Hhotography:NUKU2、Move for 8、IMAGICA
Editor and Sound:TSP
2005.Color,67mins,「Ｈｅｉｓｅｉ　Ｐｒｏｊｅｃｔ」

Conacts;
Yumiko Masuda >> for detaills
Luxe:Otabe
Tel&Fax 81-424-80-7850