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