Toka Ebisu Festival

Toka-Ebisu is merchants' festival for praying for the prosperity of business, held every year at the Imamiya Ebisu Shrine, Osaka Prefecture, from January 8 to 12 every year, which is loved and called "Ebessan" by the citizen. In the precincts of the shrine with lighthearted shouting, "Shobai Hanjyo Sasa Mottekoi", visitors receive lucky bamboo grass with various decorations from young ladies, "fuku-musume" and pray for the year's prosperity of business. (Imamiya Ebisu Shrine)
Ebisu is the God of Wealth and one of the 'Seven Gods of Good Fortune' ('shichi-fukujin'). He is the patron saint of those in business and commerce and is usually portrayed carrying a fishing rod and a large fish - a symbol of abundance. Those in business never fail to make an annual visit to the Ebisu Shrine during this festival to purchase a lucky 'fukusasa' (good fortune bamboo branch) from Shrine Maidens who call out the promise "Buy branches and your business will prosper"! The 'fukusasa' is then hung with lucky charms, little money bags and coin talismans. Despite the high prices of these charms, shopkeepers can often be see adding dozens of them to their branches! Stalls sell traditional foods and sake, and there are performances of traditional dances
Toka Ebisu' means the Tenth Day Ebisu, and indeed the highlight, a colorful parade of palanquins bearing geisha and famous celebrities, takes place on the 10th. Other attractions include geisha dances, traditional performing arts and rice cake making. The festivities each day last well into the evening, when the streets are illuminated with colored lanterns and lights.
More than a million people pass through the shrine during these three days. A similar 'Toka Ebisu' festival takes place in Wakayama on the same days, and other, smaller celebrations in honor of Ebisu take place around the country throughout the year.

Background History

Ebisu is the patron of business and good luck. He is one of the Seven Gods of Good fortunes, and thus he is very popular with merchants and businessmen
Amagasaki Ebisu Shrine is said to have been constructed during The Emperor Daigo era (A.D 897 to A.D 930) or before. 11Gods are deified here in Ebisu Shrine, mainly the god called Ebisu. Ebisu is one of the 7gods of fortune called "Shichifukujin". He is depicted as a man holding a sea bream and clutching a fishing rod. He has brought us happiness as God for fishing and commerce since ancient times.
A celebration of Ebisu is held the 9th-11th of January every year and is known as "Toka-Ebisu" symbols of good luck such as small models of sea breams, rice storehouses, gold coins, and straw rice bags and so on are attached to bamboo and in prominent places in houses and shops. In this way, we wish for prosperity in business and the safety of the family around a year.