Japanese festivals 1

Japanese festivals
Shinto

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Shinto Portal

Japanese festivals are traditional festive occasions. Some festivals have their roots in Chinese festivals but have
undergone dramatic changes as they mixed with local customs.
Some are so different that they do not even remotely resemble the original festival despite sharing the same name
and date. There are also various local festivals (e.g. Tobata Gion) that are mostly unknown outside a given
prefecture. It is commonly said that you will always find a festival somewhere in Japan.
Unlike most people of East Asian descent, Japanese people generally do not celebrate Chinese New Year (it having
been supplanted by the Western New Year's Day in the late 19th century); although Chinese residents in Japan still
do. In Yokohama Chinatown, Japan's biggest Chinatown, tourists from all over Japan come to enjoy the festival. And
similarly the Nagasaki Lantern Festival[1] is based in Nagasaki's Chinatown. See: Japanese New Year.
Japanese festivals 2

Events within festivals

Festivals are often based around one or two main events, with food stalls, entertainment, and carnival games to keep
people entertained. Some are based around temples or shrines, others hanabi (Fireworks), and still others around
contests where the participants sport loin cloths (see: Hadaka Matsuri).

Local festivals (matsuri)

Matsuri (祭) is the Japanese word for a festival or holiday. In
Japan, festivals are usually sponsored by a local shrine or
temple, though they can be secular.
There is no specific matsuri days for all of Japan; dates vary
from area to area, and even within a specific area, but festival
days do tend to cluster around traditional holidays such as
Setsubun or Obon. Almost every locale has at least one
matsuri in late summer/early autumn, usually related to the
rice harvest.

Notable matsuri often feature processions which may include

elaborate floats. Preparation for these processions is usually Stalls selling food or toys are a familiar sight at festivals
throughout Japan
organized at the level of neighborhoods, or machi. Prior to
these, the local kami may be ritually installed in mikoshi and
paraded through the streets.
One can always find in the vicinity of a matsuri booths selling
souvenirs and food such as takoyaki, and games, such as
Goldfish scooping. Karaoke contests, sumo matches, and
other forms of entertainment are often organized in
conjunction with matsuri. If the festival is next to a lake,
renting a boat is also an attraction.

Favorite elements of the most popular matsuri, such as the

Nada Kenka Matsuri of Himeji or the Neputa Matsuri of
Hirosaki, are often broadcast on television for the entire
nation to enjoy. Gold and platinum plated mikoshi in Kichijōji

Some examples of famous matsuri are the Jidai, Hadaka

Matsuri, Aoi and Gion Matsuri held in Kyoto; Tenjin Matsuri in Osaka; and the Kanda Matsuri, Sannō and Sanja
Matsuri of Tokyo. Especially, Gion Matsuri, Tenjin Matsuri, and Kanda Matsuri are the three most famous matsuri
in Japan.

Sapporo Snow Festival (Hokkaido)

Sapporo Yuki Matsuri, this is one of the largest festivals of the year for the city of Sapporo. This festival is held in
February for one week. This festival began in 1950 when high school students built snow statues in Odori park,
central Sapporo. This event is now very large and commercialized.
Japanese festivals 3

This event attracts over two million people from around the
world every year. About 1 dozen large sculptures are built for
the festival along with around 100 smaller snow and ice
sculptures. Several concerts and other events are held at this
festival. At the Sapporo TV tower one can use their
observation deck to view the beautiful sculptures at Odori
park for ¥700 from 09:00-22:30 (starting at 08:00 on the
weekend) (Japan-Guide.com).

Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival

Lake Shikotsu is the northernmost ice-free lake which is 363
meters deep. This festival features a moss-covered cave,
which has evergreen draped on the inside and is covered in ice
(Gianola, 2008). This festival is held from late January to mid
February. This festival features ice sculptures, small and large.
At night the sculptures are illuminated by different colored
lights. There is a fireworks show during the festival as well.
Admission is free. Amasake (hot sake) is available for
Big Mikoshi "Yatai" Parade In Miki, Hyogo, Japan
purchase to enjoy (2008 Ministry of Land).

