Hi everyone! We are plat hostel keikyu minowa forest.

We are going to tell you about a historical temple near us, called Ohtori shrine.

Ohtori shrine is a famous shrine which holds "Tori-no-Ichi"Festivals.

"Tori-no-Ichi"Festivals of Ohtori Shrine are held twice or thrice every November since the Edo era.(1750-1760)

The Festivals appellation is called first Festival "Ichinotori",the second Festival "Ninotori",the third Festival "Sannotori".

The festival started after Yamato Takeru No Mikoto had returned safely from the war and had thanked the shrine. Because he stopped at the shrine before he went to the war to wish for his win and safety. When he's back there , he had kumade( lucky rakes decorated with colorful symbols of good fortune,believed to bring wealth to the purchasers) .

That day was day of Torinohi or cock's day(Japanese old calendar) in November.

Ohtori shrine is just 5 minutes walk from our hostel!

The festival wish for good business since the Edo period and it's held in many shrines now but it's only Ohtori shrine in Hanabatake and Asakusa, lasts since the Edo period.

Inbetween, there was a hard year few times like big earthquakes (1923) ,WWⅡ and after the war(1945) , but people tried hard to continue this history and culture.

People get kumade as a good luck charm for their business. People bring lucky kumade from last year, and drop them off at a place near the shrine and buy new one. It's the practice to return the last year's Kumade before worship and buy after. It is better if you buy bigger one year after year because that means your business grows every year!

Also you need a technique to buy.

There is no price on any kumade, so you need to ask the seller.

The price will be quite expensive so you can beat off the price! It feels strange that you can do that in Japan, isn't it?

But it's more special from here.

Once both agree the price and when you pay, you give the discounted amount as a celebration for the day. This is what people in Edo era were doing.

If you want to enjoy, why don't you try?

When a deal comes through, the sellers and even people standing around you will give you a little surprise. You stand up with kumade on your hands and people will close with "tejime" a hand- clapping ceremony. They made a special call. We all clapped our hands together and people around you will enjoy the call as well. This call and hand clapping, you will hear everywhere on the day.

You will feel old Japanese culture at this festival.

First market starts at twelve midnight on 2nd Nov and lasts 24 hours.

We will post about this year Ichinotori on this blog. Please wait for it!

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