(all pictures taken with nikon d3000 + manual 50mm f/1.4 lens)

shimokitazawa’s yearly tengu matsuri. i found out about the festival on a whim by checking metropolis this morning; when i got to shimokitazawa i couldn’t see a parade or anything like it, and after walking around for a bit i was about to give up and head to akihabara when i finally stumbled across it. 

as part of the festival, kids gather up to chase and throw beans at demons - it’s a traditon called setsubun or mamemaki (honestly today was my first experience with it, and i’ve been googling left and right for a good explenation… but i’m not entirely sure). throwing beans at the demons drive them away, and with them misfortune and bad health - so it’s more or less a good luck ritual. the red, long-nosed masks they’re wearing are tengu masks.

tokyo is getting colder every day, and taking pictures outside is becoming such a hassle because my fingers just freeze to the bone. i just want to hibernate until it’s spring and sakura season.

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#tokyo: shimokitazawa #photography: private #japan: culture #japan: festival