Lake Towada Snow Festival

This lake festival is held in the beginning of February. Held in
the town of Yasumiya, this festival is on the south side of lake
Towada (near the wooden statues). This festival is open all
day, but at 5pm one can enjoy activities such as going through
a snow maze, exploring a Japanese igloo, and eat foods from
Aomori and Akita prefectures. There is a fireworks show and
events held on an ice stage (MisawaJapan.com).bizda
malumot yo'q hammasi yolog'on
Mikoshi Parade In Kamakura Japan 2007

Aomori Nebuta Festival

This festival is held annually and features colorful lantern
floats called nebuta which are pulled through the streets of
Central Aomori. This festival is held from about the 2nd-7th
Augusts every year. This event attracts millions of visitors.
During this festival, 20 large nebuta floats are paraded
through the streets near Aormori JR rail station. These floats
are constructed of wooden bases and metal frames. Japanese
papers; washi, are painted onto the frames. These amazing
floats are finished off with the historical figures or kabuki
being painted on the paper. These floats can take up to a year
This mikoshi enshrines Tokugawa Ieyasu at the Tōshō-gū in
to complete. There is a dance portion of this festival. There Nikkō. Participants carry the mikoshi during the spring and
are haneto dancers and they wear special costumes for this autumn matsuri of the shrine
dance. Everyone is welcome to purchase their own haneto
costume that they may too join in on the fun (Mishima, Aomori Nebuta Festival).
Japanese festivals 4

Nango Summer Jazz Festival

This event is held every year. Thousands of artists from all
over Tohoku and even further regions come to Nango to
perform. This is the largest open-air jazz concert held in
Tohoku region. This festival began in 1989, in a small venue
indoors. There was such a large response from the fans that is
was expanded into a large annual festival. One must purchase
tickets for this event (Bernard, 2007).

Cherry blossom festivals

The procession of a thousand warriors is the highlight of the
Japan celebrates the entire season of the cherry blossoms. All autumn festival at Toshogu in Nikko
over Japan festivals are held and include food and at night
beautiful lanterns. An interesting fact concerning cherry blossoms:
According to a study, plants in urban areas have plants that bloom are blooming faster. From evidence at a
cherry arboretum at Mt. Takao, early flowering of the cherry blossoms is happening due to the larger response
to temperature variation (Primack, Higuchi, & Miller-Rushing, 2009).
Some locations of cherry blossom festivals include:
• Yaedake Cherry Blossom Festival in Okinawa. This festival takes place from late January – mid February
• Matsuyama Shiroyama Koen Cherry Blossom Festival in Matsuyama-city, Ehime. This festival takes place early
April.
• Matsue Jozan Koen Festival in Matsue-city, Shimane. This festival has a feature of illuminating the cherry
blossom trees at night. This festival takes place late March-early April.
• Tsuyama Kakuzan Koen Cherry Blossom Festival in Tsuyama-city, Okayama. Japanese tea ceremonies and
music performers are held at these festivals. This festival is held early-mid April.
• Takato Joshi Koen Cherry Blossom Festival in Takato-machi Ina-city, Nagano prefecture. The trees in this region
have pink blossoms. This festival is held early April.
• Takada Koen Cherry Blossom Festival in Joetsu-city, Niigata prefecture. This festival is held early-mid April.
• Kitakami Tenshochi Cherry Blossom Festival in Kitakami-city, Iwate. This festival is held mid April-early May.
• Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival held in Hirosaki Koen Hirosaki-city, Aomori prefecture. This festival is held
late April-early May (Mishima, Cherry Blossom Festivals 2010).

