It was 10 years ago when I first saw the tradition of Tondo-san in Tayu, one of small fishing villages in the Shimane Peninsula.
 

 On January 3rd, 2016, I happened to come across male villagers in Tayu trying to raise up a huge structure composed of bamboos, paintings, and two models of a red sea bream. It was Tondo-san, a new-year festival of Shinto for a good catch of fish.
 

 Facing the strong northwest winds and occasional snows, they were screaming to each other and pulling ropes attached to the structure, and the structure finally stood up.
 

 Everything looked amazing for me, but I was the only non-villager who was there. "If this thing happened nearby a city, a lot of people would happily come and see. This thing should be seen by more people." That's what I thought in 2016.
 

 Since then I have visited Tayu a lot of times for doing fishing as an amateur angler. Whenever I visit Tayu, I get impressed with its beauty.
 

 10 years has passed since I first saw Tondo-san in Tayu.
 

 Today some villagers told me that the scale of this festival got smaller than 10 years ago. Indeed, there seemed fewer participants compared to in 2016.
 

 But there are things that have not changed.
 

 People in Tayu are kind. And my guest and I were only non-villagers who were there. I got the same impression as I did 10 years ago. "This thing should be seen by more people. Before it's too late. Before this tradition phases out."
 

 So I created this hurried website. I don't think my pictures can convey the authentic atmosphere surrounding Tondo-san in Tayu village. I just hope my pictures can provide a glimpse of it.

 They say that the day after tomorrow they will bring the structure down.