The Ekin Festival

The Ekin Festival 

The Ekin festival is held in July in Akaoka, Konan City and celebrates the work of Ekin, a famous Edo painter heavily inspired by kabuki. His folding screen paintings are unique depictions of scenes from kabuki plays – chilling, yet beautiful. They employ a bright, red hue, and the imagery is often full of violence and eroticism. Interestingly, this red color is also said to ward off evil!

For just a few nights during the summer, original copies of Ekin’s folding screen paintings are displayed outside for all to see in Akaoka’s shopping area. What’s even better is that there are no glass cases separating the viewer and the paintings!