The festival is to begin in the afternoon with a parade starting at the gate of Zama Shrine. The route of the parade concludes at the northern 1-chome bridge at the canal marking the boundary of Kabuki Street and the riverfront zone. There lines have been rigged from either side of the canal's concrete flood plain to hang multitudes of the cheerful koinobori. The banners will enjoy a backdrop of Kabuki Streets numerous paulownia trees, which are presently in full bloom.
Visitors are welcome to join the parade, and street stalls will be open around the outer wall of Zama shrine selling already fabricated banners in all variety of patterns and colors as well as materials for guests that wish to craft their own personal design. Enterprising merchants will also undoubtedly set up stalls for refreshments and to sell cotton yukata in spring colors, perfect for enjoying the breezy weather. Visitors can look forward to hanging their own banner at the conclusion of the parade, and a festival to follow in the evening hours back at the shrine's inner courtyard.
To celebrate the Paulownia trees from which her forge takes its name, Izumi Takamine has crafted a number nearly identical daisho in honor of the anticipated festival. These sets of paired swords all have carvings on their tsuba and kashira themed around the distinctive purple paulownia flowers and the carp banners in flight as well as being fitted with ornamental menuki styled after Zama Shrine's rabbit residents, Shi-chan and Ma-chan. Though these weapons are elaborately decorated, Izumi issues her usual guarantee with them to any buyer and any funds raised from their sale will be donated to the shrine.
(( This is a board-based event! Please feel free to reply to this thread with with your character attending and/or an outfit, or vapor your character's attendance! ))
