The Minato Monthly announced that there would be a Lion Dance (shishimai) performed at Shiba Dai Jingu on Saturday. It promised to be a spectacular sight, but we were disappointed when we showed up at the shrine only to find out that there would be no shishimai this year.

Today we went to Suitengu, a shrine near Nihombashi. They were celebrating the first festival of the year. It was a small festival with a couple of food booths and the usual lucky charms and amulets for sale. The shrine itself was quite beautiful, but was unfortunately wedged up against some ugly contemporary buildings. (A common sight in Tokyo.) The shrine grounds were populated with some curious statuary: a kappa (mischievous water spirit), a shiba dog and her puppy (both brass heads were worn shiny from people rubbing them) and a fierce looking dragon that served as a fountain spout. There were also three anchors enshrined on the grounds. It seems this is one of the shrines dedicated to the Seven Gods of Good Fortune (shichifukijin); this one in particular is dedicated to the boat that they sail in. During the New Year holiday, many people like to make visits to seven shrines, each of which is dedicated to one of the shichifukijin. I guess sometimes they visit eight shrines, as the boat they sail in is also counted for a visit. We stopped in at two other shichifukujin shrines near Suitengu, but did not visit all seven.

We spent much of Saturday going from one department store to another trying to take advantage of the New Year's clearance sales. We managed to pick up a few bowls which will go towards the set of Japanese dinnerware we'd like to have before we leave Japan.

New Year's festivities are winding down and Tokyo will be returning to normal schedules tomorrow.