東京では入谷の「朝顔市」が夏の訪れを告げるように、「盆踊り」が夏の終わりを告げます。
Just as
the Iriya “Asagao-ichi 朝顔市Morning-glory festival
markets” marks the beginning of summer in Tokyo, “Bon-odori 盆踊り Dancing” marks the end of summer.
At the
end of August, Tokyo’s “Shitamachi 下町 Low city” area is
alive with “Bon-odori Dancing” in the hot evenings.
The
Buddhist “Urabon-e 盂蘭盆会” is abbreviated as “Obon お盆” or just “Bon 盆”.
“Obon” is
a Japanese Buddhist custom to reunion with the spirits of one’s ancestors.
In
ancient village societies, “Matsuri 祭り Festival” dances
were an entertainment that played a functional role in strengthening village
unity.
“Obon”
is an event that blends Buddhism and ancient Japanese beliefs to enshrine the
spirits of ancestors.
In “Heian-jidai
Furthermore,
it was disseminated by “Ippen shōnin 一遍上人 Saint Ippen” in
the “Kamakura-jidai 鎌倉時代 Period”.
Build a temporary
“Yagura 櫓 Tower” with a platform at a high place
in the center of the plaza.
At
platform, older and more skilled dancers lit by “Chōchin 提灯 Lanterns” perform as models for the crowd.
Many people
line up in a circle around a “Yagura Tower” and dance along with the “Ondo 音頭 Dance song”.
Anyone
can participate in “Bon-odori Dancing”.
It is important
that “Bon-odori Dancing” is nothing spectacular to watch.
This is
why preserving it just to demonstrate it as a former custom loses much of its
meaning.
The fun,
the excitement, the socialization is in the dancing, moving to the beat of the “Taiko
太鼓
Drums”, wearing colorful “Yukata” in the summer heat,
surrounded by friends and neighbors.
「下町」に住む多くの日本人にとって、夏は東京入谷の「朝顔市」で「朝顔」を買うまで正式に始まりません。
For many
Japanese, summer does not officially start until they buy “Asagao 朝顔 Morning glories” at “Asagao Ichi 朝顔市 Morning glory Fair” in Tokyo “Iriya 入谷”.
“Asagao Ichi Fair” is held early July every year for three days, in front
of “Kishibojin 鬼子母神 Temple”, just east of “Ueno-kōen 上野公園 Park”.
“Asagao”
became so popular that “Hana-zumō 花相撲 Competition” was
held in the late “Edo-jidai 江戸時代 Period”.
More
than 700 varieties have been created, and “Asagao Morning glory” with yellow
flowers is also recorded.
“Asagao
Morning grolies” were began to be widely cultivated by the gardeners who lived
in fields around “Iriya” since the early “Meiji
At that
time, the entertainment district “Yoshiwara 吉原” was able to see from “Iriya”.
The production of “Asagao Morning glory” declined with the urbanization,
and “Asagao Ichi Fair” ceased after “Taishō (1912-1926) era”.
However,
in 1948 (Showa 23) shortly “Sen-go 戦後 After the WWII”, “Asagao Ichi Fair” was revived.
Today “Asagao
Morning glories” are carried by trucks to “Iriya” from the northern and eastern
outskirts of Tokyo.
“Uriko 売り子 Vendors” add color to “Asagao Ichi Fair” as “Asagao Morning glories”.
They
range from farmers, florists, students, and “Tekiya 的屋 Professional vendors” who work in the “Yatai 屋台 Temporary stalls” at local “Matsuri 祭り Festivals”.
彼らの多くは、体にフィットした伝統的な藍染の衣装(ズボンとシャツ)を身に着けています。
Many of
them wear traditional tight-fitting indigo costumes (trousers and shirts).
And they
wear a dark blue “Haragake 腹掛けApron” with a kangaroo
pocket for money in front of it.
The thin
towels or indigo-printed “Tenugui
They
wear “Zōri
They make
calls, take poses, and give detailed explanations.
You can enjoy
just watching their movements.
「酉の市」は、11月に中国暦の「酉」の日に開催される有名な年中行事です。
“Tori no
Ichi 酉の市
Fair (Open-air market)” is a famous annual event in November
on the day of “Tori 酉 Rooster” in Chinese calendar.
「酉の市」は、「江戸時代」から今日まで続いています。
“Tori no
Ichi Fair” has continued to today since “Edo-jidai Period”.
「酉の市」は、浅草の「長國寺」をはじめ、各地にある「鷲」の「神社」で行われています。
“Tori no
Ichi Fair” is held at “Chōkoku-ji 長國寺 Temple” in
Asakusa or various “Jinja 神社 Shrines” of “Washi 鷲 Eagle”.
多くの人が訪れ、開運招福・商売繁盛を願います。
Many
people come to there to pray for a health, good fortune and good business.
