Many people paraded under the auspicious rakes displayed in front of the stores

Tori-no-ichi Market is an annual year-end event in which shops selling fancy rakes line the grounds of shrines and temples associated with eagles and birds, such as Ootori Jinja Shrine, Chokoku-ji Temple, and Washi-no-miya Jinja Shrine, etc. Since the festival is held on Rooster's Day, which falls in November, the number of times it is held varies from year to year. The Day of the Rooster is the day that falls on the "Rooster" in the Chinese zodiac. Just like the Year of the Tiger or the Year of the Ox, the zodiac signs are assigned to dates, and the zodiac rotates every 12 days. Therefore, the Day of the Rooster in November can fall two or three times, depending on the year. I like this kind of moving holiday because I can feel that customs from the old days are still preserved.

I understand why the Tori-no-ichi Market is held two or three times a year, but the fact that it is held only on Rooster Day in November is another reason. Rooster Day comes around every 12 days throughout the year. I think it's a festival, and I'm sure the rake industry (I don't know if there is such a thing) would agree with me that it would be nice to have it every month. Unfortunately for those in the rake industry, however, the Tori-no-ichi Market is only held in November. The reason for this seems to be that Tori-no-ichi was originally a festival associated with Yamatotakeru, who was believed to be a god of long-lasting military fortune, good luck, and prosperous business. Therefore, Ootori Jinja Shrine and Washi-no-miya Jinja Shrine, both dedicated to Yamatotakeru, are held the Tori-no-ichi Market on Rooster's Day in November, the month in which Yamatotakeru is said to have died.

Ootori Jinja Shrine in Meguro also has Yamatotakeru as its main deity, and a Tori-no-ichi Market is held on Rooster's Day in November. As I entered the narrow precincts of the shrine, I saw stalls lined up shoulder to shoulder, selling roosters as good as they come. It's that moment when you realize that another year is quickly approaching its end.