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Did you know? Every year in Wakabayashi Ward, Sendai City, there is a "Nekozuka Kofun Cat Festival"
Sorry, honestly I didn't know
It was purely by chance that I was researching the history, traditions and legends of Sendai when I came across several legends about cats, mainly in the areas surrounding the city. After reading and researching these stories, I learned that a festival is held at the Nekozuka Kofun at Shorin Shrine in Minami-Koizumi, Wakabayashi Ward, Sendai
I also live with two
"I don't know about that festival. Cats are good at hiding, as expected."
I thought that was so rude
It's just that I didn't do enough research
So I was curious and looked into the "Nekozuka Kofun Cat Festival" and "Legends Related to Cats."
Why a cat mound? A burial mound? A cat festival?
Let us introduce you to the cat-related stories that are passed down in Sendai, Miyagi, as well as modern-day cat festivals!
What is the Nekozuka Tomb at Shorin Shrine?
Nekozuka Kofun is located at Shorin Shrine in Minamikoizumi 1-chome, the guardian deity of Minamikoizumi, and is still carefully protected by local people
It is said that this shrine originally had a keyhole-shaped tumulus measuring 7 to 8 meters in diameter, but it was destroyed early on, and no remains remain, nor is the internal structure known, so the details are unknown.However, the current Shorin Shrine was built on the site, and a cat mound was also built there, so it seems to have been named ``Nekozuka Kofun.''
Cat mound at Shorin Shrine
This cat mound was built based on a local legend about cats
The legend of the cat who saved his master's life
It is said that there was a princess and a cat in this place whom she loved very much
But one day, the cat clung to the princess and wouldn't let go
What's more, the cat even tried to jump on the princess
When the lord saw this, he became angry and cut off the cat's head
However, the head of the cat that had been cut off was biting into the throat of a giant snake on the ceiling
that's right
The cat was trying to protect the princess from the giant snake
When the lord realized that he had killed the cat by mistake, he built a mound on this spot, gave the cat a proper burial, and began to pray there
The legend of the cat mound at Saishoin
Cat mound at Kotokusan Saishoin Temple
The legend of the cat in Wakabayashi Ward, Sendai City is actually not just the story above (the legend of Shorin Shrine and Nekozuka Kofun)
There is also a cat mound at Saishoin Temple, which is in the same Wakabayashi ward as Shorin Shrine , and it has a different legend about cats than the one at Shorin Shrine.
This story is a different legend from the one above
Kotoku Sansaishoin
is a memorial tablet temple that was built in 1603 by Masamune , the famous brave man of the Tohoku region, to commemorate his grandmother, Princess Kubo
The legend of the master and his cat at Saishoin
According to legend, a cat kept by a certain household one day killed and ate a neighbor's chicken
The neighbor became enraged and shot the cat to death with a gun
However, since the owner of the next door house was the cat's superior, he was unable to protest and instead tearfully built a cat mound and offered prayers for the cat
After that, strange incidents began to occur one after another in the neighboring house, and it is said that the entire family died out
the two above , it seems that stories related to cats are still deeply rooted in Sendai.
What they have in common is the relationship between the owner and the cat, and the fact that the grave where the beloved cat was buried with such care is still there and is still cherished to this day
Now let's get to the main topic!
Nekozuka Kofun Cat Festival!
According to my research, the Cat Festival is held at /
The event is organized by the Nekozuka Kofun Cat Festival Executive Committeeover1,200cat lovers gather from all over the country
"Huh? 1200 people?!"
I'm sure you all thought the same thing
Don't underestimate the Nekozuka Kofun Cat Festival, which is incredibly exciting and filled with passion every year
This festival is packed with cat-related events, including a stamp rally, sales of cat goods, cat makeup experiences, delicious food stalls, and a search for foster parents
It seems that a pre-festival will also be held the day before the main festival
currently no information available about (2022 ) Nekozuka it was held on June 22nd and 23rd
I sincerely hope that the event will be held again this year and will wait for more information
Finally, here are some photos of the Nekozuka Kofun Cat Festival held in 2014
Nekozuka Kofun Cat Festival <Information>
Name: Nekozuka Kofun Cat Festival
Location: Shorin Shrine/Nekozuka Tomb
Organized by: Nekozuka Kofun Cat Festival Executive Committee
Address: 1-1-28 Minamikoizumi, Wakabayashi Ward, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture
Past dates: Usually held between October and mid-November. In 2019, it was held on June 22nd and 23rd, with the first day being treated as a pre-festival
I'm a member of the Neft editorial team. I love alcohol, music, and traveling, so I indulge in some drinks after work on weekdays, and on weekends, if I have free time, I travel to nearby areas. I work hard every day with the goal of eventually traveling overseas to find connections to Tohoku through NEFT reporting.
