http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/11/04/japanese-summer-festivals-and-shinto/ My life as a father, Buddhist and Japanophile. Sat, 11 Jun 2011 01:53:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/11/04/japanese-summer-festivals-and-shinto/#comment-3515 Doug Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:00:08 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=5734#comment-3515 Yeah, I was thinking about the Sanja festival as I wrote that part, and realized that there are good, genuine festivals. What I meant was that there is a lot going on outside of Tokyo, and where possible, to see what's there. Yeah, I was thinking about the Sanja festival as I wrote that part, and realized that there are good, genuine festivals. What I meant was that there is a lot going on outside of Tokyo, and where possible, to see what’s there.

]]> http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/11/04/japanese-summer-festivals-and-shinto/#comment-3514 johnl Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:44:06 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=5734#comment-3514 Here is a Wikipedia page about Sanja Matsuri: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanja_Matsuri Here is a Wikipedia page about Sanja Matsuri:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanja_Matsuri

]]> http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/11/04/japanese-summer-festivals-and-shinto/#comment-3513 johnl Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:38:21 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=5734#comment-3513 Tokyo has very authentic festivals, although they do attract lots of tourists. The drum group I belong to does music for the Sanja Matsuri in Asakusa Tokyo every May. The omikoshi for this festival (there are three) are really huge and heavy--it takes 100 people or so to carry each one. The three major mikoshi (Ichi no Miya, Ni no Miya, San no Miya) are the spirits of the two brothers who found the statue of Kannon in their fishing net, as well as the village chief at that time. (The statue is now hidden in the altar of Sensoji.) The shrine near the temple is also dedicated to the three. The festival is one of the three great Tokyo festivals, and there are many more in addition to those. There seems to be some interest in fostering festivals even in local areas. The shrine in my neighborhood also has a festival with mikoshi. Tokyo has very authentic festivals, although they do attract lots of tourists. The drum group I belong to does music for the Sanja Matsuri in Asakusa Tokyo every May. The omikoshi for this festival (there are three) are really huge and heavy–it takes 100 people or so to carry each one. The three major mikoshi (Ichi no Miya, Ni no Miya, San no Miya) are the spirits of the two brothers who found the statue of Kannon in their fishing net, as well as the village chief at that time. (The statue is now hidden in the altar of Sensoji.) The shrine near the temple is also dedicated to the three. The festival is one of the three great Tokyo festivals, and there are many more in addition to those. There seems to be some interest in fostering festivals even in local areas. The shrine in my neighborhood also has a festival with mikoshi.

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