Tekiya: The core of the behind-the-scenes work of building and cleaning huts Early 2010s

Tekiya: The core of the behind-the-scenes work of building and cleaning huts Early 2010s
Behind the festive atmosphere of the festival, tekiya workers silently perform the hard labor of shed assembly and cleaning. The work of assembling the stalls begins the day before the festival, using iron pipes and ropes, which requires not only physical strength but also good judgment supported by years of experience. Many conditions must be met at the same time, such as the route along the approach to the shrine, the distance between the stalls, the location of the fire, safety, and harmony with the ceremonies of the temple or shrine, and even the direction of the wind must be considered. This was not just a simple setup, but the design of the entire festival space.

After the festival was over, the next step was a thorough cleanup. After the guests leave, paper scraps, bamboo sticks, and even grease stains are carefully cleaned up, and the approach to the festival site is returned to its original state by morning. Poor cleaning directly affected the credibility of the festival, and could lead to complaints or even denial of the opening of a new store. This kind of behind-the-scenes work is a more important responsibility than selling products.

The hut assembly and cleaning work creates the atmosphere of a festival and embodies the essence of tekiya culture, which is to leave no traces behind. In recent years, the harshness and skill of such on-site labor has been attracting attention and is being reevaluated as the labor base behind the street stalls.