One hundred portable shrines are spectacular!｜Sanja Festival（三社祭り）

About Sanja Matsuri

Sanja Matsuri（三社祭り, Sanja Festival） is held every May at Asakusa shrine by the Ujiko ( inhabitants of the neighboring community). It is one of the three major festivals in Japan, and about two million people see the festival yearly.

One hundred portable shrines are spectacular!

 Mikoshi, a portable shrine, is a carriage for Gods. People gather around the Mikoshi and carry it on their shoulders in order to worship the gods. During the Sanja Matsuri, the spirit of the gods is also transferred from the main Mikoshi to the smaller Mikoshi of each town, and the 100 portable shrines walk through the town, making for a spectacular sight. While carrying the Mikoshi, the carriers often yell “Seiya, Seiya.”

 The "tamafuri" (swinging the portable shrine up and down, left and right) is an act of shaking the shrine by its bearers. It is believed that the tamafuri increases the spiritual power of the god and brings blessings such as a good harvest, a good catch, and the banishment of epidemics.

Musical instruments liven up the atmosphere

 Ohayashi  is music played at festivals, derived from the Japanese word "hayasu," meaning "to make beautiful," or "to enhance.” It is music to enhance the atmosphere and is played with flutes, drums, and kane. The kane is an important instrument for rhythm and assists the other instruments. The flute is called "tonbi（Japanese hawk）" because of its resemblance to the sound of a tonbi, which is a very Edo-style expression (Edo period 1603-1868）.

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