 Image search results - "toshikoshi" |
Sign near Bannaji temple saying that the warrior procession would start at 7 pm.
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On the way to Bannaji temple, this statue of the Ashikaga lord.
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Gate to Bannaji temple. It is actually an arched bridge.
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Gate to Bannaji temple.
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Behind the gate to Bannaji temple.
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After going through the gate, there's this path to the temple hall. Now lined with food stalls during the festival.
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Plum trees
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Bannaji temple main hall.
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Carrying wooden boxes of beans.
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At one point along the procession route (a major road), there was a rest station where they served free ama-zake (sweet sake). The hot drink warmed us up.
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On Feb. 3, the Yoroi Toshikoshi Shuko festival is held in the evening with a warrior procession going to Bannaji. Start of the warrior procession consisting of local children, men, and women. The procession started at Orihime Kominkan. 織姫公民館
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Since it is held at night in the middle of winter, dress warmly.
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Going over the arched bridge at Bannaji temple.
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Yoroi Toshikoshi Shuko festival, Ashikaga, Tochigi.
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Once in a while, they would shout a war cry.
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Yoroi Toshikoshi Shuko festival, Ashikaga, Tochigi.
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I saw at least two foreigners also dressed up as well.
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Yoroi Toshikoshi Shuko festival, Ashikaga, Tochigi.
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They all entered Bannaji temple by crossing the narrow arched bridge.
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Within the grounds of Bannaji temple, they all gathered at this small outdoor stage.
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After a few speeches, they got boxes of beans and threw them at us, but only the people up front got hit with beans.
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The bean throwing was very short, both time-wise and distance-wise.
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The bean-throwing was disappointing at Yoroi Toshikoshi Shuko festival in Ashikaga, Tochigi. Few beans and they hardly reached anybody.
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Japan's oldest school.
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