Hadaka Matsuri
The origins of Hadaka Matsuri date back 500 years when worshippers competed to receive paper talismans called
Go-o thrown by the priest. These paper talismans were tokens of the completion of New Year ascetic training by the
priests. As those people receiving these paper talismans had good things happen to them, the number of people
requesting them increased year by year. However, as paper was easily torn, the talismans were changed to the
wooden ofuda that we know today.
Naoi-shinji, also known as "Hadaka Matsuri (naked festival)", started in the year 767 AD, the Nara Period. This rite
was founded on the fact that the governor of Owari Province (presently Aichi Pref.) visited the Owari Shosha Shrine
( Konomiya shrine ) to drive away evil spirits and calamities, because Emperor Shotoku ordered all the kokubun-ji*
to offer invocations to dispel plagues.
It is said that the form of the festival, a struggle to touch the Naoinin or Shin-otoko (man of god), is reminiscent of
the struggle in old times between the assemblage of lower-ranking shinto priests called shanin and contributors tried
to catch and set up a man for naoinin (shin-otoko), an unlucky poor man, who was unwilling to take the role.
Japanese festivals 5

Nationwide festivals

Fixed days
• Seijin Shiki: Coming of Age Day (second Monday of January)
• Hinamatsuri: Doll Festival (March 3)
• Hanami: Flower Viewing (late March to early April)
• Tanabata: star festival (July 7)
• Shichi-Go-San: festival day for children aged three, five and seven (November 15)
• Ōmisoka: New Year's Eve (December 31)

Multiple days
• Setsubun: division of season (beginning of each of the four seasons)
• Ennichi: temple fair (holy days related to Kami and/or Buddha)

Bunkasai
• Japanese Cultural Festival

New Year (正月 Shōgatsu))

Date: 1–3 of January (related celebrations take place throughout January)
Other Names: Oshōgatsu (O is an honorific prefix)
Information: New Year observances are the most important and elaborate of Japan's annual events. Before the New
Year, homes are cleaned, debts are paid off, and osechi (food in lacquered trays for the New Year) is prepared or
bought. Osechi foods are traditional foods which are chosen for their lucky colors, shapes, or lucky-sounding names
in hopes of obtaining good luck in various areas of life during the new year. Homes are decorated and the holidays
are celebrated by family gatherings, visits to temples or shrines, and formal calls on relatives and friends. The first
day of the year (ganjitsu) is usually spent with members of the family.
People try to stay awake and eat toshikoshisoba, soba noodles to be eaten at midnight. People also visit Buddhist
temples and Shinto shrines. Traditionally three shrines or temples are visited. This is called sansha-mairi. In the
Imperial Palace at dawn on the 1st of January, the emperor performs the rite of shihōhai(worship of the four
quarters), in which he does reverence in the direction of various shrines and imperial tombs and offers prayers for the
well-being of the nation. On January 2 the public is allowed to enter the inner palace grounds; the only other day this
is possible is the emperor's birthday (December 23). On the 2nd and 3rd days acquaintances visit one another to
extend greetings (nenshi) and sip otoso (a spiced rice wine). Some games played at New Year's are karuta (a card
game), hanetsuki (similar to badminton), tako age (kiteflying), and komamawashi (spinning tops). These games are
played to bring more luck for the year. Exchanging New Year's greeting cards (similar to Christmas Cards in
Western countries) is another important Japanese custom. Also special allowances are given to children, which are
called otoshidama. They also decorate their entrances with kagami mochi (two mochi rice balls placed one on top of
the other, with a tangerine on top), and kadomatsu (pine tree decorations).
A later New Year's celebration, Koshōgatsu, literally means "Small New Year" and starts with the first full moon of
the year (around January 15). The main events of Koshōgatsu are rites and practices praying for a bountiful harvest.
Japanese festivals 6

Doll Festival (雛祭り)

Date: March 3
Other Names: Sangatsu Sekku (3rd month Festival), Momo Sekku (Peach Festival), Joshi no Sekku (Girls' Festival)
Information: This is the day families pray for the happiness and prosperity of their girls and to help ensure that they
grow up healthy and beautiful. The celebration takes place both inside the home and at the seashore. Both parts are
meant to ward off evil spirits from girls. Young girls put on their best kimonos and visit their friends' homes. Tiered
platforms for hina ningyō (hina dolls; a set of dolls representing the emperor, empress, attendants, and musicians in
ancient court dress) are set up in the home, and the family celebrates with a special meal of hishimochi
(diamond-shaped rice cakes) and shirozake (rice malt with sake).

