Participants burst through the gates of Nishinomiya Shrine in Hyogo Prefecture at 6:00 am during the ‘Fuku Otoko Erabi’ or lucky man race as a part of the ‘Toka Ebisu’ festival on January 10, 2015. The annual race has 5,000 men competing by sprinting 230 meters from the gate to the shrine’s main hall.
Fuku Otoko Erabi Lucky Man Race at Toka Ebisu Festival
The first three men through capture the title of “fuku-otoko” (Lucky Man). In first place for 2015 was Tomonori Shiwa, a 19 year old Nishinomiya University student.
The ‘Toka Ebisu’ festival has been held over 3 days since the Edo period around January 10th and is associated with Ebisu, the god of business as well as of fisheries. The famous festival has over a million people visiting over the 3 days.
Access: 5 minute walk from Hanshin Nishinomiya Station
Address: 1-17 Shake-cho, Nishinomiya
Website: http://nishinomiya-ebisu.com/ (Japanese)
