This morning in the subway I noticed a little bamboo branch that an older woman was holding. Later I saw more and more people with the same thing. At that time I wondered if something was going on in the city. On my way to the yoga studio I finally understood. Just outside Namba Parks I found all these snack and play stalls. That could only mean one thing: Festival!
Toka Ebisu Festival is happening now (January 9-11th) and it is all about business (in every aspects...). In Kansai area it is a common belief that a visit to the Ebisu Shrine in the new year will bring you good luck, when it comes to doing business. I am not sure if my husband believes it or not. However, we decided to go...just for fun which it turned out not to be...
From the number of visitors you would think that everybody in Osaka (or Kansai) have their own business. It was difficult to go anywhere without people pushing each other. In front of the gate we even had to wait because of the amount of visitors. Inside we tried to get to the place where you pray to the god but that was a mission impossible. Instead we threw a coin from far away...and hope that the god did hear our prayers.
None of us (and probably also the other visitors at the Shrine) had a good time. Our baby was crying the whole time and clearly didn't enjoy his first trip to Ebisu...Who can blame him?...but in the end it is all about business...
