Kasedori, a traditional winter event where people wearing sandals and dousing birds with water to pray for business prosperity, was held in Kaminoyama City, Yamagata Prefecture.
"Kasedori" is a traditional event that has been going on since the Edo period, and this year around 40 people from inside and outside the prefecture participated.
After a prayer ceremony was held at Kaminoyama Castle in the city center, participants covered their heads with straw knitted mino called ``kendai'' and dressed like birds and traveled around the city.
As the participants marched through the shopping streets and hot springs district, shouting "Kasedori, Kasedori, it's a celebration! Kakkakkaka no Kakkakka" to the sound of flutes and drums, the people crowding along the roadside cheered. I was pouring a bucket of water over it.
``Kasedori'' is an event to pray for prosperous business and bountiful crops, but the sprinkling of water also has the meaning of fire prevention.
Also, the ``straw'' that fell out of the mine was considered a lucky charm, and those who picked it up happily took it home.
A 59-year-old man from Kaminoyama City said, ``Since it only happens once a year, I sprinkled water on it with the hope that it would be a good year.I hope it will continue as a traditional event for many years to come as the community supports each other.'' I was talking.