Blog - Tengu matsuri
Tengu matsuri
Today after a great pizza lunch at La Piccola Tavola in Eifukuchō, we walked down to Shimokitazawa where is being held the Tengu matsuri throughout the weekend, celebrating for the 75th year the long-nosed god that protects the town. We watched the Tengu parade passing by the station's north exit at 3pm, so here are some photos of the event.
First, costumed people paraded from the right to the front of the station. Along came a small Tengu (person with a Tengu mask), and afterwards a large Tengu (huge Tengu sculpture).
Then, the costumed people threw beans to the large crowd which tried to catch them with bags or with their hands. Eating those beans is supposed to bring you good luck or such. I could only catch a single one because I was pretty far back.
The people and the small and large Tengu forced themselves a way through the crowd, part of which followed them along their route.
The street was then full of stomped bean remains.
Later, we went to the temple where the Tengu resides, 大雄山真竜寺 (Daiyūzan Shinryūdera(?), or 道了尊 (Dōryōson) as the locals call it), and we could have a closer look.
Larger sizes and many more photos at Flickr
Posted on February 3, 2007 at 23:02 | Tweet
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Very cool. In all the years I've lived in Shimokita I still manage to miss this one.
Walked from Eifuku to Shimokita? That's quite a walk!!!
Posted by Roy on February 4, 2007 at 02:33
If you eat a pizza lunch set at La Piccola Tavola (the best pizza I know of in Tokyo, btw), you just have to walk at least this much. Last time we walked to Kichijoji instead. :)
The Tengu festival is still going on today. You should check it out sometime!
Posted by Patrick on February 4, 2007 at 09:30