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When:
Aug 2009 (annual)
Where:
Tsukubayama-jinja Shrine
The annual Mount Tsukuba Toad Festival is a unique event held in honour of the many toads (gamo) that have died to be made into toad grease (gama-no-abura). Head to Mount Tsukuba to witness massive toad models being paraded around on sacred palanquins, vendors of toad grease calling out their wares and traditional music and dance performances.
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All these high jinks take place in the grounds of the Mount Tsukuba Shinto Shrine, famous for being toad-shaped and housing various toad paraphernalia. Having given their lives in the service of humans, this festival is offered as a memorial to comfort toad souls. The huge toad-shaped mikoshi (portable shrine) weighs around 800 kilos and is carried by bearers dressed in traditional festival "happi coats" and loincloths. The festival ends with fireworks.
Toad grease is used in Japan as a balm on cuts and wounds, and was traditionally believed to render those who smeared themselves with it invulnerable to spears and swords. Vendors in the shrine grounds still attempt to sell toad grease by coating their arms with it and then demonstrating how knives bounce off! Don't try it at home In fact, since it's purplish in colour and has a strange odour, toad grease probably isn't something you'll be tempted to try anyway.
Having stocked up on toad key rings and towels, and fans decorated with pictures of toads, take the old-fashioned cable car up to the top of Mount Tsukuba for pleasant views of the forested slopes.
Toad grease is used in Japan as a balm on cuts and wounds, and was traditionally believed to render those who smeared themselves with it invulnerable to spears and swords. Vendors in the shrine grounds still attempt to sell toad grease by coating their arms with it and then demonstrating how knives bounce off! Don't try it at home In fact, since it's purplish in colour and has a strange odour, toad grease probably isn't something you'll be tempted to try anyway.
Having stocked up on toad key rings and towels, and fans decorated with pictures of toads, take the old-fashioned cable car up to the top of Mount Tsukuba for pleasant views of the forested slopes.
Event details can change.
Please check with the organisers that the event is happening before making travel arrangements.
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