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"Ebisu-kou festival", the festival at the beginning of winter

Ebisu-Kou festival -officially called “Ebisu Taisai” (“Taisai” is a big festival annually held)- is a festival of Ebisu shrine in Hiroshima.

It is held from November 18th through 20th every year, and also known that it tells the winter has come. This annual festival has been held for more than 400 years, and even in 1945, only 3 months after the atomic bomb was dropped, people somehow held this festival.

Through these three days, the surrounding department stores and shops hold a huge bargain, and large number of people come around.

What do you think “Ebisu” is by the way?

Try to search “Shichifukujin” images on the internet. You will see many pictures that show seven gods. Out of them, the one holding a fishing rod and a fish, is the Ebisu god.

It used to be a god of fishery, but nowadays, it is known as a god of success in business.

At this Ebisu-kou festival, you will see a very unique thing in different sizes being sold everywhere.
ebisu-kou festival, hiroshima, winter

It is actually called “Komazarae”, and it is a “rake”. It has a meaning that “collect good fortunes (good lucks) by “Komazarae” and success in business!”.
After you buy “Komazarae”, you can get prayed for at Ebisu shrine.
*getting prayed for will be charged.

Ebisu Shrine

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