One more attraction at the Shimizu Harbor Festival in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City was of course the O-Mikoshi Parade held in Jirochou Street, otherwise called “Jirochou Douchuu”!
The O-Mikoshi arriving through Jirocho Bridge across the Tomoe River!
A mikoshi (神輿 or 御輿) is a divine palanquin (also translated as portable Shinto shrine). Shinto followers believe that it serves as the vehicle to transport a deity in Japan while moving between main shrine and temporary shrine during a festival or when moving to a new shrine. Often, the mikoshi resembles a miniature building, with pillars, walls, a roof, a veranda and a railing.
Roots:
The altar of the harvest festival carried out to the time which repeated migration by hunting and collection is the origin of a mikoshi.
Some theorize that “The origin of Japanese mikoshi is ancient Jewish tabernacle ark”.
Actually, mikoshi and the ark of the covenant do not have much in common. They differ in production and decoration (a phoenix or a crane being very different from cherubim.).
First use:
A mikoshi was believed to have been first used to transport Hachiman to Tōdai-ji temple from Usa Shrine 八幡宇佐宮御託宣集 in 749.
Arriving to the sound of drums hit by children!
Slowly moving across the bridge!
Yo ei! Yo ei!
Interesting pants!
The drumming kids are all local!
Many worshipers form other shrines have come to end a hand!
The O-Mikoshi belongs to the Shimizu Harbor Association!
A portable shrine in truth!
Interesting faces!
Smiles everywhere!
Hard work!
More hard work!
Waiting for their turns!
Great support from other shrines!
Great control!
First and third generations!
More faces!
No age limit!
The phoenix!
Beer-guzzling mothers?
Having a closer look at the drums!
Overlooking the event!
Having a closer look at the shrine and its phoenix during a break!
Great kid!
Family power!
Taking a break at Jirochou’s birthplace before starting all over again!
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Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pie
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Must-see tasting websites:
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-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
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ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
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SHIZUOKA GOURMET 