Omikoshi Kids – Sanja Maturi in Asakusa
At the huge and glorious Sanjamatsuri in Tokyo’s Asakusa district earlier this month I took these snaps as a children’s omikoshi passed me on the street. The adults have their huge and probably pretty dangerous omikoshi or portable shrines, and some teams organize these tiny omioshi, often on wheels and pulled with ropes, for the youngest members of the community. Adults accompany the omikoshi and encourage the children to take full part, including screaming, chanting and drumming as much and as hard as they can. Since Japanese kids are much much more quiet than kids in all other countries I have visited, I think this screaming practice is good for them and their self confidence! And they sure look great in their patchwork festival outfits!
Is it just me or do some of the kids look annoyed? ^-^;
Haha… I think they were taking the instructions of the leader very seriously, he was urging them to really put all their strength in there! There little yells were adorable! (^-^)