🎎 Kanda Matsuri

The "Kanda Shrine," widely known by the name "Kanda Myojin," holds an annual ritual festival that is famous among the public. It is considered one of Japan's three major festivals, alongside Kyoto's "Gion Matsuri" at Yasaka Shrine and Osaka's "Tenjin Matsuri" at Osaka Tenmangu. Historically, it was an official ceremony of the Edo Shogunate, earning it the nickname "Tenka Matsuri" (Festival of the Realm). It is said that Tokugawa Ieyasu prayed for victory at Kanda Shrine before going into battle. Nowadays, the "Hon Matsuri" (Main Festival) is held in odd-numbered years, while the "In Matsuri" (Shadow Festival) takes place in even-numbered years. Generally, when referring to the Kanda Matsuri, it means the Hon Matsuri in odd-numbered years. One of the most exciting highlights of the Kanda Matsuri is the "Shinkōsai" (Procession of the Deity), which takes place on the Saturday closest to May 15 during the year of the Hon Matsuri. Various teams, including portable shrines and others, parade through 108 neighborhoods in Kanda, Nihonbashi, Otemachi, Marunouchi, and Akihabara, praying for the removal of misfortune and disasters. Teams dressed in Heian period costumes and those pulling unique floats like giant catfish create a vibrant spectacle on the streets. Additionally, on the day following the Shinkōsai, there is a ceremony called "Mikoshi Mairi - Chiiki Togyo," where the portable shrines return to the shrine from the surrounding neighborhoods.

The annual festival of Kanda Shrine has been passed down since the Edo period. It is known as one of the "Three Great Festivals of Japan," alongside Kyoto's "Gion Matsuri" and Osaka's "Tenjin Matsuri." The highlight of the festival is the procession of the portable shrine and the unique floats during the "Shinkō-sai." The main festival, which includes events like the "Shinkō-sai," is held in odd-numbered years.