Hōnen Matsuri

Overview

The Hounen Matsuri is a traditional festival held annually on March 15 at Tagata Shrine in Komaki City, Aichi Prefecture. This festival prays for abundant harvests, growth of all things, prosperity of descendants, and world peace. The festival's main feature is a large phallic symbol called "Ooowasegata" (male genital shape), made from Kiso cypress, measuring approximately 60 centimeters in diameter and over 2 meters in length, placed on a portable shrine carried through the streets by men in their unlucky years.

This festival is known as a "strange festival of the world" and attracts many domestic and international tourists. In 2023, approximately 50,000 spectators visited the event. The festival is designated as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property by the Komaki City Board of Education, making it a source of local pride. On the day, female attendants called "Gonin-shu" dressed in ancient costumes participate in the procession holding smaller phallic symbols, and the ceremony concludes with a solemn Shinto ritual and a lively mochi tossing ceremony.

History and Origins

The origins of the Hounen Matsuri are believed to date back over 1,400 years. According to one tradition, the festival originated from the story of placing a male symbol in rice fields to protect rice from locusts. This simple belief is thought to have developed into a festival praying for abundant harvests. There is no single definitive written record confirming the exact origin, but local oral traditions have passed down this story for generations.

Originally, the festival was a type of field play held on the first full moon of the New Year, which is the Little New Year (January 15 of the lunar calendar). It was a rustic ritual where people performed "kamakewaza," a play imitating sexual intercourse, in front of the gods to pray for abundant harvests. Historical documents from the Edo period record this as a very simple festival, unlike the elaborate form seen today. During this early period, the festival was an important prayer event for the local agricultural community, not a large public spectacle.

In the Edo period, the festival featured a straw doll approximately 2 shaku (about 60 centimeters) tall, dressed in traditional kamishimo attire and carrying a sword, riding on a vermillion-colored large phallic symbol about 1 shaku 8 sun (about 54 centimeters) long. The procession was small, with only a few participants, and several men carried wooden phallic symbols one by one behind the main float. Records from this time indicate that the festival was much more modest than its current form, limited to local participants.

Before World War II, the festival procession consisted of about 20 people. They carried a straw doll about 1 shaku 5 sun (about 45 centimeters) tall, dressed in kamishimo with a sword, placed on a vermillion large phallic symbol about 2 shaku 3 sun (about 70 centimeters) long. The festival's transformation into a tourist attraction led to the phallic symbol being emphasized and enlarged. From 1949 (Showa 24), the large phallic symbol was made about 2 meters long. The scale of the procession also expanded, growing into its current form. On March 24, 2016 (Heisei 28), the festival was designated as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property by Komaki City, but only specific rituals like the Kujitori-shiki, Ono-ire-sai, Kenmochi-gyoretsu, main festival on the day, and mochi tossing are included in the designation.

Highlights

The Mikoshi Procession and the Great Phallic Symbol (Ooowasegata) The mikoshi procession departs from the Otabisho (usually a local shrine like Shinmeisha or Kumanosha) at 2:00 PM and continues to Tagata Shrine. The main highlight is the "Yobutsu Mikoshi" carrying the great phallic symbol made from Kiso cypress, measuring 60 centimeters in diameter and over 2 meters in length. This symbol is newly crafted each year, starting eight days before the festival, and is carried by 42-year-old men in their unlucky year. The procession includes a total of three portable shrines: "Goren" carrying the goddess statue, "Gozen Mikoshi" carrying the image of the main deity, and the "Yobutsu Mikoshi" with the phallic symbol, forming a grand parade of about 200 people.

Ono-ire-sai (Ax-Insertion Ceremony) Held on March 3, the Ono-ire-sai is a Shinto ritual celebrating the start of carving the new giant phallic symbol. A representative strikes the first ax blow into a raw Kiso cypress log measuring 2.5 to 3 meters in length and 50 to 80 centimeters in diameter, signifying the determination to pray for a good harvest. Carvers, representatives of the unlucky-year mikoshi carriers, and the Gonin-shu female attendants attend this solemn ceremony. This ritual embodies a strong prayer for the safety of the entire festival and future prosperity.

Kujitori-shiki (Lot-Drawing Ceremony) Held on February 20, the Kujitori-shiki is an important ceremony to determine the female attendants "Gonin-shu" who will participate in the procession. The chief priest draws paper lots one by one before the gods, strictly selecting the year's attendants by divine will. The chosen women add elegance to the festival by holding small phallic symbols while joining the mikoshi procession. This fair and tradition-respecting ceremony also obligates the selected women to participate in the Ono-ire-sai. The selection is considered a sacred duty and a great honor for the community.

Procession of the Five Female Attendants (Gonin-shu) The Gonin-shu dress in ancient costumes and hold small phallic symbols as they join the mikoshi procession. Each woman walks with her own personal wish, such as for children or a good marriage. The procession is led by a man dressed as a tengu (mountain goblin) named Sarutahiko, with the five women following behind in a dignified formation. This elegant participation of women adds a unique grace and solemnity to the festival, balancing the masculine energy of the main phallic symbol.

