On Sunday, June 21, 2026, the Abeno Mikoshi from Abe Oji Shrine and the Hannan Shishimai (Hannan Lion Dance) will depart from the Kintetsu "Osaka Abenobashi" Station concourse at 9:00 AM. The procession will make its way around the exterior of Abeno Harukas and through the Harukas 300 Observatory, offering prayers to ward off misfortune and bring good fortune to Osaka and the Kansai region.
This marks the sixth time the procession has taken place at Abeno Harukas since 2018, with the exception of the COVID-19 pandemic years from 2020 through 2022.
About the Abeno Mikoshi
The Abeno Mikoshi was created approximately 130 years ago by merchants from the Senba Azuchicho district of Osaka for their local Hachiman shrine. In 1907, following the government's Shrine Merger Order, the Hachiman shrine was incorporated into Abe Oji Shrine — said to have been founded by Emperor Nintoku — and the beloved mikoshi was brought to Abeno, where it has remained a cherished part of the local community.
During World War II, Abeno suffered devastating air raids, yet Abe Oji Shrine and the mikoshi miraculously escaped destruction. The procession was subsequently revived during Japan's postwar recovery, bringing hope to the war-damaged neighborhood. However, as the Heisei era progressed, a decline in volunteers led to the procession being suspended for over a decade.
In 2017, parishioners of Abe Oji Shrine expressed their wish to carry the mikoshi during their unlucky years to serve the divine, and Abeno Harukas — deeply rooted in the local community — has supported the revival of the procession from 2018 onward.
About the Hannan Shishimai (Hannan Lion Dance)
The Hannan Shishimai (Hannan Lion Dance) has been a part of summer festival processions through the streets of Abeno since the Showa era. Over time, fewer successors meant the tradition was preserved as a mechanical float in the Hannan district. In 2019, the lion dance performance was revived and has since been active at summer and autumn festivals.
