My future self looks heaven-ward

 

Looking toward the sky at Tori no ichi festival, at Hanazono shrine. I wonder what’s up there.

Time to buy your lucky rake, and enjoy Japan’s most beautiful people

 

The Shinjuku San Chome station of the Tokyo Metro is all dolled up for this year’s Tori no Ichi festival, where you can buy lucky rakes and eat and drink with Tokyo’s most gorgeous people. In a fluke of the lunar calendar, this year there will be 3 events in November: tonight and tomorrow, Nov 14 and 15, and Nov 26 and Nov 27. I’ll try to be there as often as possible.

If you’re in Tokyo, I highly recommend it. Apparently, Asakusa is more traditional. Hanazono shrine in Shinjuku is, I believe, the most gorgeous, power spot in Japan.

Here’s some photos from past years:
https://jaredinnakano.wordpress.com/2012/12/13/eating-action-shot-at-shrine-festival/
https://jaredinnakano.wordpress.com/2012/06/19/male-hosts-sharing-yakisoba-at-hanazono-shrine-festival/
https://jaredinnakano.wordpress.com/2012/06/16/anpan-man-also-prays-at-hanazono-shrine/

 

Sweaty shrine carrying at gay festival in Nichome

 

The shrine looks suspiciously light, but in the August heat the guys were still sweating.

Who is going to tomorrow’s naked festival, in Aichi?

Continuing on the same sex intimacy without being “gay,” tomorrow is the annual Shinto “naked festival” at Konomiya shrine, in Aichi prefecture. Wonder how far the train ride is from Tokyo? The festival website is in Japanese, and includes many images.

Adorable dreads and headband at Hanazono shrine’s festival

How did I neglect to post this dreaded hottie last year? I saw him at Hanazono shrine’s Torinoichi festival, and you can see the lucky rake behind him. Love the hair!

Eating action shot at shrine festival

I love that these suited men are sharing a single yakisoba, and that the camera has caught them with all four chopstick pairs in action. This is how Japanese encounter the sacred.

Can you ever go wrong with white fur, sunglasses, and rhinestone cellphone case?

No, you can’t. Also at Tori no Ichi festival at Hanazono shrine. Seeing beautiful people like this elevates me to a higher spiritual level. Or so it feels like.

 

Candy apple and eye patch are a killer look

When you have a candy apple and an eye patch, you hardly need an animal print vest and big-haired boyfriend. She’s rocking one of my favorite looks from Tori no Ichi festival at Hanazono shrine last month.

Hakuho doing a ritual dance, dressed like a sacred Shinto tree

There is something deeply spiritual about sumo. I love that Hakuho’s belt and lightning bolts evoke the ones you see tied around Shinto shrine trees. Maybe the gods enjoy hanging out with the sumo players, as much as with the micro- green spaces by the shrines.