【Invited by the Lights of the Yoimatsuri】 The Shinto Shrine Festival in the Kamiokoppe area of Nishiokoppe Village takes place every year on September 7th, with the Yoimatsuri held the night before.🏮 Preparations for the stalls began while the sky was still bright, and both children and adults gathered in droves. The stalls offered a mix of food and festival games, roughly half and half. There were yo-yo fishing, shooting games, and shape-cutting. Delicious treats included inari sushi, red rice, yakisoba, yakitori, cotton candy, and shaved ice... There were also performances featuring Nankin Tamasudare and Ezo deer drums. In sync with the calls, the decorative screens transformed into towers, roofs, and flags. The guests joined in with cheers and clapping to boost the atmosphere. Just then, a demon appeared, enveloping the venue in a tense atmosphere. The drum performance... or so it seemed, as the demon swung its antlers, appearing to battle something.👹 It was a wonderful performance filled with a spirit of dedication. The lights from the shrine and stalls illuminated the town that night. We enjoyed the Yoimatsuri while basking in the cool evening breeze.