Ueno Tenjin Festival: Mukaijimachō
Shirushi: Jitsu-getsu-sen
Danjiri: Tetsueiken-boko
The shirushi float of Mukaijimachō is named Jitsu-getsu-sen, or “Sun, Moon, Fan.” Its centerpiece is a traditional fan decorated with a sun and moon. The Ueno Tenjin Festival is dedicated to the spirit of Sugawara Michizane (845–903), deified as the Shinto deity Tenjin, who is thought in some traditions to control the movements of the sun and the moon. The shirushi depicts this by slowly rotating during the procession.
The danjiri float Tetsueiken-boko was built in 1859. Its name translates to “Iron Flower Sword,” as illustrated by two visual elements: a sword adorned with a plum blossom on both the shirushi and atop the danjiri. The float’s gables are covered with intricate gilding and plum-flower imagery. Japanese characters for the words tanmei and senbō are hung on the front and back of the roof, symbolizing a pioneer who moves through the darkness (tanmei) while cutting down the long grass (senbō).
Koi fish are embroidered splashing in the waves on the middle banner, and other animals can be found on the other curtains. The Mukaijimachō danjiri, which has gold fittings near the musicians’ seats, is one of the festival’s most opulent floats.