Hanami (花見)
Date: April
Other Names: Hanami (flower viewing), Cherry Blossom Festival
Information: Various flower festivals are held at Shinto shrines during
the month of April. Excursions and picnics for enjoying flowers,
particularly cherry blossoms are also common. In some places flower
viewing parties are held on traditionally fixed dates. This is one of the
most popular events during spring. The subject of flower viewing has
long held an important place in literature, dance and the fine arts.
Hanami party along Sakai River in Beppu, Oita
Ikebana (flower arrangement) is also a popular part of Japanese culture
and is still practiced by many people today. Some main things people
do during this event are: games, folk songs, folk dance, flower displays, rides, parades, concerts, kimono shows,
booths with food and other things, beauty pageant, and religious ceremonies. Familys go out during weekends to see
the cherry blossoms.

Children's Day (子供の日 Kodomo-no-hi)

Date: May 5
Other Names: Iris Festival (菖蒲の節句 Shōbu no Sekku), Tango Festival (端午の節句 Tango no Sekku)
Information: May is the month of the Iris Festival. The tall-stemmed Japanese iris is a symbolic flower. Its long,
narrow leaves resemble the sharp blades off a sword, and for many centuries it has been the custom to place iris
leaves in a boy's bath to give him a martial spirit. Originally May 5 was a festival for boys corresponding to the Doll
Festival, for girls, but in 1948 it was renamed Children's Day, and made a national holiday. However, this might be a
misnomer; the symbols of courage and strength mainly honor boys. It is customary on this day for families with male
children to fly koinobori (carp streamers, a symbol of success) outside the house, display warrior dolls (musha
ningyō) inside, and eat chimaki (rice cakes wrapped in cogan grass or bamboo leaves) and kashiwamochi (rice cakes
filled with bean paste and wrapped in oak leaves).

Tanabata (七夕)
Date: July 7
Other Names: The Star Festival
Information: It originated from a Chinese folk legend concerning two stars-the Weaver Star (Vega) and the Cowherd
Star (Altair)-who were said to be lovers who could meet only once a year on the 7th night of the 7th month provided
it didn't rain and flood the Milky Way. It was named Tanabata after a weaving maiden from a Japanese legend,
named Orihime who was believed to make clothes for the gods. People often write wishes and romantic aspirations
Japanese festivals 7

on long, narrow strips of coloured paper and hang them on bamboo branches along with other small ornaments.

Bon Festival (盆 bon)

Date: 13–15 August
Other Names: urabon (盂蘭盆)
Information: A Buddhist observance honoring the spirits of ancestors. Usually a "spirit altar" (shōryōdana) is set up
in front of the Butsudan (buddhist family altar) to welcome the ancestors' souls. A priest is usually asked to come
and read a sutra (tanagyō). Among the traditional preparations for the ancestors' return are the cleaning of grave sites
and preparing a path from them to the house and the provision of straw horses or oxen for the ancestors'
transportation. The welcoming fire (mukaebi) built on the 13th and the send-off fire (okuribi) built on the 16th are
intended to light the path.

Lantern Floating (灯篭流し Tōrō Nagashi)

Date: 15th or 16th of July (August)
Information: The customary practice to mark the end of the Bon Festival. Small paper lanterns containing lighted
candles are floated on rivers or the sea light the way for the ancestral spirits as they depart. Usually a message is
written on the outside of the paper lantern.

"7-5-3" Festival (七五三 Shichigosan)

Date: November 15
Information: Five-year-old boys and seven- or three-year-old girls are taken to the local shrine to pray for their safe
and healthy future. This festival started because of the belief that children of certain ages were especially prone to
bad luck and hence in need of divine protection. Children are usually dressed in traditional clothing for the occasion
and after visiting the shrine many people buy chitose-ame ("thousand-year candy") sold at the shrine.

