In Kansai, it is crowded with “Ebessan(Ebisu)” for these three days.  “Ebisu” is a festival that enshrines Ebisu, the god of fishing, the god of prosperous business, and the god of fertility of five grains.  It is held every year from January 9th for 3 days, 9th is called “Yoi-Ebisu”, 10th is called “Hon-Ebisu”, and 11th is called “Nokori-Huku(Remaining Fortune)”.  Nishinomiya Shrine (Hyogo Prefecture), Imamiya Ebisu Shrine (Osaka Prefecture), and Kyoto Ebisu Shrine (Kyoto Prefecture), which are called Japan’s three major Ebisu shrines, are visited by about 900,000 people for three days, but in 2021, the number of people decreased by 80% to about 200,000.  Each shrine would have been enthusiastic about this year, but what will happen as the Omicron stock gains momentum?  I am worried about the sales of Fukuzasa and Kumade which are decorated with lucky charms at the tips of the branches.

関西ではこの三日間「えべっさん」で賑わいます。「えべっさん」とは十日戎のことで、漁業の神、商売繁盛の神、五穀豊穣の神として有名な「七福神」の戎(恵比寿)様を祀るお祭りです。毎年1月9日から3日間行われ、9日を宵戎(よいえびす)、10日を本戎(ほんえびす)、11日を残り福といいます。日本三大えびす神社と呼ばれる、西宮神社(兵庫県)、今宮戎神社(大阪府)、京都ゑびす神社(京都府)には、例年、3日間で約90万人が訪れますが、2021年は8割減の約20万人でした。今年こそはと各神社も意気込んだでしょうが、オミクロン株が勢いをます中、どうなることやら。枝先に縁起物を飾った福笹や熊手の売れ行きが気掛かりです。