Wednesday, November 27, 2013

(440) Birds and rakes


If I find time I will make a small feature abut Tori no Ichi (酉の市) –I wrote something about it in Greecejapan last year- but for now and in a haste, it is a fair held in the Otori Jinja shrine at the northern part of Asakusa every November on the days that, according to the old calendar, were dedicated to the rooster; this means that depending on the year/dates these days can be two or three. The fair is in essence a market were people sell a rake called “kumade” (熊手) decorated with various talismans and charms for god luck and prosperity. The last few years, a ceremonial dance featuring the bird-kami enshrined there has been added to the festivities.

(For a bigger version of this picture both in color and black and white, check my "Japan Arekore" set on Flickr)

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