Experience the history and culture of Asakusa! The Matsuchiyama Kaisankai Shoden Festival Special Commemorative Festival, which conveys the history of Asakusa dating back to the time of Empress Suiko, will be held on September 19th and 20th!

Experience the history and culture of Asakusa! The “Machichiyama Opening Ceremony Shoden Festival Special Commemorative Festival,” which conveys the history of the temple dating back to the reign of Empress Suiko, will be held on September 19th and 20th! ​
ICOT Corporation Press Release: September 10, 2025 To Members of the Press Experience the history and culture of Asakusa! The Matsuchiyama Kaisankai Shoden Festival Special Commemorative Festival, which conveys history dating back to the reign of Empress Suiko, will be held on September 19th and 20th! Recreating an Edo period festival in the Reiwa era will revitalize the region and bring energy to its people.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/164197/3/164197-3-805b47aae76408b0bef8c44872400eb8-3900×2925.jpg

Machiyama Honryuin Temple Machiyama Honryuin Temple/Shodencho Association Matsuyama Shoden (Honryuin Temple) and the Shoden Town Association will hold the “Matsuyama Founding Association Shoden Festival Special Commemorative Festival” over two days, Friday, September 19th and Saturday, September 20th, 2025. This event was made possible by the support of various parties in the desire of the head priest of Matsuyama Shoden to “come together with the town and make this a day when Japan feels energized,” especially in these days of somber news. Machiyasan Honryuin Temple is a sacred mountain that suddenly emerged from the earth during the reign of Empress Suiko. It is said that at that time, a golden dragon descended from the sky and circled the mountain, guarding it. Six years later, in the summer, when the region was hit by a severe drought, the Eleven-Headed Kannon Bodhisattva opened his eyes of compassion and descended to this mountain in the form of Daisho Kangiten, saving the suffering people. This is the origin of the enshrining of Shoden-sama on this mountain. Shoden-sama, known for his miraculous powers, has the great ability to save all living beings from confusion and grant their wishes. This special commemorative festival is based on the auspicious origins of the temple and the history of festivals from the Edo period, and recreates the colorful Edo culture and festivals of the common people in the Reiwa era. Highlights of the event 1. The Golden Dragon Dance descends on Shotencho for the first time in 30 years In honor of the auspicious origins of Matsuchiyama Shoden, the “Golden Dragon Dance,” usually performed at Sensoji Temple, will be making a special appearance. A golden dragon measuring approximately 18 meters in length and weighing 88 kg is performed with vivid animation by highly trained dancers, captivating the audience. Before the morning ceremony, the dragon will perform a dedication dance while circling the main hall with the monks. In the afternoon, the dragon will lead a grand procession and perform a dedication dance at Yamayabori Square. This will be the first time the Golden Dragon Dance has come to Shodencho since the temple’s founding ceremony 30 years ago, making it an extremely rare opportunity.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/164197/3/164197-3-82f2f3c9ab01e74e5bb50d8a1a3f3d83-1480×1106.jpg Golden dragon dance 2. The Impressive “Ladder Climbing” At Yamayabori Square, ladder climbing, an important part of a scaffolder’s work, will be on display. Today’s foremen, who have inherited the skills that firemen of the time trained tirelessly every day, will
demonstrate them. The sight of them skillfully striking poses atop a 3.5m (approximately 6.3m) ladder is truly impressive.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/164197/3/164197-3-96cee83d06716ebe38de4032d417dffd-1763×2700.jpg Ladder riding 3. “Matoi-furi,” a traditional technique used by Edo-period firefighters Along with the sonorous singing of “Kiyari Dochu” by the heads of the fifth district of Edo’s town firefighters, you can also see the “Matoi-furi” dance by the third, fourth, and fifth squads. The role of waving the Matoi was a great honor. It’s said that the sight of a strong foreman dashing around and swinging a 2.4m long, 20kg heavy tatami was the envy of Edoites.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/164197/3/164197-3-2d43b07602866d5aec32306332f55873-1880×2700.jpg “Matofuri” – a traditional technique used by Edo town firefighters 4. “Ukiyo-e Exhibition” Depicting the Vitality of Edo Starting on September 19th, the first day of the event, the exhibition “The Famous Temple Taichiyama Shoten and the Vitality of Edo” will be held at the special venue in the Taichiyama Shoten believers’ hall. The “Ukiyo-e Exhibition” will be held at the Asakusa Museum of Art. Valuable works by Edo artists, including Utagawa Hiroshige, that convey the bustle of Asakusa and the atmosphere of Matsuchiyama will be on display.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/164197/3/164197-3-77e31ebb0529a80fa3d10a1fbe6c11d8-3900×2522.jpg “Ukiyo-e Exhibition” Depicting the Vitality of Edo Event Overview Event name: “Mt. Mt. Mt. Mt. Machiyu Kaisan Seiten Festival Special Commemoration Festival” Date: Friday, September 19th and Saturday, September 20th, 2025 Venue: Matsuchiyama Honryuin Temple, Shodencho and surrounding areas, Sanyabori Square, etc. Organizer: Matsuchiyama Honryuin Temple Co-organizer: Shodencho Association Sponsors: Icot Co., Ltd., Sensoji Temple, Asakusa Shrine Cooperation: Tobu Twelve Towns/Tobu Twelve Towns Youth Association “Machiyuzan Kaizankai Shoten Festival Special Commemoration Festival” Schedule Friday, September 19 9:30: Ukiyo-e exhibition held (doors open) 5:30 PM: Bringing the deity up to the shrine (bringing it up to the Kagura Hall and then placing it next to the hall) 6:00 PM: Spirit-entering Ceremony (a priest performs the ceremony to place the spirit of Asakusa Shrine) 6:30 PM: Placed in front of the Shoden-sama main hall (stayed overnight after placement in front of the main hall) Saturday, September 20 9:00: Lowering of the hall 10:30: Matsuchiyama Shoten Opening Ceremony (Opening Ceremony Procession (Circling the corridors of the main hall with the Golden Dragon) Grand Ceremony at the main hall) 11:50: Exit/greetings (the head priest, representative, and guests proceed to Shoden Park) 12:00: Grand procession and departure (with the Golden Dragon Dance at the head, wood-burning procession, matoi-waving, music, portable shrine procession, and ladder climbing) *Procession proceeds from Shotencho → Shoten Yokocho → Yamakawacho 1:30 PM: Arrive at Yamayabori Square (Golden Dragon Dance Performance. On September 20, 595 (the third year of the reign of Empress Suiko), this land suddenly rose up slightly, It is said that a golden dragon descended there.) 2:15 PM: Departure from Yamayabori Square (Kinryu procession through Yamashita Kawaramachi, ending with the Golden Dragon Dance in front of Shoden-sama) 2:45 PM: Return (Ending with a sanbonjime at the entrance to Shoden Park, the ritual of returning the spirits) Companies sponsoring the Shotenchokai ICOT, Tokyo Shinkin Bank, Dai-Ichi Kangyo Shinkin Bank, Johoku Shinkin Bank, Asahi Shinkin Bank, Coleman Inquiries regarding the “Matsuchiyama Opening Ceremony Shoden Festival Special Commemorative Festival” Matsuchiyama Shoden (Honryuin Temple) Reception Hours: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM 7-4-1 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo 111-0032 Tel: 03-3874-2030 Fax: 03-3874-5280 e-mail:
honryuin@matsuchiyama.jp URL:http//www.matsuchiyama.jp/