Sanja Matsuri
, or Sanja Festival, is one of the three largest Shinto festivals in Tokyo. It is considered one of the wildest and largest. The festival is held in honor of Hinokuma Hamanari, Hinokuma Takenari, and Hajino Nakatomo, the three men who established and founded the Sensō-ji Buddhist temple. Sanja Matsuri is held on the third weekend of every May at Asakusa Shrine. Its prominent parades revolve around three "mikoshi" (portable shrines referenced in the festival's name), as well as traditional music and dancing. Over the course of three days, the festival attracts 1.5 to 2 million locals  and tourists every year. History. Like many Japanese festivals, Sanja Matsuri is a religious celebration. It is a weekend-long Shinto festival that is dedicated to the "kami" (spirits) of three men. It is believed that two fishermen—brothers named Hinokuma Hamanari and Hinokuma Takenari—found a statuette of the Bodhisattva Kannon caught in a fishing net in the Sumida River on the early morning of March 18, 628. The third man, a wealthy landlord named Hajino Nakatomo, heard about the discovery, approached the brothers and converted them to Buddhism. The three men then devoted their lives to the Buddhist  faith and consecrated the statue in a small temple. This temple, now known as the Sensō-ji, currently houses the Kannon statue and is the oldest temple in Tokyo. The Sanja Matsuri appears to have many forms that date back as early as the 7th century, as well as several names such as "Kannon Matsuri" and "Asakusa Matsuri". Sanja Matsuri's present day form was established during the Edo period. In 1649, "shōgun" Tokugawa Iemitsu commissioned the construction of Asakusa Shrine, a Shinto shrine dedicated to the three "kami". The existence of this shrine helped to solidify the festival's  importance as well as its current structure and organization. Description of events. Religious in origin, Sanja Matsuri is primarily a festival of celebration. The atmosphere around Asakusa during the weekend of the festival is charged and energetic. People continuously flood the streets surrounding the Sensō-ji and flutes, whistles, chanting and "taiko" (traditional Japanese drums) can be heard throughout the district. The festival's main attractions are three Asakusa Shrine-owned "mikoshi" that appear on the third and final day of the festival. These three elaborate, black lacquered-wood shrines are built to act as miniature, portable versions of Asakusa  Shrine. Decorated with gold sculptures and painted with gold leaf, each "mikoshi" weighs approximately one ton and cost ¥40 million ($390,760 in 2008) to construct. They are carried on four long poles lashed together with ropes, and each needs approximately 40 people dispersed evenly to safely carry them. Throughout the day, a total of about 500 people participate in carrying each shrine. Because of the importance of these three "mikoshi", they are spectacles as they are carried through the streets. The areas immediately surrounding each shrine are busy with people, and as they are carried, they are shaken  and bounced vehemently. This action is believed to intensify the power of the "kami" that are seated in the shrines and helps to bestow good luck upon their respective neighborhoods. It is not unusual for there to be someone standing on the poles supporting the "mikoshi" shouting and waving in order to help direct the people carrying the shrine. This sense of direction can be essential when trying to keep the one ton "mikoshi" from accidentally colliding with street-side shops and causing considerable damage. While the three primary "mikoshi" are the most important objects roaming the streets during the  Sanja Matsuri, approximately 100 other smaller "mikoshi" are paraded through the neighborhood on Saturday. Of these shrines, several are solely carried by women or small children. Day by day. Though not a part of the festivities, the official start of the Sanja Matsuri begins on Thursday with an important religious ceremony. This ceremony requires Asakusa Shrine's head priest to perform a ritual that moves the enshrined "kami" of the three men at Asakusa Shrine to the three "mikoshi" that will be paraded around the Asakusa during the weekend. By opening the small doors located on each "mikoshi" (the interior  is obscured to the public by a small cotton curtain), the three spirits are invited into the miniature shrines where they will reside for the duration of the festival. The festival's more publicized beginning starts on Friday when the is held. This famous 19-block grand procession down Yanagi Street and Nakamise-dōri to Asakusa Shrine is an event that is used to energize the community. It is most known for its participants' lavish costumes, such as heron-hooded dancers, geisha and city officials wearing "hakama" (traditional Japanese clothing). Musicians, performers and dancers also parade down the streets of  Asakusa in traditional Japanese attire during the procession. In the evening, six "mikoshi" from the most central neighborhoods are sent parading through the streets on the shoulders of several dozen people. On the following day, Saturday, approximately 100 "mikoshi" from the 44 Asakusa districts gather at the Kaminarimon. They are then paraded through Nakamise-dōri and stop at the Hōzōmon where they pay their respects to Kannon. Afterwards, the "mikoshi" are carried to Asakusa Shrine where Shinto priests bless and purify them for the coming year. When the ceremony is completed, they are then carried back and paraded through their  respective neighborhoods. Sanja Matsuri's most important events occurs on the following Sunday. The procession of the three Asakusa Shrine-owned "mikoshi" begin their march down Nakamise-dōri toward the Kaminarimon early Sunday morning. These three elaborate shrines honor and represent the three men responsible for founding the Sensō-ji. During this final day of the festival, these important "mikoshi" are split up in order to visit and bestow blessing to all 44 districts of downtown and residential Asakusa. When evening falls, the three shrines find their way back to Asakusa Shrine in another grand procession that lasts late into  the night. Other attractions. In addition to the traditional events, Sanja Matsuri has several other popular draws. For example, festival goers can visit hundreds of shops found in the Nakamise, a street connecting the Kaminarimon and the Hōzōmon. Many small food stands are also erected in the surrounding areas for the entire weekend. Yakuza members also proudly show off their tattoos. Other spectacles that draw crowds are the Geisha and "taiko" performances that take place at specific times throughout the weekend. On Saturday and Sunday, Geisha that don their traditional attire put on performances from 1–3 p.m. on the second  floor of the Asakusa Kenban. These performances, which require visitors to purchase tickets, have been ranked as one of the 10 best Geisha shows in all of Japan. On Sunday afternoon, members of the Nihon Taiko Dojo, a prominent Tokyo "taiko" academy, perform a free half-hour traditional music show at Asakusa Shrine. Festival schedule. Though there are many activities during Sanja Matsuri that are not time dependent, there are a few events that start and stop at specific times throughout the weekend.