Tekiya: Assembling huts and cleaning are at the heart of the backstage activities Early 2010s

Tekiya: Assembling huts and cleaning are at the heart of the backstage activities Early 2010s
The bustle of the festival seems to start suddenly at the moment the evening lights come on. In reality, however, the tekiyas begin quietly assembling their huts in the dim light of the previous day. Carrying iron pipes, pulling ropes, and being caught in the dewy ground, the skeleton of a yatai is a kind of craftsmanship, and at the same time, it is hard work that involves physical exhaustion. Behind the festive splendor of the festival lies such sweat, skill, and silent work.

The hut assembly is more than just setting up. The huts must fulfill multiple conditions one by one, such as the route along the approach to the festival, the distance between the stalls, the location of the fire, the safety line, and the compatibility with the ceremonies of temples and shrines. For a freak show or pottery stall, even the direction of the wind must be read. Although festivals are one-night events, behind them lies the wisdom of space management accumulated among the local community, temples and shrines, and tekiya organizations.

Once the festival is over, the next step is cleanup. When the guests leave, the lights go down, and the noise dies down, the tekiya sweep, pick up, and carry away the trash almost silently. Paper scraps, bamboo sticks, spilled powder, oil residue, and leftover melted ice. Thorough cleaning was the foundation of their credibility, as one wrong move could lead directly to complaints and trouble. By the time the sun rises, the approach to the shrine is restored to its former serenity, as it is hard to believe that this was the center of the festival only a few hours before.

This behind-the-scenes work of hut assembly and cleaning is close to the essence of tekiya culture. Selling merchandise alone is only a form of customer service, but it creates the atmosphere of the festival and leaves no trace. This is where a unique work ethic that is both fluid and close to the community lives on.

In recent years, articles and videos focusing on tekiya hut assembly and post-festival cleanup have appeared on the web, and the harshness and skill of the on-site labor is being reevaluated. Little by little, it is becoming more visible that behind the glamorous stalls are huge preparations that no one can see, and the bodies and responsibilities that support them.