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- Contagious Energy at Akasaka Hikawa Festival
Contagious Energy at Akasaka Hikawa Festival
October 30, 2015
Taking place every year, this three-day festival is one of the area's biggest events.
Groups from 15 different neighborhoods bring their shrines and gather at Akasaka Hikawa Shrine, and leave through the torii (gate) of the shrine and take to the streets.
This year the ARK Hills Autumn Festival took place on the same day as the Hikawa Matsuri, and the food stalls, bon odori, and taiko drumming only added to the energetic, festive atmosphere.
As I have mentioned on this blog before, I love festivals in Japan. From the shouts of food vendors to the dance of the bon odori, each matsuri (festival) has its own unique way of instilling energy in everyone who visits it. But perhaps one of the most energetic festivals I have been to was the Akasaka Hikawa Matsuri.
Taking place every year, this three-day festival is one of the area's biggest events. Mikoshi (portable shrines) appear every two years, and this year they appeared. It reaches its climax on the last day, when a parade of mikoshi (portable shrines) is carried through the streets of Akasaka. At 10 a.m., groups from 15 different neighborhoods bring their shrines and gather at Akasaka Hikawa Shrine. At 11:30 they all leave through the torii (gate) of the shrine and take to the streets.
Because mikoshi are said to carry the gods represented by the shrine, they are usually carried quite slowly, but the different neighborhood groups compete to demonstrate their strength and energy by sometimes shaking the shrines up and down on their shoulders. As they do so, they shout words of encouragement, which passes on their infectious energy even to the bystanders and supporters. At first glance the mikoshi all look quite similar, but small details such as the ropes decorating them and the fringe hanging from their roofs set them apart. Watching and comparing all this, as well as the traditional happi coats worn by the participants, makes for quite an entertaining spectacle. The groups return to their neighborhoods with their mikoshi after 2 p.m., and while they must surely be exhausted, their eyes are bright and there are smiles on each of their faces.
This year the ARK Hills Autumn Festival took place on the same day as the Hikawa Matsuri, and the food stalls, bon odori, and taiko drumming only added to the energetic, festive atmosphere.
Next year the plan is to restore the mikoshi from the Edo period so that they can make a reappearance in the parade - that's something I can't wait to see!
Kelly