Day 4
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What's this? Fukagawa Hachiman Festival photos by Philbert Ono. Held in mid-August in Koto Ward, Tokyo, this is the festival's full-scale version held once every three years (1996, 1999, 2002, etc.).

Sacred Carriage Procession
Aug. 17, 1996

The shrine's head priest (called Guji) rode in the convertible all day long. By the afternoon, his face was sunburned. He is wearing a formal robe called Ikan Hitoe. It is worn only for Grand Festivals and visits to a shrine associated with the Imperial family. It must have been really hot under all those robes.

The slender paddle (called a shaku) he holds in his right hand serve no real purpose. In the old days, priests used it to stick on cue cards or notes for ceremonies. His cap or kanmuri, has a tail with diamond-shaped patterns. This indicates that the priest is of a high rank.

In the background, you can see a makeshift stage for shrine musicians who will perform during the portable shrine parade the next day.

 

This truck is carrying the Sacred Carriage's portable shrine guarded by four attendants. In the background on the right is the current incarnation of Mannen-bashi Bridge made famous by Hokusai, an ukiyoe woodblock artist who depicted it in one of his famous views of Mt. Fuji. (Mt. Fuji is no longer visible from under the bridge.)

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Last modified: 2002-07-10