Preparation for the New Year and Year-end fair

Date: late December
Other Names: Year-end (年の瀬 toshi no se),Year-end Fair (年の市 Toshi no Ichi)
Information: Preparations for seeing in the new year were originally undertaken to greet the toshigami, or deity of
the incoming year. These began on the 13th of December, when the house was given a thorough cleaning; the date is
usually nearer the end of the month now. The house is then decorated in the traditional fashion: A sacred rope of
straw (shimenawa) with dangling white paper strips (shide) is hung over the front door to prevent evil spirits from
entering and to show the presence of the toshigami. It is also customary to place kadomatsu, an arrangement of tree
sprigs, beside the entrance way. A special altar, known as toshidana ("year shelf"), is piled high with kagamimochi
(flat, round rice cakes), sake (rice wine), persimmons, and other foods in honor of the toshigami. A fair is
traditionally held in late December at shrines, temples or in local neighborhoods. This is in preparation for the new
year holidays. Decorations and sundry goods are sold at the fair. Originally these year-end fairs provided
opportunities for farmers, fisherfolk and mountain dwellers to exchange goods and buy clothes and other necessities
for the coming year.
Japanese festivals 8

Ōmisoka (大晦日 Ōmisoka)

Date: December 31
Information: People do the general house cleaning (Ōsōji) to welcome coming year and not to keep having impure
influences. Many people visit Buddhist temples to hear the temple bells rung 108 times at midnight (joya no kane).
This is to announce the passing of the old year and the coming of the new. The reason they are rung 108 times is
because of the Buddhist belief that human beings are plagued by 108 earthly desires or passions (bonnō). With each
ring one desire is dispelled. It is also a custom to eat toshikoshi-soba in the hope that one's family fortunes will
extend like the long noodles.

See also
• List of festivals in Japan
• Culture of Japan
• Naked festival
• Japanese calendar
• Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival of Greater Philadelphia

References
[1] Nagasaki Lantern Festival description (http:/ / www. japanvisitor. com/ index. php?cID=366& pID=1070)

References
• mothra.rerf.or.jp::hiroshima::about matsuri (http://mothra.rerf.or.jp/ENG/Hiroshima/Festivals/24.html) an
external article covering the topic
• Matsuri Food (http://dining.in-japan.jp/2007/05/mmmmmatsuri_food.html) an article about the various foods
available at most matsuri
• 2008 Ministry of Land, I. T. (n.d.). 2008 Chitose-Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival. Retrieved August 6, 2009, from
Yokoso! Japan Weeks: http://www.yjw2008.jp/eng/info.php?no=241
• Bernard, S. (2007, July 11). Nango Holds Summer Jazz Festival. Retrieved August 9, 2009, from About.com:
http://www.misawa.af.mil/news/story_print.asp?id=123060239
• Gianola, D. (2008, February 3). Chitose Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival. Retrieved August 6, 2009, from VR Mag:
http://www.vrmag.org/issue29/CHITOSE_LAKE_SHIKOTSU_ICE_FESTIVAL.html
• Japan-Guide.com. (n.d.). Sapporo Snow Festival. Retrieved August 6, 2009, from Japan-Guide.com: http://
www.japan-guide.com/e/e5311.html
• MisawaJapan.com. (n.d.). Lake Towada Winter Festival. Retrieved August 6, 2009, from MisawaJapan.com:
http://www.misawajapan.com/festivals/others/towada_winter.asp
• Mishima, S. (n.d.). Aomori Nebuta Festival. Retrieved August 9, 2009, from About.com: http://gojapan.about.
com/cs/tohokuregion1/a/aomorinebuta.htm
• Mishima, S. (n.d.). Cherry Blossom Festivals 2010. Retrieved August 9, 2009, from About.com: http://gojapan.
about.com/cs/cherryblossoms/a/sakurafestival.htm
• Primack, R., Higuchi, H., & Miller-Rushing, A. (2009, September). The impact of climate change on cherry trees
and other species in Japan. Retrieved August 9, 2009, from EBSCO Host: http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.
umuc.edu/ehost/detail?vid=4&hid=2&sid=9ce9efca-4e6d-4702-afff-8d9e8f3c8425%40sessionmgr11&
bdata=JmxvZ2lucGFnZT1sb2dpbi5hc3Amc2l0ZT1laG9zdC1saXZlJnNjb3BlPXNpdGU%3d#db=a9h&
AN=43528180
Japanese festivals 9

