This is an old shrine that used has been called Tenno Shrine, Gozu Tenno, and Yoshida Tenno Shrine. Many generals of the past visited this shrine in order to worship Susanoo no mikoto.

Among those generals was Minamoto Yoritomo. Because he deeply worshiped this shrine, Mikoshitogyo, which is a recreation of the procession of lord Yoritomo, was born as the Tenno Festival. This was the beginning of the Toyohashi Gion Festival.

The reason this festival flourished as the eve of the Mikoshitogyo of the regular festival is because of the launching of fireworks in which black powder permitted only in restricted regions, the same gunpowder that was used in the Edo Period.

According to documents left at the shrine, Oharabizen no kami(the governor of Ohara Bizen), the keeper of Yoshida Castle of Imagawa Yoshimoto, dedicated the fireworks to the Yoshida Shrine in the first year of the Eiroku Period (1558). This is a location called “the birthplace of tezutsu fireworks.”

Also, similar fireworks displays cannot be seen in any other urban area.

The people who are in charge of operating the fireworks are certified young, male shrine parishioners who participate in training specifically for this event. The effort to inherit the traditional fireworks has been made.

On the third Friday of July, hand-held fireworks are dedicated to the shrine. On the third Saturday, rockets are launched near the banks of the Toyo River.

Also, on the third Sunday, the Yoritomo procession and other events are conducted.

Toyohashi Gion Festival Supporting Association http://www.toyohashigion.org/