Calendar of Japanese festivals (matsuri) 1 September Hassaku Oshi-tsuki Tsuma, Traditional “bull sumo” whereby two bulls fight to push the other out of the ring. 1-3 September Kaze no Bon Yatsuo-cho, Houses are decorated with papers lanterns and people dance on the streets to the sounds of Chinese fiddles. 5 September Hassaku-sai Matsuo-Taisha Shrine, This festival features rituals, sumo wrestling and Buddhist dance to ask the gods for good weather, healthy harvests and home safety. 9 September Karasu-zumo Kamigamo Shrine, Shinto priests perform rituals of hopping from side to side and cawing like crows. Following this, local boys have sumo wrestling competitions 14-15 September Tono Festival Tonogo-hachimangu Shrine, This festival is held annually to pray for good harvests and features traditional dancing and music. 14-15 September Kishiwada Danjiri Festival Kishiwada, Over 30 4m tall floats are carried quickly through the streets, followed by the “stampede” of festival-goes. This festival is one of the most magnificent (and dangerous) of
Osanomiya Autumn Festival Hie Shrine, A parade travels from Hie Shrine to Matsuzakaya department store with various entertainments taking place at the Shrine.
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Festival This festival features displays of Japanese archery on horseback. 14-16 September Tsurugaoka-hachimangu Reitasai Tsurugaoka-hachimangu Shrine, This festival features displays of horseback archery with participants wearing full costume. 14-17 September Yachi Donga Festival Hachiman-gu Shrine, Yachi, This festivals features displays of the oldest form of Japanese dance. Mid-September Furusato Hyappei Festival A magnificent sight, this festival features a 200kg pestle being hoisted 13m into the air and then used to pound 60kg of rice in a 4ton, 2.4m wide mortar. This festival involves prayer for good harvests. 20 September Okuma-Kabuto Festival Nakajima, This is the top festival of 22-24 September Aizu Byakko Festival This festival features a recreation of a major battle from 1868 between Imperial and Shogunate troops during the Meiji revolution, and displays over 700 people dressed in full period warrior costume. Eve of the Autumnal Equinox This festival dates back over 400 years and was started to raise morale after local men were sent to war. Over 3,000 men form two teams and pull a 365m long rope from both ends, to the delighted cheers of spectators. 25-26 September Fukuro Festival Ikebukuro, This is a commercially sponsored festival to promote tourism. Events include taiko drumming, dancing and martial arts demonstrations. 30 September – 1 October Kokkeisetsu This festival celebrates Chinese National Foundation Day with traditional dancing, fireworks and a giant cake that is served to approximately 300 people. |
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