Ueno Tenjin Festival: Higashimachi
Shirushi: Sakasanoshi
Danjiri: Kirimoto
The shirushi is called Sakasanoshi, meaning “upside-down noshi,” because the character for noshi (斗) was written upside-down on the central fan of the original shirushi. The current shirushi was made in 1978.
The Higashimachi danjiri float, Kirimoto, was named after the large paulownia tree (kiri) on the grounds of the Sugawara-jinja Shrine in Higashimachi. This danjiri notably lacks a middle curtain, which would normally conceal a small inner room. The side and rear curtains depict a banquet in an orchid pavilion next to a winding stream. The danjiri itself is covered in images of chrysanthemums, peonies, and the auspicious triad of pine, bamboo, and plum blossoms (shō-chiku-bai).
The musical accompaniment for the Kirimoto danjiri is unique. The other floats are typically accompanied with strong, rhythmic music, but performers on the Kirimoto danjiri use small gongs, taiko drums, shinobue flutes, hand drums, and a shamisen to play calm, elegant compositions.