O-Eshiki is a Buddhist festival commemorating Nichiren Shonin, who passed away at Ikegami on October 13,1282. It is celebrated from 11th to 13th. Especially the festival reaches its height on the eve of October 13, or the night of 12th from 19:00 to 24:00, with parades of mando and of matoi (firemans standards of the Edo period) accompanied by flutes and drums. The festival attracts hundreds of thousands of spectators. Mando, which literally means “10,000 lanterns, ”is something like a huge umbrella about 5 meters in height. In its original from it resembled a candle stand but has since become an elaborate structure built in the from of a five-story pagoda with the Daimoku (Namu-Myohorenge-Kyo) or pictures of Nichiren's life depicted on the side. Rows of artificial cherry blossoms are hung from the top, and the pagoda pole is lighted inside.
One of the many melodies heard during the Oeshiki Mando Parade. Their are several different melodies that are played by different groups during the parade.
The parade winds through the streets of Ikegami, up the main stairs to the Temple, to the Shoshido then to the Hondo. Behind the Hondo sits a mausoleum with some of the relics of Nichiren Daishonin. It is after paying respects that each group is finished in the Parade. We were very fortunate to be able to march with members of Joen-Ji temple of Tokyo. Reverend Koga was happy to let us join his group. We had a very invigorating and enjoyable experience. Many Temple groups were in the parade. We ended up being toward the beginning of the parade which allowed us to see much of the rest of it after we finished our march.
Our groups Mondo.
A Mondo in the shape of Nichiren Shonin.
Group pictures.
Nichiren Shonin's Mausoleum at Ikegami Honmon-Ji
Viewing the Mondo of groups who are finished with the parade.
A vendor selling a very popular fair food in Japan.
The parade winds through the streets of Ikegami, up the main stairs to the Temple, to the Shoshido then to the Hondo. Behind the Hondo sits a mausoleum with some of the relics of Nichiren Daishonin. It is after paying respects that each group is finished in the Parade. We were very fortunate to be able to march with members of Joen-Ji temple of Tokyo. Reverend Koga was happy to let us join his group. We had a very invigorating and enjoyable experience. Many Temple groups were in the parade. We ended up being toward the beginning of the parade which allowed us to see much of the rest of it after we finished our march.
A Mondo in the shape of Nichiren Shonin.
Viewing the Mondo of groups who are finished with the parade.