Fushiki Hikiyama Festival

Overview

The Fushiki Hikiyama Festival, commonly known as Kenka Yama, is a dynamic festival held annually on the third Friday and Saturday of May in the Fushiki district of Takaoka City, Toyama Prefecture. This festival is a Shinto event held in conjunction with the Fushiki Shrine Spring Grand Festival, and has been passed down for over 200 years as a prayer for coastal protection and maritime safety . During the day, seven flower-decorated floats (hana yama) parade through the town in a brilliant display, while at night, six floats illuminated by approximately 360 paper lanterns each engage in the fierce collision event known as Katcha, which is the festival's greatest highlight.

Fushiki was once the site of the provincial capital of Etchu Province and flourished as a port of call for Kitamae-bune trading ships. In this port town that has long walked with the sea, a festival of gratitude for the blessings of the ocean and prayers for safe voyages has been preserved since ancient times . The skills and pride of the community are woven into the next generation through the annual cycle of preparing, polishing, and pulling the floats. The festival was designated as an intangible folk cultural property of Takaoka City on July 8, 1985, and was selected for the Toyama Cultural Heritage 100 Selections in the Toyama Festival 100 Selections category in 2006 .

History and Origins

There are several accounts of the origins of the Fushiki Hikiyama Festival. According to the official account, the festival began in 1814 (the eleventh year of the Bunka era) in the late Edo period, when the seaside Fushiki Shrine was damaged by waves and relocated to its present site, and was held as its spring ritual . Regarding the floats themselves, it is said that in 1820 Nakamachi created the first float, called Hyotanyama, after which more floats were added successively through the Meiji period, gradually shaping the festival into its current form. Moreover, ink writings found on the back of sacred face masks reveal that the sacred objects for Kamimachi and Honmachi were already being produced even earlier, in 1781 , suggesting that the core faith underlying the festival may have originated in an even earlier era.

Against the backdrop of Fushiki's prosperity as a key port for Kitamae-bune ships, there existed a strong faith in praying for the safety of maritime transportation. The festival was held as the Fushiki Shrine Spring Grand Festival to give thanks for the blessings of the sea and to pray for safe voyages . The unique form of the festival, featuring the violent collisions of floats called Katcha, is said to have been born from the spirited character of this port town.

The name Katcha is derived from the word kachiau, meaning to collide, and the sight of floats crashing head-on is truly worthy of the festival's nickname, Kenka Yama, or Fighting Mountain . Although there is no official victory or defeat, the contest staked on town pride moves the hearts of all who witness it. In the past, the festival was also called Isamidashi or Isami Hikiyama, and these names were used on posters until 1974 .

Highlights

Daytime Procession of Flower Floats During the daytime portion, seven flower floats are pulled through the town by young men dressed in matching happi coats. The floats, standing approximately eight meters tall, are adorned with flower umbrellas and display the distinctive hokodome, or spearhead ornaments, that symbolize each town, with sacred objects and dolls enshrined upon them . These floats are carefully maintained and lovingly passed down by the people of each float town over the course of a year, and their beauty embodies the pride of the port city.

Nighttime Climax: Katcha The greatest highlight of the Fushiki Hikiyama Festival is Katcha, the fierce collision of floats that takes place at night. Weighing approximately eight tons and adorned with about 360 lanterns each, the floats advance through the dark night, guided by the sound of drums and the young men's spirited shouts of "Iyasa, Iyasa" . The cry Iyasaa carries the wish for ever-increasing prosperity, echoing a prayer for the development and happiness of the region. After the collision, the representatives shake hands to acknowledge each other's efforts, and the Katcha concludes with the young men singing their town's anthem.

The Meaning Behind the Iyasa Shouts The shout of Iyasa is not merely a vigorous cry; it is a word derived from the auspicious term Iyasaka, meaning ever-increasing prosperity . The synchronized shouts of the young men pulling the floats resonate through the port town, leaving a strong impression of the region's unity and pride on all who witness it.

The Ingenious Tsukenagate The tsukenagate used in Katcha, also called a cannon, is a large wooden beam made from oak, measuring 30 to 40 centimeters in diameter and 4.7 meters in length. Two of these beams are attached to the front and rear of the float via the shafts, and an iron ring is fitted to the tip for reinforcement . The tsukenagate is replaced annually, with each town's members felling oak trees from the mountains and processing them themselves, and the method of attachment is considered a trade secret for each town. This equipment transforms the elegant flower floats into armored vehicles at night, creating a striking and characteristic visual imbalance.

The Sound of Yamagaryu Jindaiko During the float processions and Katcha, the music of the Yamagaryu Jindaiko, a style of war drumming, is performed. This drumming not only heightens the festive atmosphere but also serves to coordinate the movements of the young men pulling the floats . The sound of drums echoing through the night, combined with the light of the lanterns, creates a fantastical space that transports visitors to another world.

