Tsuchizaki Shinmei Shrine Festival

Overview

The Tsuchizaki Shinto Shrine Festival Hikiyama Event is a traditional festival held in the Tsuchizaki Port area of Akita City, taking place annually on July 20 and 21. This event is the annual festival of Tsuchizaki Shinto Shrine, where each neighborhood association dedicates a hikiyama (float) that parades through the town. It was designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan on December 15, 1997. Furthermore, on November 30, 2016, at the 11th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, it was registered as part of UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage under the collective designation "Yama, Hoko, Yatai, float festivals in Japan" .

The hikiyama are rebuilt every year, and the number of floats dedicated varies annually, but in recent years approximately 20 or more have been operated. In 2023 (Reiwa 5), a post-war record of 26 neighborhoods dedicated hikiyama, marking the highest number in a decade since 2013 . The floats are accompanied by "Minato Bayashi" music, counted among the three great festival music styles of Akita Prefecture, captivating spectators with valiant warrior dolls and satirical "mikaeshi" placards.

History and Origin

The exact origins of the Tsuchizaki Shinto Shrine Festival Hikiyama Event are not fully documented, but a record from 1789 (Kansei 1) by Tsumura Sōan in his work "Yuki no Furu Michi" describes the festival. The text states that "accompanied by gongs, drums, flutes, and shamisen, as many as forty floats were paraded, making it extremely lively," suggesting that the festival had already taken its current form before this time . Additionally, records can be found in "Akita Kirei" by Hitomi Shōu from 1804 (Bunka 1) and "Uon Onko Shi" by Kondō Genpachi from the Meiji period.

During the Edo and Meiji periods, neighborhoods fiercely competed over the height of their hikiyama. In 1878 (Meiji 11), British traveler Isabella Bird visited Tsuchizaki and recorded in her book "Unbeaten Tracks in Japan" that the floats were "nearly 50 feet high" . In the early Meiji era, floats exceeding seven jo (approximately 21 meters) appeared, requiring ropes to be stretched from side alleys to prevent them from toppling. However, after electric wires were installed around 1900 (Meiji 33), the height had to be restricted to the current limit of 4.7 meters for operational safety.

The festival date was fixed to July 20 and 21 on the solar calendar during the Meiji period. Previously, it was held on June 15 of the lunar calendar, showing how the schedule has changed over time. In 2021 (Reiwa 3), the hikiyama event was canceled for two consecutive years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, although the Shinto rituals and procession of the portable shrine were still conducted. In 2022 (Reiwa 4), the event was held after a three-year hiatus under COVID-19 guidelines, and in 2023, with the reclassification of COVID-19 to Category 5, the festival returned to its full normal scale .

The festival music, "Minato Bayashi," is believed to have similarities with "Tenjin Bayashi" from Hitachiota City in Ibaraki Prefecture, which was the domain of the Satake clan before their relocation to Akita. However, the exact circumstances of its transmission remain unclear, and it is thought that the current form emerged through a fusion with pre-existing local music .

Highlights

Dual Structure of Go and Ju in Hikiyama Construction The hikiyama has a dual structure: the front (go) and the back (ju). On the front, a pair of male and female rocks (meoto-iwa) are placed, with a battlefield scene created in front of them, decorated with powerful warrior dolls representing historical figures. This structure embodies both sacredness and artistic expression, creating a spectacular sight that overwhelms spectators .

Mikaeshi Satirical Placards and Comical Dolls On the back, a tower for the musicians is built, and above it, comical dolls are displayed alongside "mikaeshi" placards that boldly satirize politics, economics, society, and culture in 7-5 syllable meter. A "Mikaeshi Contest" is held prior to the festival, awarding one grand prize and two excellence awards, with winning placards displayed alongside the regular ones. This satirical tradition provides fresh topics each year, attracting repeat visitors who come specifically to see the mikaeshi .

Otodashi (Call-and-Response) and Furibo Pole Technique The hikiyama starts moving through a call-and-response called "otodoge" between the otodori (leader) and the hikiko (pullers). The otodori strikes a wooden clapper, and the hikiko respond with a "shimo-goe" (lower voice), creating a spectacular moment when the massive float begins to move in unison. The furibo (steering poles) are handled by four people per set, one on each of four rings, operating the float without steering wheels or brakes through skilled techniques. The otodori requires not only singing ability but also judgment skills for safe operation, making it a true artisan role .

The Five Pieces of Minato Bayashi Minato Bayashi consists of five pieces: "Yose Daiko," "Minato Bayashi," "Aiya Bushi," "Minato Ken Bayashi," and "Kasō Bayashi," each performed at different times and tempos. For example, "Aiya Bushi" is played during the return floats (modori yama), with its plaintive melody echoing through the night darkness. These pieces are counted among the "Three Great Festival Music Styles of Akita Prefecture" alongside "Hanawa Bayashi" and "Kazariyama Bayashi," and are preserved by the Tsuchizaki Port Bayashi Preservation Association (Kōwakai, Gōshōkai, Shibukikai, Wakanamikai) and Kyokuhōkai .

Illusory Scenery of Modori Yama (Return Floats) At 8 PM, signaled by a "noroshi" (signal flare), the floats begin returning to their respective neighborhoods in order of higher vehicle numbers, an event called "modori yama," the highlight of the festival. The direction of travel reverses, and the front lanterns are lit, their red light floating in the night darkness. The pulling becomes more intense than during the daytime procession, with the hikiko shouting fiercely, and the floats sometimes running at considerable speed .

