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Japan's Mitama Festival Honors The Souls of the Enshrined Spirits

Published July 19th, 2021 - 06:07 GMT

The Mitama Festival is one of Japan's most famous events. Tokyo has been holding the Mitama Festival annually since 1947. The event today attracts at least 300,000 visitors.

The festival gained its fame from the over the 30,000 lanterns hung in the grounds of the shrine beside the messages and paintings by celebrities in all kind of fields. 

This year, the Mitama Festival takes place at the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo from July 13th to 16th with fewer people due to the novel Coronavirus measures.

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Mitama festival in Tokyo

A man walks the past paper lanterns during the Mitama festival, celebrated since 1947 honouring the souls of the enshrined spirits and the fallen soldiers of Japan's past wars, at the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on July 14, 2021. Behrouz MEHRI / AFP

Mitama festival in Tokyo

People look at paper lanterns during the Mitama festival, celebrated since 1947 honouring the souls of the enshrined spirits and the fallen soldiers of Japan's past wars, at the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on July 14, 2021. Behrouz MEHRI / AFP

Mitama festival in Tokyo

A couple sit under paper lanterns during the Mitama festival, celebrated since 1947 honouring the souls of the enshrined spirits and the fallen soldiers of Japan's past wars, at the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on July 14, 2021. Behrouz MEHRI / AFP

Mitama festival in Tokyo

People take pictures of paper lanterns during the Mitama festival, celebrated since 1947 honouring the souls of the enshrined spirits and the fallen soldiers of Japan's past wars, at the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on July 14, 2021. Behrouz MEHRI / AFP

Mitama festival in Tokyo

Visitors walk past paper lanterns during the Mitama festival, celebrated since 1947 honouring the souls of the enshrined spirits and the fallen soldiers of Japan's past wars, at the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on July 14, 2021. Behrouz MEHRI / AFP

Mitama festival in Tokyo

People pray during the Mitama festival, celebrated since 1947 honouring the souls of the enshrined spirits and the fallen soldiers of Japan's past wars, at the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on July 14, 2021. Behrouz MEHRI / AFP

Mitama festival in Tokyo

Paper lanterns are seen during the Mitama festival, celebrated since 1947 honouring the souls of the enshrined spirits and the fallen soldiers of Japan's past wars, at the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on July 14, 2021. Behrouz MEHRI / AFP

Mitama festival in Tokyo

People walk past paper lanterns during the Mitama festival, celebrated since 1947 honouring the souls of the enshrined spirits and the fallen soldiers of Japan's past wars, at the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on July 14, 2021. Behrouz MEHRI / AFP

Mitama festival in Tokyo
Mitama festival in Tokyo
Mitama festival in Tokyo
Mitama festival in Tokyo
Mitama festival in Tokyo
Mitama festival in Tokyo
Mitama festival in Tokyo
Mitama festival in Tokyo
Mitama festival in Tokyo
A man walks the past paper lanterns during the Mitama festival, celebrated since 1947 honouring the souls of the enshrined spirits and the fallen soldiers of Japan's past wars, at the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on July 14, 2021. Behrouz MEHRI / AFP
Mitama festival in Tokyo
People look at paper lanterns during the Mitama festival, celebrated since 1947 honouring the souls of the enshrined spirits and the fallen soldiers of Japan's past wars, at the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on July 14, 2021. Behrouz MEHRI / AFP
Mitama festival in Tokyo
A couple sit under paper lanterns during the Mitama festival, celebrated since 1947 honouring the souls of the enshrined spirits and the fallen soldiers of Japan's past wars, at the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on July 14, 2021. Behrouz MEHRI / AFP
Mitama festival in Tokyo
People take pictures of paper lanterns during the Mitama festival, celebrated since 1947 honouring the souls of the enshrined spirits and the fallen soldiers of Japan's past wars, at the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on July 14, 2021. Behrouz MEHRI / AFP
Mitama festival in Tokyo
Visitors walk past paper lanterns during the Mitama festival, celebrated since 1947 honouring the souls of the enshrined spirits and the fallen soldiers of Japan's past wars, at the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on July 14, 2021. Behrouz MEHRI / AFP
Mitama festival in Tokyo
People pray during the Mitama festival, celebrated since 1947 honouring the souls of the enshrined spirits and the fallen soldiers of Japan's past wars, at the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on July 14, 2021. Behrouz MEHRI / AFP
Mitama festival in Tokyo
Paper lanterns are seen during the Mitama festival, celebrated since 1947 honouring the souls of the enshrined spirits and the fallen soldiers of Japan's past wars, at the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on July 14, 2021. Behrouz MEHRI / AFP
Mitama festival in Tokyo
People walk past paper lanterns during the Mitama festival, celebrated since 1947 honouring the souls of the enshrined spirits and the fallen soldiers of Japan's past wars, at the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on July 14, 2021. Behrouz MEHRI / AFP
Tags:JapanTokyoFestival

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