Ebisu Festival
January 9 · Level 4 · #1541 of 2238
Ebisu is the Japanese god of luck, watching over fishermen and merchants. At his January festival people ask him for a good catch and brisk business in the year ahead.
How it is celebrated: crowds visit Ebisu shrines, such as Imamiya and Nishinomiya, and buy fukusasa, bamboo branches hung with coins, charms and little lucky figures. Shopkeepers also ask for a blessing on the new business year.
Of the Seven Lucky Gods, Ebisu is considered the only one who comes from Japan itself; the others arrived from India and China. He is easy to spot: he smiles, carrying a fishing rod and a red sea bream called tai.