Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri

Overview

The Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri is a spirited festival held in Kishiwada City, Osaka Prefecture, boasting about 300 years of history and tradition. It is known throughout Japan for the sight of wooden floats called danjiri, each weighing more than four tons, being hauled through the streets at full speed by large teams of pullers. It is one of Japan's foremost wild festivals, and its power and heat draw many visitors.

The greatest highlight of the festival is the yarimawashi, in which the danjiri is turned at a right angle while running at high speed. The sight of a float weighing several tons rounding a corner without slowing is overwhelming, and a successful turn brings a great roar from the crowd. The festival is divided broadly into a September festival and an October festival, in which each district of Kishiwada hauls its danjiri with pride, carrying on the unity and tradition of each town.

History and Origins

The origins of the Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri go back to the Genroku era of the Edo period. In 1703 (Genroku 16), Okabe Nagayasu, the third lord of the Kishiwada domain, invited the deity of Fushimi Inari of Kyoto to the Sannomaru area within Kishiwada Castle and held an Inari festival praying for an abundant harvest of the five grains, such as rice, wheat, and beans. This is said to be the beginning of the festival.

The festival in its earliest form is said to have involved performances of niwaka comic theater and kyogen, followed by worship at Sannomaru Shrine and Kishiki Shrine. Beginning as an agricultural rite praying for a rich harvest, the festival changed in form over time while keeping at its heart the spirit of binding together the local community, and it has been handed down to the present.

In the process by which the danjiri appeared and developed into the hauling form seen today, a spirit grew in which each town owned its own danjiri and competed over the splendor of the float and the skill of the hauling. The danjiri are adorned with intricate ranma carvings, in which famous scenes of battles and tales are carved in three dimensions, gathering together the finest of the craftsmen's art. The danjiri itself is the pride of each town, a treasure carefully protected and passed down over generations.

The once-a-year festival, which began from praying for and celebrating the harvest, continues to this day without losing the spirit of binding the community together that flows at the root of people's hearts, even in an age when the structure of society has greatly changed.

Highlights

The Dynamic Yarimawashi　The greatest highlight of this festival is the yarimawashi, in which a danjiri weighing more than four tons turns at a right angle at an intersection while running at high speed. The technique of turning the huge float in one motion while maintaining speed is the crystallization of the pullers' coordinated strength and courage, and a successful turn brings a great cheer from the spectators.

The Daikugata Dancing on the Roof　Atop the roof of the danjiri, the daikugata dances gracefully with a fan in hand. The figure balancing and dancing on the racing, turning float is the star of the festival, a memorable scene combining tension and splendor.

The Perilous Maeteko　Beside the front wheels of the danjiri, the role called maeteko uses a lever pole to steer the yarimawashi. It is a crucial and dangerous role that controls the movement of the huge float, requiring the craftsman-like skill that supports the festival.

Intricate Ranma Carvings　Each part of the danjiri bears ranma carvings in which battle scrolls and famous scenes of tales are carved in three dimensions. In contrast to the power of the racing float, a quiet look draws one into the fineness and beauty of the carvings.

The Heated Hauling and Shrine Entry　The sight of pullers in happi coats pulling the ropes and racing through the town to the rhythm of the musical accompaniment is the very heat of the festival. The miyairi, in which the danjiri of each town gather at the shrine, forms one climax of the festival.

Event Information and Access

Timing　The festival is divided into a September festival and an October festival. The September festival is held in mid-September, centered on the weekend including Respect for the Aged Day, in areas such as the old town of Kishiwada, while the October festival is held from early to mid-October. It is composed of trial hauls, the eve festival, and the main festival.

Venue　Various places in the urban area of Kishiwada City, Osaka, and the shrine-entry routes to Kishiki Shrine, Sannomaru Shrine, and others.

Scale of the Danjiri　Wooden floats weighing more than four tons, adorned with intricate ranma carvings.

Participating Towns　In the October festival, 45 towns are divided into six areas for the hauling, with many towns taking part.

Main Roles　The daikugata (dancing on the roof), the maeteko (steering the yarimawashi), the pullers, and many other roles.

Access　The venue is reached from Kishiwada Station and Takojizo Station on the Nankai Main Line. During the festival, large-scale traffic restrictions are in place in the urban area, so visitors are advised to use public transportation and follow local guidance. Because watching the yarimawashi involves danger, viewing from a safe position is required.

Surrounding Area

Kishiwada City, where the Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri takes place, is a town in the southern part of Osaka Prefecture, in the Sennan region facing Osaka Bay. It has long prospered as a castle town, with Kishiwada Castle rising at its center. The Inari festival that became the origin of the danjiri festival was also born out of a deep connection with this castle.

Within the city stands the Kishiwada Danjiri Kaikan, a hall that introduces the history, carvings, and hauling of the danjiri, where one can experience the culture and power of the festival even outside the festival season. Through actual danjiri and video displays, visitors can learn about the origins and roles of the festival.

Kishiwada Castle and its surroundings preserve the atmosphere of a castle town to this day, and along Osaka Bay there are fishing ports and places to enjoy the bounty of the sea. Combining a visit to the festival with a tour of the castle town streets and local flavors allows one to savor more deeply the history and culture of daily life that lives on in Senshu Kishiwada.

Related Information

• Name: Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri
• Location: Kishiwada City, Osaka Prefecture (Kishiki Shrine, Sannomaru Shrine, and various places in the urban area)
• Timing: September festival (mid-September) and October festival (early to mid-October)
• Origin: Said to have begun with the Inari festival held by the Kishiwada domain lord Okabe Nagayasu in 1703 (Genroku 16)
• History: About 300 years
• Danjiri: Wooden floats weighing more than four tons (with intricate ranma carvings)
• Greatest Highlight: Yarimawashi (right-angle turning while running)
• Main Roles: Daikugata, maeteko, and pullers

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