A giant lantern has been unveiled at the tower gate of Kitano Tenmangu Shrine in Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto City. It was donated by Daimaru Kyoto Store (Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto City) to coincide with the 2025-yearly "Manto Festival," and worshippers are paying close attention to the particularly large lantern, which is over 2 meters tall.
Tenmangu Shrine holds the "Daimanto Festival" every 50 years, and the Hanmanto Festival is held during that time. In preparation for 2027, which will mark 1,125 years since Michizane's death, the shrine grounds are currently lined with about 3,000 lanterns donated by parishioners and companies.
Daimaru Kyoto Store donated a giant lantern in 1952, the year of the Daimanto Festival, and this is the first time it has been donated in about 70 years. The lantern is made of Japanese paper, is 2.1 meters tall and 1.8 meters in diameter, and features the same Daimaru mark as in the Showa era.
It was unveiled on January 15th, and Daimaru Kyoto store manager Toshiko Yamazaki said in her speech, "I pray that it will light a warm fire in the hearts of the many people who visit Tenjin Shrine."
The giant lantern will remain flying until 2027.
