Archive 2021 · Sanja Matsuri, a "Religious Festival"

Charlie San
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Sanja Matsuri, a "Religious Festival"

When I was a young man, new to photography and Japan, I roamed around Tokyo whenever I could, learning as much as I could about my new obsessions. One day I happened upon the Sanja Matsuri in Asakusa, Tokyo and even took part in the festivities. While a religious festival, it is a raucous affair with neighborhood groups toting around 100 mikoshi through the streets, jostling and racing each other, and partying over 3 days. Back then we gaijins (foreigners) were a bit rare so I could join different groups carrying the portable shrines, pushing and shoving, sweating, swigging sake and beer, yelling, grunting, swearing, and, did I mention the alcohol? Here are some images from back then, around the end of the 60s.

https://photos.smugmug.com/Natsukashii/Sanja-Matsuri/i-RRgfQH7/0/d08f4790/M/Mikoshi__24-M.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/Natsukashii/Sanja-Matsuri/i-432tqS5/0/2ae88e10/M/Mikoshi_1-M.jpg

I always wanted to return to that event, and maybe my lost youth, and found that I would again be in Tokyo during that time. My wife said I shouldn't go, that I am too old and I'd get hurt or worse, but I did. I believe it was more tame than I remember, or maybe I am, but here are some recent images.

https://photos.smugmug.com/Santa-Fe-Workshop-Portfolio/i-NkRmsQM/0/0ebd28b3/XL/05202018_0657-XL.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/Santa-Fe-Workshop-Portfolio/i-3WfPQ4x/0/5ee91465/XL/Sanja%20Matsuri%20Cafe-XL.jpg

It is sometimes known as the Yakuza Festival too because the yakuza participate in this festival and often bare their full body tattoos. I actually attended a yakuza outdoor event before the official start of the parades but maybe those images are for another day. The festival is generally held mid May so there is still time to make it if you should visit soon. (PM me and I will tell you where the yakuza party). If you should be in Denver instead, the last print will be in the Lone Tree Photography Show this June.

May 06, 2021 at 01:02 PM

Danpbphoto
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Sanja Matsuri, a "Religious Festival"

Wonderful, colorful and unique images all! Tonality great it the b/w's and the color images are fine!
A rare breed the yakuza! Don't mess with them!
Dan

May 07, 2021 at 09:01 AM

352Digi
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Sanja Matsuri, a "Religious Festival"

Great images, past and present! Reminds me of festivals I saw, and adventures I had, during my time there with the Navy a few decades ago.
Thanks!
Paul

May 08, 2021 at 02:36 PM

dallvr
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Sanja Matsuri, a "Religious Festival"

Fascinating! Is the Yakuza Festival a "just for men" event or are women welcome to spectate?

May 08, 2021 at 06:57 PM

JohnSil
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Sanja Matsuri, a "Religious Festival"

Charlie, great shots! How colorful those B&W's would have been had they been in color. The first B&W has great clarity, sharpness and light. What did you shoot those with vs now?
Reminds me of when I was a young man roaming the world as well as parts of Asia. Interestingly enough, like you, there are things I remember fondly and when I've returned 30-40 years later much has changed! Yet I see young people, backpackers, and often talk to them and They tell me how glad they are to have been there before it's all gone or changes for the worse!!! They are probably thinking, "what a crazy old man"! LoL
But that's everywhere including our home towns, time simply does not stand still!
John

May 09, 2021 at 02:04 AM

Charlie San
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Sanja Matsuri, a "Religious Festival"

Thank you all for your comments. In answer to several questions. My first serious camera was a Petri SLR. Most of my peers were buying Minolta, Topcon, Pentax, and Nikon and sat around extolling the virtues of each. I just wanted to see Tokyo, the Japanese, and photograph them. My first cameras were destroyed in a fall in the Middle East and I then shot a Canon F1. When digital came around, first Nikon and now Sony.

Women participate in the Sanja Matsuri and join in carrying their neighborhood's mikoshi and there are even children mikoshi in the streets too, but I did not see any women carrying the yakuza shrine. I think that is because it is one of the more violent parades. Often you might see yakuza riding on top of their mikoshi urging their folks on although that is supposedly prohibited. There were many women, wives, girl friends partying beforehand and even yakuza families on the sidewalks cheering the mikoshi on. Another odd thing, I did not see any mikoshi being prepared by the Yakuza as you would see in the Asakusa neighborhoods before the parades, it just appeared when the parades were to start.

What surprised me was the many gaijin associates partying with the Yakuza, even ones with full body tattoos themselves and I am not sure what their affiliation is/was. Some I suppose are friends, followers, wannabees, and some, from the looks of them, in the businesses, if you know what I mean.

I have a set of galleries from the matsuri here: https://www.occasionalgaijin.com/Tokyo/Sanja-Matsuri-Festival but I don't want to narrow down the focus any more to the yakuza than I think appropriate. I visit Japan frequently and I don't want to rub anyone the wrong way. I have included more images, some regarding questions asked.

https://photos.smugmug.com/Tokyo/Sanja-Matsuri-Festival/Yakusa-Gathering/i-VrTF2Zv/0/ac16662a/M/05202018_0335-M.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/Tokyo/Sanja-Matsuri-Festival/Yakusa-Gathering/i-p3LMxdM/0/f16810c1/M/05202018_0400-M.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/Tokyo/Sanja-Matsuri-Festival/Yakusa-Gathering/i-336DVhT/0/d423df54/M/05202018_0385-M.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/Tokyo/Sanja-Matsuri-Festival/Yakusa-Gathering/i-Hs8VRCf/0/18638a48/L/05202018_0452-L.jpg

May 09, 2021 at 11:21 AM


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