| However, Tokyo is not the city that can | | | | While mikoshi is displayed to the |
| boast its ancient holidays it became | | | | public, there are dances and songs |
| the capital only in 19th century and, | | | | performed by the holiday participants. |
| therefore most of its celebrations | | | | Also, hawker's stands appear all over |
| appeared later. But what is special | | | | the place, where you can buy traditional |
| about Tokyo is that there are a lot of | | | | festive food such as okonomiyaki |
| events here. | | | | pancakes with eggs and cabbage as well |
| According to the Japanese hand-book, the | | | | as yakisoba buckwheat noodles. |
| Japanese prefecture celebrates about 900 | | | | There are traditional trading holidays |
| holidays annually. For instance, if you | | | | here as well. For example, in November, |
| walk along the city on Saturday or | | | | when the hen day comes (in Japan, every |
| Sunday, you are most likely to encounter | | | | day is dedicated to some animal), there |
| some street procession. Yet none of the | | | | are kumade amulets sold in two of the |
| holidays are alike, even though the | | | | Tokyo temples. According to the popular |
| Shinto celebration scheme is more or | | | | belief, kumades help keep off the evil |
| less the same. The idea of this religion | | | | forces and is translated as "the bear |
| is rather simple. However, the | | | | paw". They are created of rice straw, |
| simplicity of the doctrine is | | | | piny branches, and the strange object |
| compensated by the complexity, vividness | | | | that looks like rake (the "bear paw" |
| and gorgeousness of its rituals. | | | | itself). |
| Since childhood, Japanese children are | | | | Buddhist holidays are also celebrated |
| surrounded with holiday atmosphere. For | | | | here - but Buddhist and Shinto temples |
| example, 15th of November is the "7-5-3" | | | | are usually visited by the same people: |
| day when children of 7, 5 and 3 years | | | | they celebrate at Shinti temples, but |
| old dress special kimono (that is only | | | | bury only in Buddhist. Nevertheless, |
| weared once in a lifetime), go to the | | | | thanks to the long co-existence of these |
| temple and get a gift. The older boys | | | | two religions, nowadays there are joyous |
| take more active part in holidays the | | | | and noisy holidays celebrated at the |
| help carry the holiday taiko drum. | | | | Buddhist temples as well. |
| The other important Shinto holiday | | | | Thus, at the Asakusa Tokyo district you |
| attribute is the mikoshi portable shrine | | | | can find two temples not far from each |
| with a sacred object inside. Outside, | | | | other that seem to compete in their |
| wooden mikoshi is gilded and adorned | | | | importance. After the mikoshi parade, |
| with various figures (most often it is | | | | there comes the Buddhist holiday of |
| birds' heads). Robustly built men | | | | gilded dragon, which is carried by the |
| dressed in special kimonos carry the | | | | four experienced puppeteers. After the |
| shrine along the streets, but nowadays, | | | | performance, the dragon is displayed |
| this role is sometimes played by women. | | | | more closely to the public. |