[Akita] Traditional winter sweets event! What is “Amekko City” in Odate City?

Akita Prefecture is known as a snow country located in the northern part of Japan. There are many festivals in Akita Prefecture that are unique and fantastical.

For example, in the summer, the Kanto Festival, where long pole lanterns arranged in the shape of rice ears are paraded through the city to the sounds of flutes and drums, is one of Tohoku's most representative festivals, one of the three major festivals of Tohoku. It is also known as a typical nighttime event in Tohoku. Also, the Nishiba Onnai Bon Odori dance, which is held in the middle of the town at night with one's face hidden, is said to have the meaning that by making one's face invisible, everyone can enjoy it, regardless of their status.

Among Akita's festivals, we would like to introduce you to Amekko City, a sweets festival held in winter.

What is Odate City, the hometown of the faithful dog Hachiko, where Amekko City is held?

Odate City, where the Amekko Fair is held, is located north of Akita City, the capital of Akita Prefecture, and borders the neighboring Aomori Prefecture.

As one story goes, "Odate, Magewappa" in a song handed down in Akita, "Magewappa" is a famous container that resembles a bucket made by bending a thin board of cypress or cedar. In the bento boom that started with Japanese light novels and spread around the world, it has remained popular as one of the best bento boxes. When you put rice and side dishes in it, it gives off a slight wood scent, and the grain of the wood is clearly visible, so it is popular both in Japan and overseas as it goes perfectly with Japanese dining. This Magewappa is a specialty of Odate City.

Odate City is also known as the hometown of the Akita dog. Odate City, within Akita Prefecture, is the hometown of Akita Inu dogs that are serious and loyal to their masters, including Hachiko, an Akita Inu who kept waiting for his deceased master.

Amekko Market, a sweet winter festival, is held every February in Odate City! It is a winter tradition in Odate City, where dozens of candy stalls line the main streets of the town, and tree branches are decorated with pink candies that look like flowers.

What is Amekko? A winter festival filled with candy

"Amekko" means "candy" and "Amekko City" means "candy market."

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Amekko Market is held in Odate City on the second Saturday of February and the following day. Legend has it that if you eat candy purchased at Amekko Market on this day, you will never catch a cold for the rest of the year. This is because this festival is not originally a festival where candy makers from all over the world demonstrate their skills, but rather has its roots in folklore and culture from ancient times.

Although it is called candy, it is not the rolling candy that is sold in stores, but rather a simple old-fashioned sweet made by kneading rice and adding sugar. Of course, they are simple, but the candies that are kneaded in various colors and decorated with decorations are very beautiful, and when lined up in a row on a stall, they look like flowers in the snow. If it was winter in Odate City, this would be the view! It's a sight that just says.

The origin of Amekko City is said to date back to 1588. At that time, instead of ears of rice, candy was decorated on tree branches and offered as offerings, and candy has come to be eaten to cheer people up to survive the cold winter weather and to improve their health. The festival started out as an ear of rice made from branches and candy offered to the gods, but eventually developed into the festival that is loved by local residents as it is today.

As the name suggests, Amekko City has an abundance of candy. The street stalls are lined with old-fashioned candies that each vendor competes with in terms of color, flavor, and craftsmanship, and the main street is lined with tree branches decorated with candies that were offerings to the gods. The entire town becomes candy, candy, candy. But that's not all, there are traditional performing arts performed throughout the town and Akita dog parades to keep tourists entertained.

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The candy purchased at Amekko Market is said to ward off illness and makes a great souvenir. As Amekko Market in Odate City approaches, Odate City candy can be found in supermarkets throughout Akita Prefecture. It would be a good idea to go all the way to Odate City, but if that's not possible, you can also buy candy made from branches at supermarkets around Yurihonjo City and Akita City. Of course, you can see prefectural residents and tourists buying Amekko as a lucky charm.

Does it snow a lot during the festival period? legend of god

There is a good story that for some reason it often snows during the Amekko Fair.

In fact, February is the month when winter is at its peak in Akita, and the snow is accumulating rapidly. However, even though it's February, the sky can be sunny at times, so it doesn't mean it's snowing all day long. However, it is said that Amekko City and snowy skies, especially blizzards, often overlap.

In fact, Amekko City is a fun event for the gods as well. There is a legend that the god of the nearby mountains comes down to Amekko City. It is said that after the gods enjoyed the candy festival, they caused a blizzard to cover their tracks.

Enjoy candy in the howling wind mixed with snow, play with Akita dogs dressed up for the day, and a procession of white-bearded gods that imitate the legend of a mountain god coming to a candy market. I see. Be sure to check out the winter festival in Odate City, Akita Prefecture, which is fun for both adults and children!

lastly

Amekko City is a winter festival in Odate City. It is also a seasonal event that is loved by ordinary people, even if they live in other parts of Akita Prefecture, see candy lined up in supermarkets and feel like ``it's that time of the year again.''

When you come to Akita Prefecture, please come and enjoy the winter sweets.