Come by Shimokitazawa Tengu Matsuri for an cool cultural experience. Main parade on Saturday, February 1, 2020, 1:30pm – 4:00pm.
If you are into lots of bean throwing (for good luck) and goblins / Tengu, this is a very interesting festival in the center of Tokyo. Tengu are supernatural creatures that appear in Japanese folklore. They are seen as protective or guardian spirits to be respected, if not somewhat feared.
At Setsubun, beans are traditionally scattered as a way of expelling bad luck while people shout “Oni-wa-soto!” or “Demons outside!” to chase away evil spirits. However, at the Shimokitazawa Tengu Festival we scatter the beans while saying “Fuku-wa-uchi” or “Good Luck/Fortune inside” three times and never say “Demons outside”. The reason behind this is that it is believed that evil naturally dissipates in an atmosphere that is full of happiness.
During “Tengu Dochu” parade, staff in large Tengu costumes and Crow Tengu costumes parade through the Shimokitazawa Shopping District while throwing “Fukumame” or “good luck beans.”
There are also events on Friday and Sunday, but the main parade is on Saturday.
大天狗・鳥天狗を中心として、山伏・福男・福女が下北沢の商店街を御利益のある福豆をまきながら練り歩きます。
下北沢の節分祭は、「福は内」を３回唱える豆のまき方。「鬼は外」とは決して唱えません。なぜならば、福が充満することで鬼はおのずと退散するであろうという宗派の考え方から来ているからです。しかも天狗様は、家内安全・商売繁盛・厄除開運・合格祈願などなど…つまりみんなの願い事ならすべて聞き入れてくれるという神様なのです。
このお祭りは下北沢商店連合会、世田谷区、中・小学校、地元企業の協賛してくださる方々と手を取り合い守り続けている伝統行事です。
主催 / 下北沢一番街商店街振興組合 後援 / 世田谷区
天狗まつり特設会場スタートPM1：30→PM4：00ゴール後にも天狗まつり特設会場で豆まきがあるよ！
時 間：午後1時30分～午後4時
Organizer and contact (Japanese): www.shimokita-tengu.com
(English & Japanese): http://www.shimokita1ban.com/en/tengu
via Tokyo’s Festivals:
Tokyo’s Festivals presents an overview on Tokyo’s great festivals (mostly free festivals about food, culture, fireworks and music), so that more people find out about Tokyo’s best events. If you are interested in festivals in Tokyo, feel free to visit and like their page (Link: fb.com/TokyosFestivals) and follow their instagram (Link: instagram.com/tokyosfestivals).
