Fukagawa Festival, Tokyo, Japan

On Sunday 17th, Fukagawa Hachiman Festival reached its peak. Festivities began with blessings from the Shinto priest outside the shrine.

Fukagawa Festival, Tokyo, Japan

Dozens of mikoshi were carried through the streets, the participants getting soaked by far more bystanders with buckets of water.

Fukagawa Festival, Tokyo, Japan

As with yesterday, it was great to know that the Pentax 645Z and lenses are properly weather sealed. The camera was splashed several times, but there were no issues.

Fukagawa Festival, Tokyo, Japan

However, there were some professional water soakers that I needed to stay clear of. Numerous member of the Tokyo fire departments were there to drench the groups with water.

Fukagawa Festival, Tokyo, Japan

There’s weather sealing, and there’s being hit by a firehose sealing. I wasn’t going to test the latter.

Fukagawa Festival, Tokyo, Japan

My goal therefore was to try and get in close to the groups without getting soaked,

Fukagawa Festival, Tokyo, Japan

or crushed underfoot by a team of mikoshi carriers.

Fukagawa Festival, Tokyo, Japan

And a bit of video