As part of its special exhibition "We Still Love Elephants — There Were Elephants on Department Store Rooftops!" (running from March 13 to August 31), Takashimaya Archives TOKYO in Nihonbashi is recruiting 20 participants to join the Tojin parade at the 2026 Sanno Matsuri Shinkosai (神幸祭) procession on June 12.
About Sanno Matsuri and the Elephant Float
The Sanno Matsuri at Hie Shrine is one of the three great festivals of Edo and one of Japan's three great festivals, with a history stretching back to the Edo period. The Shinkosai, held every other year, is a grand and spectacular procession that marches through the heart of Tokyo, transporting visitors back to the Edo era. Since 2024, a balloon "elephant float" (象山車, zōdashi) has been added to the procession.
The tradition of the "elephant creation" is said to have begun when an elephant brought from Vietnam to Edo during the reign of Shogun Yoshimune became a sensation, and the trend-loving Edoites later fashioned it into a portable creation to pull through the streets. The original "elephant creation" was made of papier-mâché, with one person inside each of the four legs — making four people act as one elephant as they marched through the crowds. Accompanying the elephant to add an exotic atmosphere was the Tojin parade, inspired by the Joseon Tongsinsa (Korean diplomatic missions to Japan).
Recruitment Details
Takashimaya Archives TOKYO is recruiting 20 people to dress up as the modern-day Tojin parade and pull the "elephant float" during the procession. With the 2024 revival of the "elephant creation" and the addition of the Tojin parade this year, the 2026 Shinkosai promises to be a truly historic event.
Note: Times and the route are currently planned and subject to change.
Event Date: June 12, 2026 (Friday), approximately 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Planned Route:
- Assembly: Nihonbashi Takashimaya S.C. Main Building
- Departure: Imperial Palace Sakashita Gate
- Procession: Marunouchi Naka-dori Avenue
- Break: Nihonbashi Hie Shrine
- Procession: Chuo-dori Avenue, via Nihonbashi Takashimaya
- Arrival: Shimbashi
Number of Participants: 20
Participation Fee: Free
Additional Notes:
- Costume (top, bottom, hat) is provided free of charge. Participants must prepare their own T-shirt, underwear, socks, and sneakers (comfortable walking shoes).
- Due to costume sizing, participation is limited to adults with a height of approximately 150 to 180 cm. Please confirm sizing before applying.
- Attendance at a pre-lecture held at Takashimaya Archives TOKYO on May 27, 2026 (Wednesday) from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM (planned) is mandatory. Participants who cannot attend will not be permitted to join the parade. (A recording will be shared with those who live far away.)
- Transportation and accommodation costs for the pre-lecture and the parade day are the responsibility of participants.
- Photos and videos taken during the parade will be used for promotional and archival purposes. Participants must consent to this use.
Participation Requirements
To apply, participants must satisfy all of the following conditions:
① Must be available for the full day on June 12, 2026 (Friday) from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM and able to participate in group activities. (Route and times are subject to change.)
② Must attend the mandatory pre-lecture "Pre-lecture on Sanno Matsuri: Lecturer / Naoyuki Kinoshita (Supervisor of the 'We Still Love Elephants' Exhibition, Director of the Shizuoka Prefectural Museum of Art)" to be held on May 27, 2026 (Wednesday) from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM (planned) at the 5th floor former VIP room of Takashimaya Archives TOKYO.
③ Due to costume sizing, participation is limited to adults with a height of approximately 150 to 180 cm.
④ Transportation and accommodation costs to/from the pre-lecture and the parade assembly/dismissal locations are the responsibility of participants.
⑤ Participants must be in good health with sufficient stamina to complete the full parade, including approximately 5 hours of walking-based activity.
⑥ Costumes (top, bottom, hat) are provided free of charge. Participants must prepare their own T-shirt, underwear, socks, and sneakers.
⑦ In case of rain, participants will wear rain gear during the procession. In the event of severe weather, the event may be canceled or modified.
⑧ Photos and videos taken during the parade will be used for future promotional and archival purposes, and participants must consent to this.
⑨ Participants must comply with the recruitment guidelines, applicable laws, and instructions from organizers, and must refrain from conduct that violates laws or public order, causes inconvenience to other participants or third parties, or significantly disrupts the event.
⑩ Takashimaya Archives TOKYO is not responsible for accidents, lost or stolen property, or other damage not attributable to the organizers that occurs during the parade.
⑪ The event may be canceled due to natural disasters or other force majeure events, in which case the organizers will not be liable for resulting damages.
Selection Process
- If applications exceed 20, participants will be selected based on the application content.
- Selection criteria and reasoning will not be disclosed.
- All applicants will be notified of the result by April 30 via the email address provided at the time of application.
How to Apply
Applications can be submitted via the Google Form below. One application per person.
https://forms.gle/qw4iAWFy158nnyUd9
Application Period: March 13, 2026 (Friday) to April 15, 2026 (Wednesday)
