The Biggest Drum in the World

The big drum got wheeled out again today for the shrine’s autumn festival. A group of kids from my daughter’s primary school carried a mikoshi (portable shrine) behind it. The dads (including me) were called upon to do more of the lifting as the kids got tired and then 8 of us had to carry it back to the shrine. I am absolutely exhausted. Even the small mikoshi is surprisingly heavy, and we did a long circuit around the neighbourhood, stopping traffic on Kampachi (a major highway) while we looped around back into the quieter streets.
Great to see the next generation — these little kids, strong as oxen — learning the customs.
The Big Drum,” as it’s affectionately called (there’s a Small Drum which is only half as big) was made in 1990 and is carved from a single piece of wood. The shot above shows it being wheeled out of the shrine.
These two old fellows have the best job: they get to stand on the drum all afternoon. It must take days for the soles of their feet to stop tingling, though. The sound comes over you like a shockwave.
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During rest breaks anyone can beat the drum. The priest lowers his lantern in front of the skin to let the drummer know their turn is done.