We've been to see lots of matsuri here in Japan. Local communities carry mikoshi (portable shrines) from their local shrine. Sometimes these are carried the neighbourhood, other times many different ones get together in the same place.
Most of the matsuri occur during the summer from July through to September.
Tomioka- Hachiman
Most of the matsuri occur during the summer from July through to September.
Tomioka- Hachiman
One of the first we went to see was in the heat, right in the middle of August was at Tomioka-Hachimangu.
 |
| Festival Officials |
 |
| This is a o-mikoshi. Poles to carry the shrine |
The Tomioka-Hachiman festival is dominated by throwing of water at the festival participants.
A fantastic taiko troupe at this festival.
Shibuya
Each year in Shibuya nine different 'teams' come down and parade. They stop in front of the famous '109' for a greeting by the mayor.
My good friend Tetsuya Uemuta takes part in this matsuri.
O-mikoshi are carried both by men and women
Tokyo Jidai
This was a parade of historical costumes and uniforms in Asakusa and is one of the most famous and attended festivals.
This festival was filled by people genuinely enthusiastic about representing their history through costume.
So many fantastic faces I've seen at matsuri. These ones are costume:
So many fantastic people and so much to see at matsuri.
I joined the local Oyamacho matsuri. We carried the mikoshi round the neighbourhood. We carried the mikoshi right to our neighbour Suzuki-san front gate and put it down. He had laid on a spread of food, beer and sake. We ate and drank our fill and then set off to continue round. We carried it for two hours on two consecutive nights.
I also took part in the Yoyogi-Hachiman matsuri.
This was a parade of historical costumes and uniforms in Asakusa and is one of the most famous and attended festivals.
This festival was filled by people genuinely enthusiastic about representing their history through costume.
So many fantastic faces I've seen at matsuri. These ones are costume:
These people are carrying the mikoshi. It's heavy and hard work, but everyone has fun.
So many fantastic people and so much to see at matsuri.
I joined the local Oyamacho matsuri. We carried the mikoshi round the neighbourhood. We carried the mikoshi right to our neighbour Suzuki-san front gate and put it down. He had laid on a spread of food, beer and sake. We ate and drank our fill and then set off to continue round. We carried it for two hours on two consecutive nights.
 |
| With Mie and Masame |
 |
| The band! |
 |
| Heavy, hard work, but fun!! |
 |
| Ouch!! |
 |
| This is the leader - he runs a dry-cleaning shop by day. |
