Osame no Daishi -- the Year's Last Kobo Daishi Fair
Seasonal EventsWhat Is Osame no Daishi?
December 21 is "Osame no Daishi," the last ennichi -- temple fair day -- of the year for Kobo Daishi, the monk Kukai. His ennichi falls on the 21st of every month, and Japanese custom distinguishes the first of the year with the prefix "hatsu-" and the last with "osame no-" or "shimai-." December 21 is that closing day.
The 21st Belongs to Kobo Daishi
Each buddha or deity has its own fixed ennichi date; for Kobo Daishi it is the 21st.
- The ennichi date: the 21st of every month, for Kobo Daishi (Kukai)
- Naming: the year's final ennichi takes "osame no-" or "shimai-"
- Alternative name: it is also called Shimai Kobo
- Sharing the date: the ennichi of Juntei Kannon also falls on the 21st
Shimai Kobo at To-ji Temple in Kyoto
To-ji Temple in Kyoto holds its Kobo Market on the 21st of each month, and the December edition, Shimai Kobo, is the busiest of the year. Alongside the usual stalls of antiques, secondhand clothing, food and plants, the year-end market draws crowds shopping for New Year decorations, zodiac figurines for the coming year and calendars. Kyoto's official tourism pages list it among the sights of the season.
Tips for Marking This Day
- Check whether a temple near you connected with Kobo Daishi is holding a fair
- Look up photos or reports of Shimai Kobo at To-ji
- Start your own New Year preparations -- decorations, a zodiac ornament, a calendar
- Read about the "hatsu-" and "osame no-" naming custom for ennichi days
The Last Fair Before the Year Turns
Osame no Daishi folds the year's final temple visit together with the first of the New Year's shopping. The bustle of the market is itself a scene of late December.