Kanda matsuri at Kanda myôjin

One of the three largest Shinto matsuri has occured this week-end: Kanda Matsuri! While Saturday was rainy for shinkosai, this Sunday was just like a summer day, beautiful and very warm, perfect for the parade of mikoshi! Kanda Matsuri is normally held once every two years, but because of the earthquake of March 11th, the festival could not take place recently. This is the first time in four years that the matsuri returns, and what enthusiasm!

I have gone to the great shrine Kanda myôjin, where hundreds of mikoshi are brought. Every one of these mikoshi were as splendid as terribly heavy, courageously borne by inhabitants of the Kanda area, visibly proud and happy to participate in the fun! Priests, participants, visitors, everyone had a smile. The atmosphere was joy mingled with the smell of tasty food and taiko music.

The parade took place over 30km, from Ochanomizu to Nihonbashi through Akihabara. It was really impressive, and everyone pitched in! There was a mikoshi carried only by women, and another by small children, which was so cute! (even the dogs wore special happi for this event ^o^)