Choyo Rite and Karasu-zumo at Kamigamo Shrine

Kamigamo Shrine holds this rite every September 9 for Choyo, the last of Japan's five seasonal festivals. At 10:00 chrysanthemums are offered before the main hall to pray for long life and protection from misfortune. The ceremony then moves to a sumo ring set up before the Hosodono hall for karasu-zumo, a rite rooted in the myth of Kamotaketsunumi-no-mikoto transforming into the three-legged crow Yatagarasu. White-robed tone priests call out "kaa-kaa-kaa" and "koo-koo-koo" in imitation of crows and perform hopping crow steps before the sand cones, after which local children wrestle sumo bouts. Chrysanthemum sake is served to visitors afterward. A preliminary rite takes place at 20:00 the previous evening.