In old days, the common call used when carrying palanquins in Tokyo was "essa, essa", which was famous as "Edo-mae katsugi". But these days, the call is mostly replaced with "oisa", "seiya" or "soiya". The change may have something to do with attempts of palanquin clubs to remove local territorialities and promote palanquin carrying widely. At one point of time, young people averse to old customs walked away from festivals, which caused a shortage of palanquin carriers. This was when a number of palanquin groups were formed, which took part in festivals as "helping hands" to carry palanquins and enjoy festivals. These groups have young females and small children and the children are taught by unrelated adults rules and customs necessary to carry palanquins properly. If they violate "the big no-no" of getting on the palanquin without permission, they will be socked without further words.

This way, they will learn by themselves how to get along in the adult society, then to respect the seniors and deepen their understanding of local cultures. It may be rightly said that the popularity of palanquin groups is supported by a virtuous circle in which festivals help re-create bonds of people in Tokyo where good attributes of local communities tend to be fading, and such bonds, in turn, attract young people and females.

When taking part in festivals, you can follow traditions or you can try new ways of participation. How to enjoy festivals differs from people to people but it seems certain that festivals themselves will be passed on to future generations.

　かつて東京では神輿を担ぐときに「えっさ、えっさ」という掛け声が江戸前担ぎとして有名だった。しかし、近年では東京のほとんどの祭りで「オイサ」「セイヤ」「ソイヤ」という掛け声に替わってきている。これは地元という枠にとらわれず神輿を担ぐ、神輿同好会の影響もあるだろう。一時は古いしきたりを嫌う若年層離れにより、神輿の担ぎ手不足が深刻になっていたことがあるという。

　そんなときに生まれたのが神輿担ぎの「助っ人」として参加し、祭りを楽しむ人たちの集まりである神輿同好会だ。若い女性や小さな子供たちの参加も多く、そこで子供たちは血縁関係の無い大人から神輿を担ぐためのルールやしきたりを習う。勝手に神輿へ登るなどというご法度を犯せば問答無用のゲンコツが飛んでくるのだ。おのずと大人たちが生きる社会との関わり方を知り、ひいては年長者への礼儀を覚え地元文化への理解を深める。

　地域のコミュニティが失われがちな大都会東京で祭りを機軸とした人々の絆が生まれ、またその人情味あふれる絆に憧れて若者や女性が集まるという好循環が、神輿同好会の人気を支えているといってもいいだろう。

　伝統を重んじるもよし、新しいカタチで参加するもよし。楽しみ方は人それぞれだが、祭り自体が次の世代へと受け継がれていくのは間違いないようだ。

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