Autumn festivals are held throughout
Japan, most celebrated to either
pray for a good harvest or to
celebrate the local Shinto gods.
In the autumn harvest festivals are held,
and the first fruits of the paddy field are
offered to the gods.
In rural villages the entire community
celebrates this autumn festival, and
in many places mikoshi (a portable
shrine carrying symbolic gods)
are paraded through the streets.
At the Imperial Palace the Emperor fulfills
the role of presenting offerings of new
grain and produce to the gods.
A long time ago in Japan, the new
autumn rice harvest could not be eaten
until the festival was over in honor of
the rice spirit.
Now that day is a national holiday and
it takes place on November 23.
The name of the festival has also been
changed to Labor Thanksgiving Day.