Events:
Cherry Blossom Forecast 2024
https://www.japan-guide.com/sakura/
https://weathernews.jp/sakura/ (Japanese version only)  
https://tenki.jp/sakura/expectation/ (Japanese version only)
https://www.otenki.jp/sp/art/sakura/ (Japanese version only)

when and where to see cherry blossoms (Japanese version only):
https://hanami.walkerplus.com/
https://sp.jorudan.co.jp/hanami/
https://www.jalan.net/theme/sakura/

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Kanda Festival

Kanda Festival(神田祭) is being held at Kanda Myoujin(神田明神, formerly 神田神社 Kanda Shrine) from May 9 to 15. Kanda Festival and Sanno Matsuri Festival(山王祭) at Hie Shrine(日枝神社) are held in alternate years.

about Kanda Myoujin and Taira no Masakado:
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2010/06/sanno-matsuri-festival.html

The Kanda Festival was cancelled due to the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, so this is its first holding in four years.

Kanda Myoujin Festival website:
http://www.kandamyoujin.or.jp/kandamatsuri/ (Japanese version only)

From 8:30 a.m. on May 12, this festival will be broadcast live at http://kanda-ch.blog.ocn.ne.jp/ (Japanese version only)

Three deities are enshrined in the shrine.
Its first deity is Onamuchi no Mikoto(大己貴命) who is the deity of marriage. He is also known as Okuninushi no Mikoto(大国主命) or Daikoku(大黒). Kanda Shrine was founded to honor him in 730.
Its second deity is Sukunahiko no Mikoto(少彦名命) who brings good fortune, success in business.  He is also known as Ebisu(恵比寿).
Its third deity is Taira no Masakado no Mikoto(平将門,?–940).

Although Masakado was enshrined in the shrine in 1309, the shrine stopped to worship his spirit in the Meiji Period because he was an enemy of the court. The divided deity Sukunahiko no Mikoto was transferred from an shrine in Ibaraki Prefecture to Kanda Shrine in 1869. Masakado was enshrined in the shrine again in 1984.
They are affectionately called 'Daikoku-sama', 'Ebisu-sama', 'Masakado-sama'.

Horen(鳳輦) is a wheeled portable shrine ornamented on top with a miniature of a Chinese phoenix. Mikoshi(神輿) is a divine palanquin.

Horen for Onamuchi no Mikoto

DSC_0247
DSC_0247 by Marufish /flickr

Mikoshi for Sukunahiko no Mikoto

DSC_0233
DSC_0233 by Marufish /flickr

Horen for Taira no Masakado no Mikoto

DSC_0248
DSC_0248 by Marufish /flickr


In the evening of May 9, the spirits of the three deities were transferred to mikoshi and horen at the shrine.

Each town of shrine parishioners has a mikoshi.
In the evening of May 10, the deities' spirits were transferred to mikoshi at Okariya(the place where a deity takes a rest) or Miki-sho(a station where the sacred sake is dedicated to deity) in the towns of shrine parishioners.

On May 11, the procession including the three deities' mikoshi and horen started from the shrine around 8 a.m. after Shinto rituals and passed through the towns of shrine parishioners. On the way, Shinto rituals took place at Masakado-zuka, the site where there was once an okariya.

               lion head
DSC_0462
DSC_0462 by Marufish /flickr


Around 4:30 p.m., Tsuke-matsuri joined the procession in front of Mitsukoshi's flagship store in Nihonbashi.

Around 7 p.m., the large procession returned to the shrine, and five mikoshi were carried into the precincts of Kanda Shrine.
 


Tsuke-matsuri(附け祭) is a boisterous parade featuring floats, dancers, people dressed in costume.
The parade includes a warrior procession of Soma Nomaoi this year.
about Soma Nomaoi:
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2011/07/soma-nomaoi.html

Tsuke-matsuri starts from Arima Elementary School at 3:00 p.m.


Oeyama-gaijin(大江山凱陣)

This float was the main feature of the parade in the Edo Period.  The parade features newly-reconstructed one.  Three legends pertaining to oni(ogre) extermination in Mt. Oe(大江山, Oeyama) have been passed on.

Oeyama-gaijin
KANDA MATSURI @NIHON-BASHI
KANDA MATSURI @NIHON-BASHI by DORONKO /flickr


 Oeyama-gaijin, the head of oni
KANDA MATSURI @NIHON-BASHI
KANDA MATSURI @NIHON-BASHI by DORONKO /flickr

Kaname-ishi(要石, sacred stone) on big catfish

This float was popular in the Edo Period. There was the popular superstition that earthquakes are caused by underground activities of a big catfish. The tradition that a deity seals in a big catfish with Kaname-ishi was widespread.

KANDA MATSURI @NIHON-BASHI
KANDA MATSURI @NIHON-BASHI by DORONKO /flickr

The float of Hanasaka-jiisan (The Old Man Who Made Flowers Blossom) appeared this year.



               Tengu(天狗)
KANDA MATSURI @NIHON-BASHI
KANDA MATSURI @NIHON-BASHI by DORONKO /flickr

                 elephant
KANDA MATSURI @NIHON-BASHI
KANDA MATSURI @NIHON-BASHI by DORONKO /flickr
Various events are held at the shrine.

Masakado Daiko(Japanese drums)
Masakado-Daiko [ Kanda Maturi / Kanda Shrine ]
by d'n'c /flickr



Kamo Noningyo dashi(加茂能人形山車)

A doll on this float is a deity appearing in a noh play 'Kamo'. A float of the Edo Period has been reproduced.

神田祭
神田祭 by taken_spc /flickr




On May 12, over 50 mikoshi will be carried into the precincts of the shrine.



DSC_0066
DSC_0066 by Marufish /flickr





DSC_0031
DSC_0031 by Marufish /flickr

DSC_0447
DSC_0447 by Marufish /flickr
 
DSC_0379
DSC_0379 by Marufish /flickr

DSC_0332
DSC_0332 by Marufish /flickr

KANDA MATSURI @NIHON-BASHI
KANDA MATSURI @NIHON-BASHI by DORONKO /flickr

KANDA MATSURI @NIHON-BASHI by DORONKO /flickr



KANDA MATSURI @NIHON-BASHI
KANDA MATSURI @NIHON-BASHI by DORONKO /flickr


DSC_0370
DSC_0370 by Marufish /flickr


DSC_0252 by Marufish /flickr

 

DSC_0495
DSC_0495 by Marufish /flickr


at the shrine

DSC_0296
DSC_0296 by Marufish /flickr




DSC_0170
DSC_0170 by Marufish /flickr

DSC_0303
DSC_0303 by Marufish /flickr

DSC_0179
DSC_0179 by Marufish /flickr

DSC_0276
DSC_0276 by Marufish /flickr

DSC_0149
DSC_0149 by Marufish /flickr


DSC_0191
DSC_0191 by Marufish /flickr


DSC_0287
DSC_0287 by  Marufish /flickr


DSC_0323
DSC_0323 by Marufish /flickr


DSC_0013
DSC_0013 by Marufish /flickr


DSC_0282
DSC_0282 by Marufish /flickr


  On May 14, there will be a ceremony of Kencha (tea offering to deities), and a noh play will be performed at the shrine.

On May 15, the annual grand festival will be held. This ritual is most important to the shrine.

No comments:

Post a Comment