Sanja Matsuri ｜ 三社祭

 

Sanja Matsuri (三社祭) is one of the three great Shinto festivals of Edo (江戸) and has been celebrated the same way each year since approximately 1605. The name "Sanja" (三社), however, comes from a much earlier period when present day Asakusa Shrine (浅草神社), the center of the festival, used to be called Sanja Daigongen Shrine (三社大権現神社). For this reason some scholars say that the origins of the festival probably date back before the 17th century... [read more, see the video] 

Rising Sun: 七夕まつり ｜ Tanabata Festival

Rising Sun: 七夕まつり　｜　Tanabata Festival: This past week my wife and I traveled to her hometown, Sendai, to spend time with family and to give me my first chance to enjoy the famous Sendai Tanabata Festival (仙台七夕まつり "Sendai Tanabata Matsuri") together with them. The festival of Tanabata is celebrated throughout Japan at slightly different times, most commonly on July 7th (7/7), but not everywhere. The festival in Sendai is particularly famous and known by people all over the world... [read more]