The Shinkosai Festival of Mishima Shrine in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City, was held on September 15, 2024. About 250 local parishioners and foreigners carried a large portable shrine and a sword pole while shouting the spirited chant "Hoitto, hoitto" and prayed for a good harvest.
The portable shrine parade of the Shinkosai festival had long ceased due to a lack of carriers, but was revived in 2003. The large portable shrine was decorated with a phoenix and was decorated with freshly harvested rice, and was carried by parishioners wearing white happi coats to Sanjusangendo. At Umamachi intersection on Higashioji-dori, a tsujimawashi was performed, and residents applauded.
Kai Peterson (35 Years old), a company employee from Germany who participated in the portable shrine procession, said, "Japanese festivals have an atmosphere that you can't experience in Europe. It's fun to meet so many people." Chief priest Shigeomi Tomoda (54 Years old) was pleased, saying, "We're seeing more participants from various regions, and it's becoming more lively."
