The third man from the left approached me and started to speak in english. Among other things he said was that about a third of the people carrying the portable shrines ( mikoshi ) belonged to the Japanese mafia . ( Yakuza ) I think this is correct because I noticed many, many tattoos. ( In Japan , usually only Yakuza members have tattoos. (or wear sunglasses) Many public swimming pools have signs that say people with tattoos cannot enter the pool.......)