Photo/Illutration A golden dragon dance known as “Kinryu-no-mai” is performed for the public for the first time in two years on Oct. 18 at Sensoji temple in Tokyo’s Taito Ward. (Kazuhiro Nagashima)

For the first time since the pandemic began, spectators could rejoice at the sight of a large, sparkling-gold dragon as it danced throughout the major sightseeing streets in Asakusa in the capital on Oct. 18.

The event, called “Kinryu-no-mai” (golden dragon dance), is normally held twice a year, in spring and fall, at the famed Sensoji temple and Nakamise shopping street.

But it was canceled in spring 2020 due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The events were held in fall 2020 and spring 2021, but the public was not allowed to view them.

This fall, the event finally returned to normal.

The first sons of local merchant families have kept the traditional celebration alive throughout the decades.

The Tsuchikiri family, which runs a print shop in Asakusa, has been part of that tradition.

Four generations of the Tsuchikiri family, ranging from 92 years old to just 11 months old, performed in the dance this year.

Yuki Tsuchikiri, 31, said his 11-month-old son, Koki, was born during the pandemic, and the family “has more reason to rejoice” by dancing again this year.

During the event, the shimmering golden dragon emerged from the temple grounds to the solemn sound of drumming. It is covered with 8,888 scales made of gold leaves, and measures 18 meters long and weighs 88 kilograms.

The dance was originally created in tribute to a folktale in which a statue of the Goddess of Kannon, which was Sensoji’s enshrined god, appeared from the Sumidagawa river on March 18, 628, and then a golden dragon descended from the sky.

It has been held biannually on the 18th of March and October since 1958, when the temple’s main hall was rebuilt from when it burned down in the Great Tokyo Air Raid in 1945.

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