「江戸時代」、「酉の市」は新年を迎える最初の「祭り」とされていました。
In “Edo-jidai
Period”, “Tori no Ichi Fair” was the first “Matsri 祭り Festival” for welcoming New Year.
「松尾芭蕉」の弟子の「其角」が、「春を待つ 事のはじめや 酉の市」と詠みました。
“Kikaku 其角” who was a pupil of the most famous Japanese haiku poet “Mastuo
Basho 松尾芭蕉” wrote “Haru-wo-matsu Koto-no-hajime-ya Tori no Ichi” (“People are look
forward to come spring of new year at Tori no Ichi Fair”.).
11月の最初に巡ってくる「酉」
Generally,
“Ichi no Tori 一の酉” that is held at the first day of “Tori
Rooster” in November is most important.
12日おきに「酉」の日が巡ってくるため、その年によって、「酉の市」は2回または3回開催されます。
The day
of “Tori Rooster” comes every 12 days, so depending on the year, “Tori no Ichi”
are held 2 or 3 times.
ちなみに、「三の酉」まである年は、火事が多いと言われてきました。
By the
way, it has been said that there is a lot of fire in a certain year held “San no
Tori
江戸近郊の「花又村(現在の足立区花畑)」にある「大鷲神社」で、「酉の市」が始まったと言われています。
“Tori no
Ichi Fair” started at “Ōtori-jinja 大鷲神社 Shrine” in “Hanamata-mura
花又村(Now, Hanabatake, Adachi-ku)Village” located in
a suburb of Edo.
当初は農民が「鷲大明神」に感謝した「収穫祭」であったと伝えられています。
Its
original form was “Shūkaku-sai 収穫祭 Harvest festival”
by peasants who thank to “Washi-daimyōjin 鷲大明神 Diety”.
「祭り」の日、「氏子」たちは「鷲大明神」に鶏を奉納し、終わると集まった鶏は浅草の浅草寺まで運び、観音堂前に放してやったといわれます。
The day
of “Matsuri
「長國寺」は、1630(寛永7)年に開山しました。
“Chōkoku-ji
Temple” was established in 1630.
当時11月酉の日に鷲山寺(現在の千葉県茂原市)の「鷲大明神(鷲妙見大菩薩)」の「出開帳」が行われていました。That time, “Washi-daimyōjin Deity (Washi-myōken Daibosatsu
鷲妙見大菩薩 a statue of Bodhisattva)” had been carried to Chōkoku-ji Temple”
from “Jusen-ji 鷲山寺 Temple” (Now Mobara city, Chiba
prefecture.) and unveiled in November on the day of the “Tori 酉”.
「鷲大明神」が、1771(明和8)年に鷲山寺から浅草「長國寺」へ勧請されました。
The divided
spirit of “Washi-daimyōjin Diety” was enshrined at “Chōkoku-ji Temple” in 1771.
長國寺の「鷲妙見大菩薩」の「ご開帳」の日に立つ「門前市」から「酉の市」が始まりました。
“Tori no
Ichi Fair” of “Chōkoku-ji Temple” started as “Monzen Ichi 門前市 Fair” held in front of Temple gate on the day of “Go-Kaicho ご開帳 Exhibition” of image of “Washi-myōken Bodhisattva”.
「江戸時代」の「酉の市」は、「花又村」が『本の酉』、千住が『中の酉』、浅草が『新の酉』と呼ばれていました。
At “Edo-jidai
Period”, “Tori no Ichi Fair” at “Hanamatamura” was called “Hon no Tori 本の酉”, the fair at “Senju 千住” was called “Naka
no Tori 中の酉” and the fair in “Asakusa” was called “Shin
no Tori 新の酉”.
「長国寺」は、「新吉原」の西隣にあり、「長國寺」の「酉の市」が最も有名になりました。
Because “Chokoku-ji
Temple” was adjacent to West side of “Shin-Yoshiwara 新吉原 Pleasure quarter”, so “Tori no Ichi Fair” of “Chōkoku-ji Temple” became
most famous.
「新吉原」は、「酉の市」の日に限って「大門」以外の門も開放して祭りの賑わいに華を添えました。
“Shin-Yoshiwara
Pleasure quarter” opened not only “Ō-mon
「酉の市」での代表的な名物は、縁起物の「熊手」です。
A
special thing on “Tori no Ichi Fair” was “Kumade
「江戸っ子」は、金銀財宝を飾った「熊手」で、運を「かっ込む」、福を「はき込む」と言って、開運招福・商売繁盛を願いました。
“Edokko 江戸っ子 Natives of Edo” said that scramble fortune and luck by “Kumade
Decorated Rake” with treasures of gold and silver, and pray for better fortune,
happiness and prosperity in business.
翌年の更なる招福を願って、「熊手」は年々大きな熊手に換えてゆくのが良いとされます。
It is
said that to bring happiness for New Year is to change a bigger “Kumade
Decorated Rake year by year.