Some characteristics of the urban festival can be observed in relation to ritual organization in local communities. This paper is based on research conducted at the Sumiyoshi Matsuri paper is based on research conducted at the Sumiyoshi Matsuri (matsuri meaning “festival”) in August 1980, which is held jointly by the Tsukuda and Tsukishima areas of Tokyo. This paper considers the process and structure of the urban festival from the viewpoint of the relationship between the social structure of there areas and of the organizations formed to carry out the matsuri.
First, the contrasting historical backgrounds of the Tsukuda and Tsukishima areas, which together make up the ujiko (or parishioners of the local Shinto shrine) area of Sumiyoshi Shrine, are described. Then, on the basis of the difference in their forms of organization, I label the part of the Sumiyoshi Matsuri which takes place in Tsukuda as the “insiders' organization” of the festival and that which takes place in Tsukishima as the “outsiders' organization”. A group called “Sumiyoshiko” organizes the festival as it is held in Tsukuda, the “insiders” area, and on the other hand the Tsukishima area's ritual organizations are based on the ready-made neighborhood organizations called chonaikai, which differ in size and structure from the organizations of Tsukuda.
As a result of this analysis, the following can be summarized concerning the relationship between the “insiders” and “outsiders” organizations :
(1) The division between the “insider” and “outsider” circles reflects the social structure of each areas, especially the rate of new comers and the residential forms in local communities are important indexes of the social structure.
(2) The relationships revealed in this urban festival show a tendency to include and exclude people at the festival.
(3) Both ritual organizations operating at the Sumiyoshi Matsuri, particularly that of the “insiders” area, must adapt to various social changes.