When we arrived at the shrine a huge platform had been build with a massive crowd gathered around it. Everyone was excited and a jolly mood was buzzing around with everyone. Off in the distance three guys had dressed as comical oni with body suits and face paint, colored red, yellow and green. Several people closest to the stage were hefting up bags, boxes and containers. On the stage were mascots from around Kashima. The mascots for the Kashima Antlers (local FIFA soccer team), Bokuden Tsukahara legendary swordsman, and other cute figures. After a while the priests of the temple made their way on to the stage, then local politician, then celebrities of some caliber I couldn't recognize, finally a bunch of children. With everyone in place they all started chucking small packages of roasted beans into the audience. It was wild, like a holiday to celebrate catching foul balls at a baseball stadium.
We had arrived too late and were very far back into the crowd, and most of the city council types and local celebrities couldn't throw too far towards the eager folks. But the head priest was pitching them far and wide into the neglected late comers. I recognized him from the sword tournament and his athleticism showed this day. Despite the near misses, I never caught a single bean, but it was still a riotous good time. I was smiling and laughing the whole time!
A few days later I ran into my coworker, Ayane (who also lives in Kashima), and she and her family had also been there. She told me that part of what drew the large crowd was that the small baggies of roasted beans also had PRIZE TICKETS inside!!! Most prizes were small fare, like bags of chips or pop corn, but apparently some big prizes as well! I had a marvelous evening laughing and having a good time shoulder to shoulder with the people trying to catch a hand full of beans!
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