- Luxury Apartments in Tokyo
- MORI LIVING Diary
- Omikoshi at Azabu Juban Autumn Festival
Omikoshi at Azabu Juban Autumn Festival
September 14, 2010
It is considered an honor to carry the shrines, and participants seem to enjoy every minute of it, despite the heavy weight pressing down on them.
Groups representing six different town councils take part in this neighborhood festival.
The group from Yamamoto-cho represents the area around Motoazabu Hills, and therefore many MORI LIVING staff, both men and women, participate in the shrine carrying.
The summer and autumn months in Japan are a time of festivals, with celebrations of varying scope taking place every weekend at locations across the country. It is not uncommon to travel as long as a few hours in order to take in some of the larger festivals, but there are also plenty of interesting local events as well. In the case of the area around Roppongi Hills and Motoazabu Hills, the Azabu Juban Autumn Festival has something to offer people of all ages and nationalities. Groups representing six different town councils take part in this neighborhood festival, the highlight of which is a procession during which participants, dressed in traditional happi coats, carry ornate mikoshi shrines on their shoulders along a course of a few kilometers. It is considered an honor to carry the shrines, and participants seem to enjoy every minute of it, despite the heavy weight pressing down on them. The group from Yamamoto-cho represents the area around Motoazabu Hills, and therefore many MORI LIVING staff, both men and women, participate in the shrine carrying. And this year, for the first time, residents also took part. One French family of four jumped on the chance when they saw the announcement in their mail box. "We expected such a traditional neighborhood festival to be a little closed," said Caroline, "but they were very welcoming and open." Caroline, her husband Francois, and her two sons all got a chance to carry the mikoshi, with Francois taking several turns. "Next year I will bring a towel [to pad my shoulder]," he said. But the most interesting part of the experience for them was how it differs from spiritual processions in Europe. "In France, pilgrimages are very quiet and serene," said Caroline. "But this is very energetic and festive." Kelly