Today (Oct. 21) the 75th annual festival was solemnly held at Mainichi Shrine on the Palaceside Building rooftop =photo top.
As blogged Oct. 9, the shrine was just renewed—fresh hinoki shrine and torii. First festival since renewal. Rain tents darkened photos, but only light drizzle; the ceremony finished smoothly.
Mainichi Shrine was founded in 1939 (Showa 14) when The Mainichi Newspapers' twin-engine "Nippon" completed a round-the-world flight. Charms from nationwide were enshrined. The prior shrine was built when headquarters moved to Palaceside in 1966; renewed after 48 years—the copper roof shines vividly.
Enshrined deities are Amaterasu Omikami and Oyamakui-no-Kami. Hie Shrine in Otsu is the head shrine for Oyamakui; linked to Edo Castle's guardian via Hie Shrine in Akasaka.
Hie Shrine sends priests each year; two gagaku musicians visited too =photo right.
Right: sho bamboo pipes—phoenix-shaped; charcoal brazier warms reeds against condensation. Left: ryuteki flute; often paired with hichiriki.
President Asahina and ~70 Mainichi and related officials offered tamagushi =photo bottom. Nippon-go crew families, Mitsubishi, JAL, and ANA attended as usual.
The festival prays for flight safety; "never fall" links to exam success—visitors increase in exam season.
Palaceside rooftop is open weekdays 11:45 a.m.–2 p.m. (closed in rain). Superb palace view—please visit.