Jussi LyonsDonto Sai or Matsutaki Matsuri is a bonfire festival to conclude New Year’s season, at Osaki Hachimangu Shrine, Sendai, Miyagi Pref. New Year’s decorations are burnt in holy fire in prayer for prosperity and good health. There are also a whole bunch of….guys running around town dressed like this. They eventually make there way to the Shrine to pray, hopefully before they freeze to death as the temperature last night was -5 degrees celsius when this picture was taken. There are many different groups from various organisations and business’. They carry banners indicating who they are and they parade around the city blocks for at least an hour before making there way to the shrine.
There is a plethora of Yakitori restaurants here in Sendai but they all seem to have their own uniqueness about them. How could this sales pitch not get your attention. The ‘master’ is grilling up some chicken right in front of the window while literally hundreds of people are walking by on their way to the temple for Dontosai, the local winter festival. This way of preparing food is popular in Japan and you can eat just about any kind of meat or poultry grilled on a stick.
