Ueno Tenjin Matsuri: Explanation of the Danjiri and Shirushi Floats
Shirushi are small floats that represent either the individual neighborhood kami (deity) or some symbol of local pride. Each shirushi precedes its accompanying danjiri from the same neighborhood during the parade.
Danjiri are wooden carts, the predecessors of modern parade floats. Danjiri festivals have been popular in Japan for hundreds of years to honor local legends and Buddhist and Shinto deities. Communities often dedicate the first night of each festival to decorating the danjiri with curtains, lanterns, and special ornaments.
The dozens of attendants who pull these large wooden floats during the festival practice throughout the year to ensure the safety of the riders and spectators. The heavy carts have followed the same routes for many centuries, wearing marks into Iga’s streets.
During the procession, residents ride their carts dressed in festive clothing, kneeling or sitting on the float’s top floor and playing musical instruments. Traditionally, only residents of the neighborhood can ride in their danjiri, and between festivals each float is stored within its own neighborhood.