The Relationship between Tekiya, Shrines, Temples, and Ennichi: The Early 2010s

The Relationship between Tekiya, Shrines, Temples, and Ennichi: The Early 2010s
Ennichi (temple holidays) at shrines and temples were originally established as religious events on which worshippers would gather on specific days to form bonds with the gods and Buddha. The number of visitors naturally increased on the days of pujas based on the religious calendar, such as the eighteenth day of Kannon and the twenty-fourth day of Jizo, and peddlers and fairs gathered accordingly, creating a place where faith and commerce were combined in the same space. During the Edo period, temples and shrines functioned as public spaces in the city, and their precincts and gateways were characterized as authorized markets. The fairs were unique communal spaces where religion, local culture, and economic activities were closely intertwined.

From the postwar period to the period of rapid economic growth, urbanization and population growth led to large-scale festivals and the development of fairs as places for entertainment and consumption. The number of street vendors increased, and the temples and shrines formed an operating system that included management fees, cleaning, and security. The location of the stalls and the nature of the business were coordinated among temples and shrines, local officials, and tekiya organizations, and rules were established to maintain harmony with religious rituals.

Since the 1990s, however, due to the Violence Prevention Policy and the tightening of compliance by religious organizations, temples and shrines have been restricting the number of stalls in order to avoid relations with antisocial forces, and the fair scene has been shrinking. Even so, the bustle and sense of community created by the stalls remain strong, and they are still remembered today as a traditional cultural device where faith and life intersect.