Japanese *mikoshi* (portable shrine) being carried through streets, Asakusa festival, Tokyo, Japan 1975

Japanese mikoshi (portable shrine - lower left of image) being carried through the streets, local residents in traditional festival dress. According to Shinto belief, the ornately decorated miniature Mikoshicarry the spirits of deities around the suburbs during a matsuri (festival). During the matsuri, people carry the mikoshi on their shoulders from the shrine around the surrounding neighborhoods that worship at the shrine.