Shinzaike Autumn Matsuri

  

The Shinzaike Autumn Matsuri (festival) is a local shrine festival that is done every year in our neighborhood. There is a small portable shrine called a mikoshi or yatai that is carried around the neighborhood. Our neighborhood had a route that they walked. There were also other local mikoshi being carried. Blake and I followed the one for our area around. Everyone wore a happi for this event except those that were carrying the mikoshi. A happi is a traditional straight-sleeved coat worn only during festivals. The happi for our neighborhood was blue and had an image of a wave on the back.

                      

The mikoshi is used to transport the local kami (divine spirit or god) around the neighborhood while the locals perform chants. This is done to thank or pray for a good harvest in autumn. It was an all-day thing so for lunch everyone went to a small park where tents had been set up and we enjoyed a bento lunch. A bento is a packed meal in a box that typically contains rice, fish or meat, and vegetables. It has started to become popular in America. After lunch three other shrines joined in one location and competed with each other. We were happy to have been included in our local autumn festival and to have had the opportunity to learn more about Japanese culture.