Kasai Shrine

Kasai shrine was founded in 1185 at the end of the Heian period. To protect the regional area, the same deity as the Katori jingu shrine, named Futsunushi no kami, was enshrined in Kasai shrine. Originally, Kasai shrine was called Katori-gu, but later on it happened to be called Kasai shrine. After World War II Kasai shrine became the religious corporation.

It is said that Kasai shrine is the origin of Matsuribayashi. It is an old regional Japanese band that started in Edo Period in the eastern part of Edo. During the Kyouhou Period, one of the Shinto priests of Kasai shrine, named Nose Tamaki, taught classical verses with tunes to young people. That was the very start of Matsuribayashi. Later, it happened to be called Kasaibayashi and became very popular in the Kantō region and other areas.

After World War II, the Kasaibayashi Preservation Association was founded by some volunteers and it became an Intangible Cultural Treasure. Kasaibayashi is still played by people and once a month they practice at Kasai shrine.

Twice a year, at the time of Tori no ichi (in November) and Reitaisai (a big festival in September), they play the music in front of people at the old building (Kaguraden) in Kasai shrine.

Tori no Ichi (酉の市, lit. "Market of the Rooster"); there is a big festival in November (as a precursor event for Shōgatsu (Japanese New Year)), called "Tori no Ichi"; the word tori means "bird" (usually specifying a rooster), and the bird is a symbol of one of the Japanese deities, named Yamatotakeru-no-Mikoto. Nowadays people come to the festival to buy "Kumade", a Engimono talisman in the shape of a small pitchfork, wishing to have some fortune.

A karaoke tournament has been held at this festival since before World War II, and many people have participated and wait to be judged by the bell which was first used in the NHK singing tournament program.

Every first Saturday from 8:00 a.m. until about 5:00 p.m., there is an antique market in the Kasai shrine. This market is organized by Antique Market Committee and it is possible to see many different kinds of shops at the market with old pictures, kimono, dishes, old clocks, etc.

• Wooden drawings of Akouroushi
• Letters from Asano Nagayoshi to Kasai shrine who was working for Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
• Statue Shouki of stone
• Big ginkgo tree
• "Mikoshi" of Kasai shrine

• 
  Kasai shrine flowers
• 
  Kasai shrine Torii
• 
  Kasai bayashi
• 
  Kasai shrine Mikoshi

JR Joban line or Keisei line 10min walk from Kanamachi station

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kasai-jinja.

• Kasai shrine official web site

35°46′05″N 139°52′54″E