Tōka Ebisu

Overview

Toka Ebisu is a festival honoring "Ebisu" (affectionately called "Ebessan"), the deity cherished as the god of prosperous business, and it is a seasonal highlight of the new year held every January. Among the many sites that celebrate it, Nishinomiya Shrine in Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture, is especially renowned as the "head shrine of all Ebisu shrines," the chief of the roughly 3,500 Ebisu shrines said to exist throughout Japan. Over three days—the eve festival (yoi-ebisu) on January 9, the main festival (hon-ebisu) on the 10th, and the lingering blessing (nokori-fuku) on the 11th—great numbers of worshippers visit in search of good fortune. The "opening-gate ritual and selection of the Lucky Man (fuku-otoko)," held in the early morning of the 10th, is especially famous nationwide as a spirited and unique rite that enlivens the news of the new year.

History and Origins

Faith in Ebisu has long been widely cherished across Japan, as a god of fishing and as a god of prosperous business and good fortune. Depicted holding a sea bream and a fishing rod, Ebisu is one of the most familiar gods of fortune to the people. Nishinomiya Shrine, as the center of this Ebisu faith, has drawn deep reverence throughout its long history.

Toka Ebisu, centered on January 10 each year, became established as a festival to pray for a year of prosperous business and household safety, and worshippers line up before the shrine seeking "fukuzasa" (lucky bamboo branches) and auspicious items. The custom of tying small treasures (kodakara) such as koban coins and rice bales to a fukuzasa and bringing it home is a symbolic sight of receiving fortune in the new year.

The "opening-gate ritual and selection of the Lucky Man," known nationwide as a specialty of Nishinomiya Shrine, is also a rite with a long history. It is said to have continued for some twenty years at one point, but because the shrine buildings were completely destroyed by an air raid just before the end of the war, it was forced to cease the following year. It was later revived when a new south gate was built, and it has been carried on to this day. The way it was restored after a wartime interruption speaks to how precious this rite was to the people of the region.

Highlights

The Opening-Gate Ritual and the Lucky Man

The greatest attraction of Toka Ebisu is the "opening-gate ritual and selection of the Lucky Man," held in the early morning of hon-ebisu on January 10. The moment the main front gate opens, the great crowd of waiting worshippers dashes off all at once toward the main hall. Those who reach the main hall first are chosen as "fuku-otoko" (Lucky Men) and are said to receive that year's good fortune. The fervor of people sprinting through the precincts at full speed, and the suspense of an outcome unknown until the very end, draw great attention every year.

Fukuzasa and Auspicious Items

What people praying for prosperous business seek is the fukuzasa, a bamboo branch hung with auspicious items. Granted to the cry of "Bring your bamboo for prosperous business," the fukuzasa is an emblem of Toka Ebisu, and many worshippers visit with it as their goal. Numerous food stalls also line the approach, filling the grounds with the lively spirit of the new year.

Three Days of Festivity

The festival begins with yoi-ebisu on January 9, reaches its climax with hon-ebisu on the 10th, and continues into nokori-fuku on the 11th. The unbroken waves of worshippers throughout the three days convey the strength of people's wishes as they seek fortune for the new year.

Event Information and Access

Toka Ebisu is held over three days each year: January 9 (yoi-ebisu), 10 (hon-ebisu), and 11 (nokori-fuku). The selection of the Lucky Man takes place in the early morning of the 10th. During this period, and especially on hon-ebisu on the 10th, the shrine is extremely crowded all day, so visitors should allow plenty of time.

Nishinomiya Shrine is most easily reached from Nishinomiya Station on the Hanshin Electric Railway, located within walking distance of the station. It can also be accessed from nearby JR and Hankyu stations. During the festival the surrounding area becomes very crowded and traffic restrictions may be in place, so the use of public transportation is recommended. The latest schedule, ritual details, and visiting information should be confirmed through the official sources of Nishinomiya Shrine.

Around the Area

Nishinomiya, located in the Hanshin area between Osaka and Kobe, is a region known for its old shrines and temples and its sake-brewing culture. Around Nishinomiya Shrine are scattered sites that can be enjoyed together with a new year's visit. A short trip away brings easy access to the calm townscapes characteristic of the Hanshin area and to the seaside districts. After receiving the new year's fortune, exploring the surroundings to savor the atmosphere of the Hanshin region is also a fine choice.

Additional Information

While Nishinomiya Shrine serves as its head shrine, Toka Ebisu is also celebrated grandly at Ebisu shrines throughout the region, such as Imamiya Ebisu Shrine in Osaka and Ebisu Shrine in Kyoto, making it a festival representative of the new year in the Kansai region. Supported by the faith of people praying for prosperous business, distinctive customs such as the fukuzasa and the selection of the Lucky Man have been handed down to the present. The history of reviving the rite even after the hardship of the loss of the shrine buildings shows how deeply rooted this festival is in the region. When visiting, it is worth paying attention not only to the festivity and the excitement of the Lucky Man selection, but also to the simple, prayerful hearts of people wishing for a year of good fortune.

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