External links
• Official sites
• Festivals all over Japan (http://web-japan.org/atlas/festivals/festi_fr.html)—Japan Atlas
• Japan National Tourist Organization (http://www.jnto.go.jp/) (photo library)
• Matsuri sites
• Matsuri Festival in Phoenix, Arizona (http://www.azmatsuri.org/)
• Matsuri Photos of Shinto shrine (http://english.tsukudo.jp/feast.html) (English version)
• Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival of Greater Philadelphia (http://www.jasgp.org/sakura)
• Private initiative sites/galleries
• JCITI.COM (http://www.jciti.com) about Nagoya, see festivals section.
• Reggie.net (http://www.reggie.net/album.php?albid=854)—photographs of Neputa floats in Hirosaki.
• Description of the [[Odawara (http://web.archive.org/web/20071012141834/http://japantouring.com/
content/view/1/2/)] Omatsuri festival]—archived.
• The Digital Matsuri Project (http://www.digitalmatsuri.com)—Japanese festival videos
Article Sources and Contributors 10

Article Sources and Contributors

Japanese festivals  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=390070110  Contributors: 663highland, Acather96, AgentPeppermint, Aitias, Alchemy1147, Alexander Sokolov, Amake,
Andrewpmk, Andycjp, AtlanShadow, Azabyaza121, Babyg1rl0725, Bendono, Bento00, Bhadani, BlankVerse, Bobo192, Brcaron, Brumski, CES, Calmer Waters, Cattus, Cessna 406, Chyeager,
Ciphers, Claytonian, Colincbn, DARTH SIDIOUS 2, Davidruben, Diádoco, Dlrowi, DocWatson42, Drcwright, EmanWilm, Endroit, Erianna, Eric Wester, Escape Orbit, Evil Monkey, Exitmoose,
Feiriri, Forestfarmer, Fujinori, Gaius Cornelius, Ghewgill, Grafen, Gwalla, Hamtechperson, Heroeswithmetaphors, Historian, Huntster, Hut 8.5, Imran, Imroy, Ipatrol, J.delanoy, JackorKnave,
Jag123, James086, Jeremykemp, Jmills74, John254, Jorcoga, JoshuaZ, Jovianeye, Jpatokal, Kingpin13, Kintetsubuffalo, Kkailas, Koavf, Kusunose, Lankiveil, Lets Enjoy Life, Leuko, LilHelpa,
LordAmeth, Marek69, Masgatotkaca, Midnightblueowl, Mkill, N419BH, Nameneko, Neier, Nivix, Ohconfucius, Olivier, Pekayer11, PhilKnight, Philip Trueman, Phoenix7777, Piano non troppo,
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Walad1913, Wikiklrsc, Wikipediman, Withwithal, Work permit, Zscout370, ねこちゃん, 280 anonymous edits

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File:Icon of Shinto.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Icon_of_Shinto.svg  License: unknown  Contributors: -
file:Yomise(Yatai).JPG  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Yomise(Yatai).JPG  License: GNU Free Documentation License  Contributors: Tomomarusan
file:Mikoshii.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Mikoshii.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Sean-Jin
file:Ōmiya Hachiman Shrine Mikoshi.JPG  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Ōmiya_Hachiman_Shrine_Mikoshi.JPG  License: GNU Free Documentation License
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Opponent
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KTo288
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Masgatotkaca

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