Shimokawa Shrine Festival Brings Energy to Town with Main Portable Shrine Procession and Student Performances

The Shimokawa Shrine Festival (led by festival committee chairman Tsukasa Yamaguchi) took place starting December 7th, with the main festival on December 8th. A total of 200 people from the local "Shimokawa Mikoshi Isshin-kai" (headed by Isao Onishi) and volunteers from various parts of Hokkaido carried the "Kyoto-style portable shrine" (type 2, weighing 400kg) through town using traditional Edo-period carrying techniques, bringing vibrancy to the community. Elementary and junior high school students performed music at two separate venues during the festival.