This festival originated during the outbreak of a pestilence in 869, when the people prayed to the deity of Gion - jinja Shrine, Susano-onomikoto, to rid the land of the pestilence. The festival lasts for about one month. The highlight is the Yamaboko Float Parade on the 17th. Thirty-two of these floats leave Shijo Karasuma at 9:00 in the morning and travel down Shijo-dori to Kawaramachi-dori, then to Oike-dori.

About the Series Picture Notes on Native Customs of Japan

Source: Modern Japanese Woodblock Prints - The Early Years, Helen Merritt, University of Hawaii Press, 1998, p. 284. 

This series of prints followed on the heals of the series Scenes of Last Tokyo (Tokyo kaiko zue), printed in December 1945 and issued by the same publisher, Uemura Masuo of Fugaku Shuppansha.  

"Early in the following year, on 20 March 1946, Uemura Masuo and Fugaku Shuppansha published another set, Nihon minzokuzū-fu (Native Customs in Japan).  The editor's statement, which was written in English and accompanied each set, is given here just as it was written to retain its full warmth and flavor:

...All of the artists except Kuroki Sadao had participated in Ichimokukai, and their participation in this set can probably be attributed to Uemura's friendship with Onchi."

Series Print Titles and Artists
Sources: Guide to Modern Japanese Woodblock Prints: 1900-1975, Helen Merritt, University of Hawaii Press, 1992, p. 277 and the website of the National Library of Australia catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4653042. 

The artists of this set were Azechi Umetarō, Kawanishi Hide, Kuroki Sadao, Maeda Masao, Maekawa Senpan, Mori Dōshun, Saitō Kiyoshi, Sekino Jun'ichirō, Wakayama Yasoji, and Yamaguch Gen.  Published by Uemura Masuo of Fugaku Shuppansha, formerly of Takamizawa Mokuhansha.  The prints were matted and presented in gray coardboard folders with names of artists and titles translated into English on accompanying sheets.