AGATAYOMATSURI

   A ferocious night matsuri at the Uji agata jinja, Kyoto, in which yukata-clad (formerly naked) youths carry a large ladder-like mikoshi to the Budddhist temple Byodo-in in a manner which represents the vigorous spirit of its kami, kono-hana-sakuya-hime. She is also kami of Mt Fuji and Mt Asama and the wife of the legendary first emperor Ninigi.