During the Edo era, there were there large Shinto festivals. One of the very distinctive and well-known festivals is Fukagawa Hachiman Matsuri (深川八幡祭 ), as known as Fukagawa Festival.
Fukagawa Matsuri is held annually in mid-August by the Tomioka Hachiman Shrine in Koto, Tokyo. Tomioka Hachimangu, as known as Tomioka Yawata shrine, is Fukagawa’s greatest Shinto shrine and was established in 1627.
Once every three years, the event’s parishioners perform with a 2,500 kilogram (5,500 pound) hon-matsuri featuring a procession of the Hachiman imperial; carried along with some 120 large and small mikoshi palanquins. In total, 54 mikoshi teams together with dancers and musicians parade the streets of Koto-ku which precisely makes up to 30,000 people participate in the parade. The highlight of the festival is the dynamic parade of the 50-plus giant palanquins. Another outstanding feature is the water splashing activity on the mikoshi bearers exercised by a crowd of 500,000 spectators, as the locals believe that the gods (in the mikoshi) enjoy a good summer soaking and water can purify.
Fukagawa Hachiman Masturi is ranked #5 of 10 summer festival in Tokyo.
Source
https://www.japan-talk.com/jt/new/fukagawa-hachiman-water-fight-festival
Leave a Reply