TUJ Students Celebrate Community Spirit at 100th Kifune Matsuri Festival in Tokyo: Photo Gallery and Video

TUJ students and staff take part in the Kifune festival n Shinagawa City, Tokyo. Photo by Ant Smith (TUJ Student)

Students from Temple University, Japan Campus (TUJ) had a memorable opportunity to take part in a centuries-old cultural tradition on June 8, 2025, as they joined the annual festival at Kifune Shrine in the picturesque neighborhood of Shinagawa City, just about 10 kilometers (6 miles) from TUJ’s campus.

Thanks to a warm invitation from the Mitsugi Kaikan Neighborhood Association, about 20 TUJ students and staff had the opportunity to engage with the community by carrying a mikoshi, a traditional portable shrine, through the streets. Together with local residents, they walked from the Mitsugi Kaikan hall to Kifune Shrine and back. This year’s festival marked an especially meaningful milestone as it celebrated its 100th anniversary, making TUJ’s second year of participation even more significant.

Following the festivities, students joined community members for lunch in the area, enjoying Japanese curry rice, a Japanese-style croquette – made with mashed potatoes and ground meat – and other local favorites. The experience not only offered students firsthand exposure to Japanese cultural traditions but also underscored TUJ’s ongoing efforts to strengthen ties with the surrounding community.

Scroll down to view a gallery of images and a highlight video from the day.