Sanja Matsuri

There is only one place to be one the 3rd weekend in May for those who love a good RAVE- Asakusa, in the heart of the shita-machi (the old Edo townsmans distict). It is there that the great Sanja Matsuri Festival is held for 3 days and the whole district seems to transform into one big Tengooz concert. The local residents spend 3 drunken, Baccanalian days, dressed in their colorful festival wear (each neighborhood has its own), shake rattle and roll with their portable shrines (omikoshi), which are extremely heavy and a very painful burden to shoulder. Getting in tune with the mesmerizing din created by their groups drummers and flute players the bearers withstand the pain by passionately chanting out Washoi,Washoi, building up a huge sweat and working the mood into a frenzied trance.
This years festivities were a little toned down as the biggest omikoshi were banned this year, apparently because some over enthusiasic Yakuza (gangsters) climbed a top of these sacred carts and showed off their fine tatood buts to the crowd.
I got up early in the morning to get there before the crowd became unmanageable. I watched the different groups gather, get ready and go into action. Things were pretty wild by 10:30 am and were quite raucus by noon.
The rythms, melodies and general spirit of passionate joy will hopefully inspire future TenGooz recordings and LIVES.

Avi landau