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The word "festival"("matsuri" in Japanese) usually remind us stalls in thestreet, portable shrines("mikoshi" in Japanese) and so on. Would you like to know what the word "festival" means originally? |
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The archaic Japanese word "matsurafu"written in Manyoshu,
the oldest anthology in Japan,is equivalent for the word "festival".
The word "matsurafu" means inviting our deities,making offerings for them
and praying them for keeping evels and diseases away from us and bringing us happiness.
One Japanese festival usually has three stages.
They are the grand festival,the ceremony of the festival and the "shinkosai" festival
in which our deities parade riding on the portable shrines,"mikoshi".
We Japanese call all of them in one word "matsuri".
One of the essential articles for the Japanese festival is the portable shrine,"mikoshi".
Originally "mikoshi" is the vehicle for our deities to parade.
And,each of the deities has own "mikoshi",for example in the "Sanja"(means three shrines) Festival
three "mikoshis" are used for the first shrine,the second shrine and the third shrine.
By the way,these three "mikoshis" survived through many fires,for example,
the fire in the Great Kanto Earthquake,but at last they were burned in the fire of the war damage.
Fortunately the plans of the three "mikoshis" escaped the war damage
and the "mikoshis" were restored after the war and are still now used.
Those "mikoshis" are now usually kept in the temporary house made
by the steeplejacks by using logs and bamboos in the traditional way.
This traditional way of building was taught from generation to generation
and still now the steeplejacks are taught about it from more experienced men naturally.
The festivals consist of three factors,which are the sponsors,the participants and the viewers.
And,of course,when these three factors work as one,the festival becomes the wonderful event.
In Asakusa very popular streets like the Metro Street and the Orange Street play the good supporting roles
to make up the festivals as the wonderful events.
And,many large paper lanterns hung on poles ("takaharichochin" in Japanese) decorated around the Sensoji Temple
play the same role.
Many people feel the beautiful scene of the lanterns lighted at night like a dream.
The Sanja Festival in Asakusa is such a delightful event and is crowded with about 3 million "galleries" every year.
Applause and cheering from both the local people in Asakusa
and many "galleries" from other areas arouse the excitement in the Sanja Festival every time.
We think the excitement in the Sanja Festival has great importance when we compare
with many other areas in Tokyo where people are reluctant to live and their catch phrase "My hometown Tokyo" sounds ironically.
Jan・Feb・Mar・Apr・May・Jun
- Events in Asakusa-
Jul・Aug・Sep・Oct・Nov・Dec
January, 2021("Mutsuki" in old Japanese) | ||
1st | Paying The First Visit To The Shrine Of The Year | |
Pilgrimage to the shrines / temples on New Year's Day. | ||
7th | This event is canceled. The Festival For The Japanese Radish |
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Held in Matsuchiyamashoten People make offerings various kinds of food to Matsuchiyamashoten,the guardian deity for Buddha. People pray for the safety of their families and for prosperity of their business in this Buddist service. After that the attendants boil Japanese radishes and eat them putting vinegared miso on them. |
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8th | Tondo Yaki | |
This ceremony is held in the Torigoe Shrine. People burn many remains of the New Year's goods. It is traditionally said that we can spend the year in good health by exposing ourselves to this fire. ![]() ![]() It was done modesty and the fire was Powerful full mark. TV shooting was taking place. |
March, 2021(Yayoi) | ||
1st | The Hina Dolls Fair | |
This event is canceled. Hina dolls are sold. It was started in the Edo era and lost popularity at one time. In recent years it has got back prosperity. ![]() Wind was strong and it was becoming "Nagashi Hinadolls" "Hinadolls flying", but the balloons of the dove flew, and the kimono sleeper came, it was done gorgeously. |
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18th plans |
The Anniversary Meeting Of The Appearance Of Asakusa Kannon,The Dance Of Gold Dragon | ![]() |
This event is connected with the tradition that the gold figure of Sei Kannon was pulled up from the Miyato River(the present Sumida River) on March 18 in 628. Held in the Sensoji Temple. You can watch videos Click here! |
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17th・18th plans |
Do-age, Do-sage | ![]() |
18th plans |
Visiting and exiting of portable shrines | ![]() |
Jigen-e is held in early spring in middle of March. The highlight of this festival is do-age and do-sage, the visiting and exiting ceremony of portable shrines of Asakusa Shrine. Three deities, Ichinomiya (Hajinoma Nakachi), Ninomiya (Hinokuma Hamanari), and Sannomiya (Hinokuma Takenari), who found the Kannon statue in the sea, pay visit to Kannon once a year, in Asakusa Temple where they had enshrined to worship the God of Mercy.
In present days, ceremony is carried out following the traditional rites on Saturday and Sunday closest to March 18th, and it will be on the 13th and 14th in 2004. In the late afternoon on the 13th, the three portable shrines with principal idols on each "visit" main building of Asakusa Temple, bore by worshippers. You will witness a spectacular scenery of each portable shrine, weighing more than 1 ton, solemnly carried up the stairs of the main building in the light of torches. The principal idols are pantheonized over night after reading of the sutras by priests of Asakusa Temple. The next afternoon, the portable shrines "exit" the building, bore by the worshippers and return to Asakusa Shrine in the late afternoon. It is an impressive and gracious ceremony ushering Sanja Annual Festival. |
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the middle of March -the middle of April |
The Cherry Blossom Festival in Sumida park | |
This event is canceled. Around Asakusa is a noted place for cherry blossom. |
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28th・29th | The Sakura Bridge Flower Festival | |
This event is canceled. Around The Sakura Bridge is a noted place for cherry blossom. |
June, 2020(Minatsuki) | ||
8th・9th | Torigoe's night festival | |
This event(Headquarters mikoshi) is canceled. | ||
29th・30th | The Beginning of the Mountaineering Season of Mt.Fuji | |
This event is canceled. This ceremony is held connected with the festival held in the Fuji Sengen Shrine at the foot of Mt.Fuji. People call this ceremony "O Fuji San". |
August, 2020(Hazuki) | ||
- | The Asakusa Samba Carnival |
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Postponed to September, 2021 This is the Riodejaneiro Carnival in Japanese style. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
October, 2021(Kannazuki) | ||
1st | Tokyo Marathon 2021 | |
Runner runs in front of Asakusa Kaminarimon. |