OSAKA — Women dressed in red “happi” coats participated in the “Gal Mikoshi” event July 23 ahead of Osaka’s Tenjin Festival (July 24-25), a summer tradition.
Women carry portable shrines during the “Gal Mikoshi” event in Osaka’s Kita Ward, July 23, 2025. (Mainichi/Ririko Maeda)
Eighty women, aged 16 to 30 and selected from 135 applicants, joined the event at Tenjinbashisuji shopping street in Osaka’s Kita Ward, carrying two “mikoshi” portable shrines through the street and energetically chanting “Wasshoi, wasshoi.”
These women, including students, medical workers and teachers, donned happi coats and twisted headbands to boost their spirits. Despite the intense heat, they carried the 200-kilogram mikoshi with smiles, responding to cheers from the spectators.
Kiri Tsutsui, 24, a company employee from Toyonaka, Osaka Prefecture, participated for the first time. She commented, “I was nervous during the audition, but I’m really glad I was chosen. The Gal Mikoshi is truly exciting. I wasn’t embarrassed at all and shouted from my belly. My colleagues are coming to watch, so I’m putting my all into it.”
(Japanese original by Hayato Matsubara, Osaka City News Department)
In Photos: Women’s ‘mikoshi’ procession delights summer in Osaka
AloJapan.com