Reminiscences of the Shinagawa Shukuba Matsuri 2024

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The Shukuba Matsuri Festival, with a full lineup of oiran (courtesans)!
The Shinagawa Shukuba Matsuri 2024 was previously announced on this site. The event ended with a light rain. So I have seen and heard a part of the festival, and I would like to report on the event! For those who wanted to participate but could not due to circumstances, or those who are wondering what kind of festival it is, this is a must-see?

Shinagawa Shukuba Matsuri Festival

In 2024, the Shinagawa Shukuba Matsuri was held on September 28 and 29, and in addition to the Shukuba Night held on the 28th and the Shinagawa Shukuba Matsuri Procession Traffic Safety Parade held on the 29th, I went to the Shinagawa-dera Temple fire-walking procession, which I had been curious about for some time, as I walked around the area to cover the event.

In fact, I had participated in the festival last year in 2023, but due to circumstances beyond my control, I was unable to publish an article about it. I would like to take this opportunity to report on last year's and this year's festivals, respectively.

A gem of an encounter... ★ The 2023 edition

Beer server and draft beer directly from the factory. Not available this year (2024).
People enjoying the festival dressed in Edo style costumes. There were people in a wide variety of costumes, and it was like stepping back in time to the Edo period!
They dressed and posed as if they were out of a period drama!

I took this photo of a man strutting around in Western-style attire! He stood out from the crowd on the main street, where the people around him were mainly dressed in kimono, chonmage, and town girls. He was wearing a cloak and hat, and on his waist was a Japanese sword or saber? Was it a saber? I could not ask for details, but she looked quite dignified!

★ Various gems of encounters... ★ 2024 edition

In 2024, I went to see the parade on September 29th in full force. The weather was unfortunately cloudy with occasional light drizzle, but the parade went off without a hitch, with a police car with a traffic safety banner at the front, a brass band, a drum and fife corps, and a costume parade of people dressed in Edo costumes chosen from among those who had applied for the festival. The parade was held on the 28th, the day before the festival, for the first time in five years, and the parade participants were as glamorous as peony blossoms as they walked down the street, swaying their bodies!
The traffic safety parade did its best in the light rain!
The flower form of the festival! Oiran Road Trip

It was hotter than I had imagined... [Shinagawa-dera Temple Firewalking Arakyo

The Shinagawa-dera Fire-walking Aragyo, which I learned about at last year's festival. Unfortunately, I was not able to see the event last year, and I was curious about it. This year, I went with a full heart! However, the turnout was slow and by the time I realized it, the inside of Shinagawa-dera was packed! I managed to get a place to take pictures and was able to capture the event. The fire-walking venue was overflowing with people, but as the prayers progressed, the fire grew more intense, and by the end, some people were using umbrellas to block the heat. Finally, some people were blocking the heat with umbrellas. I took advantage of the opportunity to get people in the front row to move back, and eventually was able to take pictures relatively far in front of the fire! The most memorable thing was that my face was unusually hot from the reflected heat of the flames, even though it was raining lightly....
Gomagibi (gomagibi) fire to burn gomagi (sacred sticks)
The fire was burning one after another, and it was so hot that the fire was gaining momentum!
I noticed that there were so many people lined up in a row!

After the shugenja had finished the fire-walking, the general public was invited to join in! "Really? I was looking at the line of participants, and it just kept getting longer and longer. I thought to myself, "This is a good opportunity, let's try it! I decided to join the queue and took part in the event! Crossing the street in a short run, I didn't feel so hot! It was a good experience.

★ Festival event only! A miraculous store connected by fate!　★ ★ 2023 edition ★ 2024 edition ★ Exclusive to the festival event!

Stalls where we stopped by in 2023

A very interesting signboard!

While strolling along the path, I noticed a poster of a delicious-looking Muscat Sour. I went closer and saw that it was called "Schwein Muscat! A single muscat on top of sparkling wine, it looked so cool and delicious! I had to try it! As I wandered up to the restaurant, I was greeted by a cheerful voice saying, "Welcome! I wandered up to the restaurant and was greeted by a cheerful voice saying, "Welcome! I immediately ordered a glass. The sparkling wine was so soft, and the muscat was so sweet that it almost made my cheeks melt! It was a delicious and heartwarming experience! When we asked the friendly staff about their business, they told us that they have been opening the store for three generations of junior high school classmates! The grandparents, parents, and children work together to plan the event, set up the location, place orders, open the store, and serve customers. Incidentally, the grapes served at the store are also ordered from an alumni greengrocer, which shows the strong solidarity rooted in the community! It was an evening that made me feel the depth of the "bond" in the community.

The name is "Schwein Muscat"!
The crystallization of three generations of childhood friends. This is the power of "kizuna" (bonds)!

Miraculous reunion in 2024!

This year again, as I wandered around the Shukuba Night by myself, I saw a sign that looked familiar. As I glanced around, I saw a sign that said, "Hey, is that the guy who came last year? You're the same person who came last year, right?" I heard a voice say, "Oh, you were here last year, too. I was surprised to hear a voice say, "Oh, you had a stall last year, too, didn't you? But you remembered so well! I was impressed. This time, he seemed busy, so I ordered a bottle of Schwein Muscat and left early. As I left, I apologized for not being able to write about it last year, and he said, "I have high hopes for this year! I hope to see you again this year! I am a little late, but I have made it into the article. Thank you for your cooperation!
An emotional reunion!
This year's wine was also delicious!

Through the experience of the Shinagawa Shukuba Festival

On the way home from the festival. The food stalls have been taken down, and it's back to the quiet life.
It was basically just an experience of wandering around by myself, but through the encounters with the people mentioned above, I could really feel the deep-rooted local love of the people in the community. Festivals are great, aren't they? When you go to a festival, you can feel the exciting atmosphere that only a festival can create. Whenever I see a food stall, I can't help but feel the urge to eat something, that sense of excitement. And when the festival is over and you are on your way home, you suddenly feel a sense of sadness and melancholy. These feelings are what drive me to want to go to the festival again. I hope you will have an enjoyable experience next year as well.

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