The Aboshi cho-chin (lantern) smashing festival was one festival I missed last year that I really wanted to see. So I am very happy that I got to see it this year! We went to the shrine in Aboshi - about 10mins by train from Himeji and walked along the street lined with all sorts of yum festival foods! Taube and I then got very close to the action as portable shrines began to come down the street and then also be shaken up and down! It was amazing to see them up close though and you could see the beads of sweat on the guys carrying them! We then went into the shrine and that is when the real fun began! Many men with lanterns came into the area and were chanting and all was calm and then it was on! Lanterns were being smashed everywhere! And even once they were smashed they still kept going until someone blew a whistle to call it off! This happened a few times! The meaning behind this festival is a little unsure but my teacher thinks that the more lanterns that are smashed or how quickly they are smashed relates to how much good health and luck the people in the community will have for the coming year and harvest. It was an amazing night and I would definitely go again!
The torii leading to the shrine and all the yum food!
The portable shrines were carried past us so close!
Up close the portable shrines look so good- especially when they are lit up at night - once again so so close!
The lanterns so calm and peaceful
Then it is all on!
And still they keep going!
Even Medama Oyaji (animae character) gets beaten!
And his eye/head is destroyed!
I met many of my students from last year here as the junior high school is nearby - they were so excited!
Yum sweets and so pretty!
Yum okonomiyaki on a stick (chopsticks)
Beautiful lanterns outside a house - not for smashing!
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