The Yasaka mikoshi are borne aloft and taken back home from their resting place (otabisho)
Today being July 24th was an important part of the Gion Matsuri, known as the Kankosai.
From 17:00, the three mikoshi are carried back from Otabisho in Shijo dori back to Yasaka Shrine, and when the mikoshi arrive at the shrine, special prayers are held to welcome the spirits back to their main ”home”. This ceremony ends around midnight.
The three mikoshi are to house the three enshrined deity at Yasaka, namely Susanoo no mikoto, the storm god; his wife, Kushiinadahime no mikoto; and Yahashira no mikogami, which is their ‘eight-child kami’ (i.e. their many offspring showing a happy blessed marriage).
Tomorrow being the 25th, there will be a Kyogen Performance, presumably to entertain the kami now they are back in their usual home. (Kyogen are stylised comedy sketches.) At 11:00, the Shigeyama Family will perform special kyogen plays at Yasaka Shrine.
A selection of ema at Yasaka Shrine. As well as Susanoo and the Orochi monster he slew, ther's his wife Kushiinade hime and also his ancestor, Okuninushi. As elsewhere, the shrine has taken advantage of the latter's enmusubi (love connection) credentials to cater to the boom for love charms, as can be seen below.
Statue of Okuninushi and hare (which appears in his legend), together with a knot to symbolise he is the kami of enmusubi good connections
High hopes for a divine love connection: this ema votive plaque asks for a beautiful, young lady with a good figure.
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