[Nihonmatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture] 4 traditional Nihonmatsu festivals! Introducing the highlights

In Nihonmatsu City, a castle town of 100,000 koku, there is the Nihonmatsu Lantern Festival, which is said to be one of Japan's three major lantern festivals, the Nihonmatsu Chrysanthemum Ningyo, which is the largest in Japan, and the Harimichi Abare Dashi, which has a tradition of over 400 years. ” and other festivals and events become more popular from autumn onwards.

In particular, the Nihonmatsu festivals, whose traditions are firmly inherited by neighborhood associations and youth associations in each region, are representative festivals of Fukushima Prefecture, full of charm and power. This time we will introduce four representative festivals that have been passed down in Nihonmatsu.

“Nihonmatsu Lantern Festival” is a symbol of Nihonmatsu

When you think of Nihonmatsu, you think of the ``chochin festival,'' which is a festival that symbolizes Nihonmatsu.

It is held on the first Saturday, Sunday, and Monday of October every year, and in Reiwa 5, it is scheduled to be held on October 7th (Saturday), 8th (Sunday), and 9th (Monday).

It started about 370 years ago. Mitsushige Niwa joined the club as the lord of Nihonmatsu Castle. ``In order to conduct good politics, the first thing you need to do is to make the people of your territory exalt their sense of piety.''It is said that the ``Chochin Festival'' began when Nihonmatsu Shrine was built in what is now Kurigasaki, and all residents of the territory were allowed to visit freely.

Taikodai decorated with approximately 300 lanterns are brought out one by one from seven towns: Honmachi, Kameya, Takeda, Matsuoka, Nezaki, Wakamiya, and Kakunai, and the sight of them all coming together is a spectacular sight.

The highlight of the lantern festival is the evening festival on the first day. This is the only day when all of the town is serviced by night service.
Seven drum stands with bell-shaped lanterns are brought out from each town, and the Nihonmatsu Shrine bonfire is transferred to the red lanterns. It is said that if the Taikodai is shaken violently, such as when going uphill, the lanterns may catch fire.
Afterwards, the Taikodai parade bravely through the city while the energetic young group chants and plays the ohayashi music.
Each character in the music has different characteristics, and all the songs that remain in the seven characters have been designated as important intangible folk cultural properties by the prefecture.

INFORMATION

• Name: Nihonmatsu Lantern Festival
• Dates: October 7th (Sat), 8th (Sun), 9th (Mon)
• Venue: 1 yen in the downtown area of ​​Nihonmatsu City
• Inquiries: Nihonmatsu Lantern Festival Executive Committee
• Phone number: 0243-55-5122

Please check the Nihonmatsu City Tourism Federation website for traffic regulation maps, etc.

The solemn and elegant “Obama Montsuki Festival”

Obama's Montsuki Festival is a regular festival held every October at Shiomatsu Shrine in the Obama district of Nihonmatsu City. The Obama Montsuki Festival in 2025 will be held on October 7th (Saturday) and October 8th (Sunday).

It is a Shinto ritual held at Shiomatsu Shrine, which was once the main shrine of the 33 villages of Adachi, and is called the ``Montsuki Festival'' because all those involved in the main festival wear formal attire, such as crested haori and hakama.

It is said that this festival began in the middle of the Edo period, and the history of Shiomatsu Shrine dates back to the Kamakura period. Its shape has remained unchanged for more than 200 years, and parishioners dressed in crested hakama parade around town with gorgeous gold-leafed drum stands.

The highlight is the main festival on the second day.
At night, the four-town taikodai of Sorimachi, Fujimachi, Shinmachi, and Torii-cho transform into lantern floats, and the lantern festival is held in a spectacular manner. The festival has three main aspects: the Taikodai, which slowly marches along with young troupes in crested costumes, the Taikodai, which parade bravely in the lively Shangiri Bay, and the Taikodai, which decorate the autumn night with bell-shaped lanterns.

INFORMATION

• Name: Shiomatsu Shrine Annual Festival Obama Montsuki Festival
• Date: October 7th (Sat) and 8th (Sun)
• Venue: Shiomatsu Shrine, Nihonmatsu City Obama Aza Sorimachi, Fujimachi, Shinmachi, Torii Town
• Contact: Iwashiro Tourism Association
• Phone number: 0243-65-2803
• Parking: Please use the Iwashiro branch parking lot.

Fierce collision “Harimichi Abare Dashi”

Next, we will introduce``Harimichi no Abare Dashi'' is a big eye-catching floatis.It is said to have been a festival since the era of Genta Harimichi (1585), and boasts a tradition of over 400 years.

Held every year on the Sunday before the sports day. The venerable Harimichi Abare Dashi, which has continued since the Heian period, consists of the ``Main Festival'' on the first day, and the ``Ato Matsuri'' on the second day, when Abare Dashi is performed.

The main event is the after-festival on the second day of the festival.
The highlight is the fierce fighting, which is called the ``fight festival.'' The wheels roll and the floats collide with each other, accompanied by the sound of flutes, drums, and the chants of young people shouting ``Yoi yoi!!''.
The moment the floats collide violently as they are pushed and turned, a tremendous roar reverberates through the air.

The floats, which are mainly made by local young people in their teens to 30s, are made with characters that are familiar to children. The fusion of tradition and current trends is interesting. On the first day, all the floats will gather at the Towa Cultural Center and a commemorative photo will be taken.

INFORMATION

• Name: Harimichi Abare Dashi
• Date: Scheduled for the second Sunday of October
• Venue: Harimichi Shopping Street main street
• Inquiries: Towa Tourism Association (Towa Branch Regional Promotion Division)
• Phone: 0243-66-2490

For details, please check the official website of the Harimichi Wakaren Association

"Kibata no Hanata Festival" where colorful flags fly

The Kobata no Hanata Festival is a festival in which a procession carrying more than 100 handmade banners of various sizes, colored in five colors, and the sound of conch shells makes their way along the mountain roads of Abukuma towards Mt. Kobata.

The origin of the festival dates back to the nine years before Tenki 3rd year (1055).
After losing the battle, the Genji army barricaded themselves on Mt. Kobata with only a few horsemen, and it is said that snow that fell overnight turned the entire Mt. Kobata white. This festival is named after the story of Abe's army, which was chasing the scene, mistaking it for the white flag of the Genji clan and fleeing without a fight. It has inherited the heroic Heian picture scrolls and has been passed down for 970 years.

The procession of colorful flags led by a white flag is said to be one of Japan's three major flag festivals, and has been designated as a national important intangible folk cultural property.

In addition to the queue,"Hayama Kagomori"or"Going through the womb"There is also a ritual, and it has become a winter tradition.

INFORMATION

• Name: Kobata no Hata Festival
• Date: Scheduled to be held on the first Sunday of December
• Venue: Jie Park (Jie, Kobata, Nihonmatsu City)
• Inquiries: Nihonmatsu City Hall Towa Branch Regional Development Division
• Phone number: 0243-66-2490

Summary of 4 traditional Nihonmatsu festivals

Nihonmatsu is home to a wide range of festivals, from lively festivals to solemn festivals.
All of these festivals have deep histories and are interesting traditions that have been passed down to the present day. From autumn onwards, Nihonmatsu is full of things to see! Please come and experience a Japanese festival in Nihonmatsu.