OSAKA -- Osaka's beloved "Gal Mikoshi" (Gal portable shrine procession) summer tradition will make an early appearance this year at a special event on May 10 at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai. "We want to deliver energy to the world and also create an opportunity to reflect on gender equality," says Gal Mikoshi organizing committee chair Takanobu Miura.

Officially called the Tenjin Matsuri Josei O-mikoshi (Tenjin festival women's mikoshi), the shrine-carriers appear annually as part of Tenjin Matsuri, a major festival at Osaka Tenmangu Shrine in the city's Kita Ward every July. Eighty women between the ages of 15 and 30 -- selected through auditions -- take turns energetically carrying two mikoshi, each weighing around 200 kilograms, parading through Tenjinbashisuji shopping street. Not considered part of Tenjin Matsuri's religious ceremonies, the Gal Mikoshi serves mainly as a community promotion effort, organized primarily by members of the shopping street association.

Since its 1981 launch, only the COVID-19 pandemic has ever caused the yearly event to be suspended. Over the decades, it affectionately gained the nickname "Gal Mikoshi," capturing media attention and appearing on various TV programs. Recently, the event has received applications to join in from people in Asia, Europe and other regions around the world.

Miura, 51, first participated in the Gal Mikoshi as a security staffer in 2015, and took over as its executive committee chairperson in 2017. As the event supervisor, he organizes meetings and manages overall operations. Miura had long been considering, "Wouldn't it be great if Gal Mikoshi could take part in the Expo?" Miura believes that Japan has not progressed enough on gender equality, especially amid global movements and initiatives such as the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He also points to Japan ranking 118th among 146 countries in the 2024 gender equality report, published by the World Economic Forum.

"In some Japanese traditional festivals, there's still a lingering belief in excluding women from carrying mikoshi," Miura explains. Indeed, several Gal Mikoshi participants have cited reasons such as, "Since I am not allowed to touch the portable shrine back home, I wanted a chance to carry one." Miura emphasizes, "Through the Expo, I hope people from around the world see a portable shrine carried entirely by women."

Gal Mikoshi will appear as part of the "Osaka Festival! EXPO2025 Spring" event on May 10. Miura added, "By joining the Expo event, we would love more people to discover Gal Mikoshi and inspire even more women to apply." Organizers sought out former Gal Mikoshi participants for this special event, receiving more than 100 applications from around the world.

On the day of the event, some 70 women ranging in age from 16 to their late 30s are expected to join, including international participants. Amid joyful "danjiri bayashi" (traditional rhythm-based festival music) performed by a team from Miyakojima Ward, these "gals" will energetically parade two portable shrines through the EXPO Arena in the World Exposition venue.

(Japanese original by Tatsuya Naganuma, Osaka City News Department)