The Railway Crossing Challenge The biggest challenge for the mikoshi procession is crossing the railway crossing of the Meitetsu Komaki Line. This crossing has trains passing frequently, with the crossing gates open for only about 10 minutes at a time. It is extremely difficult for a procession of over 200 people, including three large portable shrines and Gagaku musicians, to cross within this time frame. The members of the "Owasekai" organization have devised a strategy of compressing the procession to half its length to cross at once. This moment is a major highlight for spectators, who cheer when the procession successfully crosses.

Celebratory Mochi Tossing After the main Shinto ceremony, large quantities of offering mochi are thrown from a platform in the shrine grounds, marking the festival's finale. The mochi tossing has strict rules: "Children and elderly are not allowed to participate due to danger," "Do not pick up mochi that has fallen on the ground," and "Only underhand throws are allowed." Spectators catch the mochi to pray for a bountiful harvest and celebrate the festival's success together. In 2023, despite the heaviest rain in 20 years, the rain stopped just after the great phallic symbol was offered, allowing the mochi tossing to proceed as planned.

Event Information and Access

• Date: March 15, 2026 (Sunday)
• Time: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
• Venue: Tagata Shrine (152 Tagata-cho, Komaki City, Aichi Prefecture)
• Admission: Free (no reservation required)
• Access: Approximately 5 minutes on foot from "Tagata Jinja-mae" Station on the Meitetsu Komaki Line, or about 11 minutes on foot from "Ajioka" Station
• Parking: No general parking is available on the festival day. Use of public transportation is strongly recommended. Accessible from Nagoya Station or Inuyama Station via the Meitetsu Komaki Line.
• Contact: 0568-76-2906 (Tagata Shrine)
• Volunteer Guide: English guide service available from the Komaki Interpretation Volunteer Group (advance contact required; reception at the main hall from 10:00 AM on the day)
• Important Note: Please check the latest schedule and whether the event will be held on the official website of Tagata Shrine. The event may be cancelled or changed due to weather conditions.

Surrounding Area Information

Komaki City is located in northwestern Aichi Prefecture, approximately 30 minutes by train from Nagoya City. Near Tagata Shrine, there is another Hounen Matsuri held at Hime no Miya (a branch shrine of Oagata Shrine) in Inuyama City, which features a portable shrine containing female genital-shaped offerings and large banners, called "The Yin Festival." The Tagata Shrine Hounen Matsuri is sometimes called "The Yang Festival" in contrast, but both are independent festivals of different shrines and are often misunderstood as one event because they are held on the same or nearby dates.

Komaki City also offers other tourist attractions, such as Komaki Castle (Komaki-yama Castle) and historical site tours. Along the Meitetsu Komaki Line, there are popular tourist spots like Inuyama Castle, Meiji Mura, and Little World, making it convenient to visit before or after the Hounen Matsuri. Komaki City has good access to Nagoya City, which is about 40 minutes away via subway and Meitetsu trains.

As for local cuisine, the Komaki area offers Nagoya-region specialties such as "kishimen" flat noodles, "miso katsu" cutlet with miso sauce, and "hitsumabushi" eel on rice. On the day of the Hounen Matsuri, many food stalls operate, selling local foods and unique goods shaped like the phallic symbol. The festival is increasingly popular among international tourists, and many visitors purchase phallic-shaped straps and amulets as souvenirs. These items are sold at shrine stalls and souvenir shops along the procession route.

Related Information

• The Hounen Matsuri of Tagata Shrine is designated as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property by the Komaki City Board of Education (designated on March 24, 2016), including specific rituals such as Kujitori-shiki, Ono-ire-sai, Kenmochi-gyoretsu, the main festival on the day, and mochi tossing.
• The large phallic symbol on the portable shrine is newly made each year from Kiso cypress, measuring 2 to 2.6 meters in length and 50 to 80 centimeters in diameter.
• Only men in their 40s who are in their "honyaku" (main unlucky year) are allowed to carry the portable shrine, traditionally organized by a group called "Owasekai."
• On the day before the festival, the railway crossing of the Meitetsu Komaki Line is adjusted for the procession, with the gates opened for only about 10 minutes.
• The festival is known as a "strange festival of the world" and has been featured by international media, leading to an increasing number of foreign tourists.
• The Hounen Matsuri at Hime no Miya in Inuyama City is sometimes called the "Yin Festival," while the Tagata Shrine festival is called the "Yang Festival," but both are independent festivals of separate shrines.
• For those requesting English guidance, the Komaki Interpretation Volunteer Group can be contacted in advance, and English guides are available at the main hall reception on the day from 10:00 AM.
• The festival day typically sees crowds of several tens of thousands, so visitors are advised to arrive early and use public transportation.
• The festival features three types of portable shrines: Goren (with the goddess statue), Gozen Mikoshi (with the deity image), and Yobutsu Mikoshi (with the phallic symbol).
• The procession includes Gagaku musicians, shrine priests, and local community representatives, making it a comprehensive display of traditional Japanese culture.

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