Kotohira Ohtori Shrine Tori No Ichi Festival 2024

This festival is held towards the end of each year at Kotohira Ohtori Shrine, where the deity of thriving business was worshipped. Apparently, in the old days it used to be a festival exclusively for the samurai class, but the firm faith of the merchants and the people of the geisha quarter in this festival for the deity of goodluck and protection led the Tori No Ichi fair to become a lively affair each November. The festival is held once every twelfth day so in some years it is held two or three times. Most of the outside stalls sell kumade (rake-shaped good luck amulets) acompanied by the sound of rythmic clapping, and the whole lively event is a constant reminder of the start of winter. The festival was officialy designated as an intangible cultural asset on November 1, 1991.