A One-Day Festival for Sumomo and Fans at the Former Political Center of Tokyo

Okunitama Jinja

(Fuchu City, Tokyo)

【Sumomo（すもも）】 refers to the Japanese plum, a small red fruit with a sweet yet a bit acidic taste. Its flesh is slightly firmer than that of other soft fruits. It is best to eat the fruit with its thin skin, as the peel also contains rich nutrients. The name “Sumomo” comes from the word “Suppai” (sour) and “Momo” (peach). The best season of Sumomo is between June and August.

Okunitama Shrine is one of the oldest shrines in Japan, dating back to the year 111, according to the shrine's biography. It is located in an area that once served as the political center of the Kanto region, encompassing present-day Tokyo, Saitama, and the eastern part of Kanagawa. The shrine functioned as the primary shrine of the region.

The historical shrine hosts the Sumomo Festival annually on July 20th as a summer tradition. It is one-day festival that sumomo vendors, hanging sumomo in mesh bags, on both sides of the shrine's approach sell sumomo. People visits to buy them as seasonal lucky charms as the fruit has been believed to ward off evil spirits since ancient times.

Legend has it that the festival began in the 11th century. A samurai family, Yoshinori Minamoto and his son Yoshiie, were on their way to suppress a rebellion in the Tohoku region of northern Japan. Before the battle, they prayed for victory at the shrine. After emerging victorious of the battles losing as long as nine years, they offered sumomo as a token of gratitude to the deity. This is said to be the origin of the festival.

They also offered Zelkova seedlings that became the 2 km street of Zelkova road in front of the shrine. Due to the victory of the battle, the father and son became the most prestige family of all samurai clans which later shoguns claimed to be descendants of their family.

On the same day, the shrine offers fans printed with a black crow, believed to repel pests and promote swift recovery from illness. You can hang the fan in front of a door to ward off evil and bring good fortune to your home. The origin of this tradition can be traced back to a historical record written 1,200 years ago that is even older than the Sumomo Festival. These special fans are only available during this time of year.

The festival starts at 7 AM and closes at 8 PM. Within these 13 hours, the shrine precincts become crowded with around 70,000 visitors. During the festival, the traditional Kagura performance, a sacred Shinto ceremonial dance, is also held. Unlike many other festivals that take place on weekends, this festival is always held on July 20th, regardless of the day of the week. Mark your calendar so you don’t miss the sumomo and the special fan!

Please visit the official website Ookunitama Jinja.