The Tradition of the Horo Musha Procession The Horo Musha procession, where children dressed as warriors clear the way for the portable shrine, shares the festival's approximately 200-year history. This procession disappeared once in the mid-Showa 40s but was revived in 1981 through the cooperation of local volunteers, and is now managed by the Fushiki Horo Musha Preservation Society . Children from Fushiki Elementary School and local kindergartens and nursery schools march as generals wearing armor and carrying horo, as well as arrow bearers and attendants, adding both charm and historical weight to the festival.

Event Information and Access

1. Name: Fushiki Hikiyama Festival (Kenka Yama) - Fushiki Shrine Spring Grand Festival
2. Dates: Third Friday and Saturday of May annually. For 2026, the dates are May 15 (Fri) and May 16 (Sat)
3. Main Schedule: May 15 features the grand festival ceremony and portable shrine procession (8:00-17:00) and nighttime lighting (19:00-21:00). May 16 includes the daytime flower float parade (departure ceremony at 9:30, until approximately 15:00) and the nighttime lantern float parade and Katcha (18:00-24:00)
4. Venue: The area around Yama-cho in the Fushiki district of Takaoka City, Toyama Prefecture
5. Access: A 5-minute walk from Fushiki Station on the JR Himi Line. The station is approximately 20 minutes from Takaoka Station. By car, it is a 15-minute drive from the Takaokakita Interchange on the Noutetsu Expressway
6. Parking: Temporary parking is available (approximately 300 spaces). Lot 1 at Nihon Sogo Recycle Co., Ltd. offers about 200 spaces, and Lot 2 at Chuestu Logistics Co., Ltd. Fushiki Office offers about 100 spaces. A cooperation fee of 1,000 yen per vehicle (cash only) is required. A free shuttle bus operates between Fushiki Station and the temporary parking lots. As space is limited, the use of public transportation is strongly recommended
7. Admission: Free, but paid reserved seating (all reserved seats) is available for viewing Katcha for the first time in three years. Advance purchase is required, and there is no dedicated parking for ticket holders
8. Latest Information: Due to the effects of the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, restoration work may affect the festival's details. Please check the official website (Fushiki Hikiyama Festival homepage) for the latest schedule and confirmation of implementation.

Surrounding Area Information

The area around the venue, a five-minute walk from Fushiki Station and easily accessible, is dotted with spots where visitors can experience history and nature. Particularly noteworthy is Shokoji Temple, designated a National Treasure in 2022, whose stately architectural beauty is overwhelming . Visitors can enjoy exploring Fushiki's history alongside the Kenka Yama festival. Fushiki is also known as a place associated with Otomo no Yakamochi, a poet of the Manyoshu collection, and the Takaoka City Manyo Historical Museum offers insights into the world of the Manyoshu and the culture that thrives in Fushiki.

On a clear day, a trip to the Amaharashi Coast is recommended. The stunning view of the Tateyama Mountain Range across the sea is one of Toyama's most representative landscapes . After experiencing the excitement of the festival, watching the sunset on the quiet coast adds to the charm of the visit. Additionally, the Takaoka Chamber of Commerce and Industry Fushiki Branch displays seven miniature floats, each approximately one meter tall and meticulously crafted to about one-seventh the scale of the originals .

Related Information

1. Cultural Property Designation: Designated as an intangible folk cultural property of Takaoka City on July 8, 1985. In 2006, it was selected for the Toyama Cultural Heritage 100 Selections in the Toyama Festival 100 Selections category
2. Restoration of the Jushichikencho Float: The float of Jushichikencho, lost in the great fire of Fushiki in 1880, was restored with work beginning in 2013 and completion in 2015. It is now displayed at the Fushiki Community Center. The sacred statue of Jurōjin was restored in 2004, and the Karako puppet was restored in 2008
3. Katcha Matchup System: The current system is a round-robin format, with matchups between towns determined by lottery. In the past, there was a structure pitting the newer towns of Ishizakamachi and Minatomachi against the older towns, but this was changed to a round-robin system due to population decline and perceived unfairness
4. Tsukenagate Tree Planting: To ensure future supplies of materials, the Fushiki Hikiyama Preservation Association holds annual tree-planting events in Katcha no Mori, located within the grounds of Fushiki Ichinomiya Shrine. It will take 50 to 60 years after planting for the oak trees to be usable as tsukenagate
5. Earthquake Impact and Recovery: Due to the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, the 2025 festival was held with restrictions on attendees. In 2026, as road restoration progresses, the seven floats are scheduled to parade along the main street from Nakamichi-dori, which suffered severe liquefaction damage, to the former Chamber of Commerce building, allowing a wider area for the festival compared to the previous year
6. Live Broadcast: The local cable television station, Takaoka Cable Network, broadcasts the nighttime Katcha live, and the feed is also distributed to other cable TV stations within the prefecture
7. Miniature Floats: The seven miniature floats displayed at the Takaoka Chamber of Commerce and Industry Fushiki Branch were crafted by a citizen from Kokubu, Takaoka City, over a period of about 15 years, and were donated in December 2016

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