MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Hundreds of thousands of Japanese residents turned out for Toukasan, one of the three major festivals in Hiroshima, June 4-6.
Toukasan is the summer festival for the god of Touka Daimyojin at Enryuji Temple, Mikawa-cho, Hiroshima City.
The event also marks the beginning of Yukata wearing season. Yukata is a summer kimono of lightweight cotton, especially popular with the young women.
"This is usually the start of wearing yukata for the season," said Yoko Seo, Station culture specialist. "Girls enjoy the night in their yukata. Other people pray to Touka Daimyojin at Enryuji Temple for good luck."
During the three days of the festival, hundreds of street vendors with games and snack foods appear along Chuo Dori Avenue, including popular goldfish scooping, balloon fishing, grilled cuttlefish and more.
The festival site was jammed with children in Yukatas and young couples indulging in kakigori, a flavored shaved ice. Meanwhile, a parade of cheerful bon-dance dancers celebrated the coming of summertime.
"Bon Odori (bon-dancing) is forming a circle and dancing in a lively way together with min-yo (Japanese traditional folk music)," said Seo. "People used to dance for the repose of deceased spirits and it changed into a folk dance."
Yakuyoke uchiwa, a fan to ward off evil, was sold as a Toukasan specialty at the festival. Participants were reminded of bygone days by the sight of little girls with these fans.
Today, the Toukasan Festival is recognized as a seasonal event to let people know of the arrival of summer. Festival attendance averages as many as 450,000 every year.
The history of Toukasan dates back to when Lord Nagaakira Asano built Enryuji upon his arrival to Hiroshima in 1619.
Toukasan Festival has been popular among citizens for over 380 years. The object of worship, Toukasan is the guardian of Hokke-kyo Buddhism. Touka is one of the two pronunciations for the Japanese word, which is more commonly read inari. Inari means the deity of grain.
"Toukasan gave good fortune to the people of Hiroshima," said Seo.