At the Kasama Akutai Festival, 13 people dressed as tengu visit 16 shrines

A tengu procession and exchanges among festivalgoers

The festival is organized by representatives of Atago Shrine. The venue, Iizuna Shrine, is north of Atago Shrine, which is considered one of Japan’s three great shrines for protection against fire.

During the procession, 13 people dressed as tengu in white robes visit 16 shrines and make offerings. A distinctive feature is that festivalgoers call out phrases such as “You idiot!” and “Walk faster!” to one another as they compete to grab the offerings. If you’re planning to watch, keep in mind that the festival includes not only the line of tengu but also these shouted exchanges and the action around the offerings.

There are several theories about the festival’s origins

The origins of the Akutai Festival are unclear, and several explanations have been passed down. One theory links it to the “Akutai Festival,” held to drive away vengeful spirits and disease; another says a local lord used the insults to find out what residents were unhappy about in their daily lives. Rather than treating any one account as the definitive origin, bear in mind that there are multiple theories and take an interest in the background to the festivalgoers’ exchanges.