Dance and Entertainment The dances performed alongside the hikiyama are divided into performance dances and circle dances in which children and many people participate. "Akita Ondo" is representative of the performance dances, performed by women from each neighborhood in colorful costumes. These dances have been held since ancient times to entertain spectators and remain an important floral element of the festival.

Event Information and Access

1. Dates and Times: Annually on July 20 (yoimiya, eve festival) and 21 (honsai, main festival). In 2026, the festival is scheduled for July 20 (Monday, national holiday) and 21 (Tuesday). On the 20th, floats depart from each neighborhood around 8 AM, and on the 21st, floats return to their neighborhoods after midnight .

2. Admission Fee: Free. The floats parade on public roads, so viewing is possible from the roadside.

3. Venue: Tsuchizaki area, Akita City. The main street is Honcho-dori (one block east of National Route 7), centered around Tsuchizaki Shinto Shrine, a 3-minute walk from JR Tsuchizaki Station .

4. Access: Take JR Ou Main Line to Tsuchizaki Station, exit the west gate, and walk 3 minutes to Tsuchizaki Shinto Shrine. For those arriving by car from afar, parking is available at Michi-no-Eki Akita Port, the former Akita Port Station parking lot (opposite the ferry terminal), and the former Challenge Office Akita parking lot (behind Tsuchizaki Minato History Museum), with free shuttle buses running every 30 minutes .

5. Traffic Regulations: Traffic restrictions are in place in the Tsuchizaki area on both festival days, lifted at midnight. On-street parking within the restricted area is prohibited. For modori yama operating outside the restricted zone, police officers (in patrol cars) may accompany the floats .

6. Confirmation of Latest Information: Check the official Tsuchizaki Hikiyama Festival website (https://tutizaki-hikiyama.com/) or Akita City's official site before the event for any cancellations, postponements, or detailed schedules. Content may change due to weather or social circumstances. For inquiries, contact Tsuchizaki Shinmeisha Shrine (TEL 018-845-2264).

Surrounding Area Information

Around JR Tsuchizaki Station, the center of the Tsuchizaki Port Hikiyama Festival, there are several facilities where visitors can learn more about the festival's history. Tsuchizaki Shinto Shrine itself is the stage for the hikiyama event, where floats perform "Gosha Mairi" (shrine visits). After the shrine renovation in 2006, which raised the torii gate, floats can now pass through the gate into the shrine grounds. Since gosha mairi is often scheduled during the lunch break, visitors near the station during this time can see multiple floats.

Port Tower Selion (Michi-no-Eki Akita Port) is about a 10-minute walk from Tsuchizaki Station and serves as the departure point for free shuttle buses during the festival. Selion offers views of the port town landscape and has parking facilities, making it ideal as a base for visitors arriving by car. The Tsuchizaki Minato History Museum displays materials and exhibits about the hikiyama event, allowing visitors to learn about the festival's background.

During the festival, local food culture is also a major attraction. Families prepare a dish of dried ray (cartilaginous fish with a flat body and long tail) simmered in soy sauce, leading to the festival's nickname "Kasube Matsuri." This dish, called "kasube," comes from the practice of reconstituting dried ray (gangiei, known locally as kasube) and simmering it sweet-spicily with soy sauce, born from the wisdom of a port town during a season when preserved food was scarce. As the festival approaches, local supermarkets stock large quantities of "hikikasube" (dried ray), and housewives compete in their cooking skills.

Related Information

1. UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Registration: Registered on November 30, 2016, as a component of "Yama, Hoko, Yatai, float festivals in Japan," which includes 33 float festivals from across Japan .

2. National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property: Designated on December 15, 1997. The official name is "Tsuchizaki Shinto Shrine Festival Hikiyama Event," and the preservation body is the Tsuchizaki Shinto Shrine Hōsankai .

3. Nicknames Kasube Matsuri and Yukata Matsuri: Called "Kasube Matsuri" from the custom of eating kasube (dried ray), and "Yukata Matsuri" from the Showa-era practice of neighborhoods coordinating yukata (summer kimono) designs .

4. Fureai Hikiyama (Interaction Floats): A hands-on experience where tourists can pull a hikiyama, originating from an initiative by the Asahimachi 2-chome neighborhood association to maintain evening crowds after the Anti-Boryokudan Law reduced night stalls in the early Heisei period. Currently organized by the Minato Shinkōkai and others, it is held on Honcho-dori and Chuo-dori at no charge .

5. CD of Minato Bayashi: A music CD featuring performances by the Kōwakai was released in 1997 and continues to be sold by Hosokawa Records as of 2023 .

6. Dismantling of Hikiyama and Religious Significance: The hikiyama are dismantled on the morning of the 22nd, the day after the festival ends. The floats are considered "places where gods descend and dwell," and the belief is that malevolent spirits and evil forces are sealed inside the hikiyama and driven away through dismantling. This entire cycle (construction, operation, dismantling) is regarded as the essence of the hikiyama event .

7. National Yama Hoko Yatai Preservation Federation Conference: The Tsuchizaki Conference was held on September 12, 2010, with ten hikiyama dedicated. On this occasion, a 15-meter "reconstructed hikiyama" was exhibited on the road near Tsuchizaki Shinto Shrine and Tsuchizaki Station, where overhead wires had been removed .

8. Safety Precautions: The hikiyama are extremely heavy, and hikiko often sustain bruises during modori yama. In 1988 (Showa 63), a local junior high school student watching the festival was caught between a hikiyama and a utility pole and died. Spectators are advised to maintain a safe distance .

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