Hachinohe Sansha Festival (Aomori Prefecture), which originated from the Ogami Shrine festival, attracts over 1 million people during the festival period!

When people think of summer festivals in Aomori Prefecture, many probably think of the Aomori Nebuta Festival, but Hachinohe City also"Hachinohe Sansha Taisai."has a large-scale summer festival that represents Aomori, called the

This article will explore the history of the Hachinohe Sansha Festival

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What is the Hachinohe Sansha Festival?

The Hachinohe Sansha Taisai is a festival that originated from the festival of Ogami Shrine, and is held every year from July 31st to August 4th in Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture

The "three shrines" in the Sansha Taisai festival referthe Ogami Shrine, Shinra Shrine, and Shinmei Shrine. The portable shrine processions from these three shrines, along with over 20 magnificent floats from various neighborhoods in the city, parade through the central urban area of ​​Hachinohe City on different routes each day as parishioners of the shrines (the reason for this will be explained later).

In 2004, it was designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property as the "Hachinohe Sansha Grand Festival Float Event," and in 2016 it was designated a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage

It originated from the festival of Ogami Shrine located in Hachinohe City

Horeizan Ogami Shrine, located in Hachinohe City, is said to be the oldest shrine in the city, with records showing its history dating back to the late Heian period around 1,000 years ago, and although information is vague, tracing what remains as "legends" suggests that its origins date back even further

The festival dates back to an incident in 1720 during the Edo period, when the people of Hachinohe, suffering from a poor harvest, prayed to Horei Daimyojin (now Omi Shrine), the guardian deity of the Hachinohe domain, for better weather and a good harvest, and were able to safely enjoy the autumn harvest

As a result, the following year in 1721, the mikoshi was carried to Chojayama Kokuzodo (now Chojayama Silla Shrine) to express gratitude for the bountiful harvest. This festival is said to be the beginning of the Omi Shrine Mikoshi Togyo Festival, the precursor to the Hachinohe Sansha Grand Festival, and later, townspeople accompanied the mikoshi procession by offering dances and floats, which is said to have led to the festival's current form

Although it declined during the Meiji period, it was revived by adding processions from Silla Shrine and Shinmei Shrine and huge floats

By the mid-Meiji period, the festival had declined due to a number of problems, including financial issues, caused by the effects of war

In order to rebuild the town, Osawa Tamon, who was the head of Hachinohe town at the time, had the mikoshi procession of Chojayama Silla Shrine participate in the Omi Shrine festival in 1881, and then in 1886, at the request of parishioners, the mikoshi procession of Shinmei Shrine was also added

By expanding the scale, it became widely recognized as a "festival for the whole of Hachinohe," and was successfully revived. As a result, the "Hachinohe Sansha Grand Festival" was born, as it is a joint annual festival of the three shrines

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Hachinohe Sansha Festival Schedule

during the festival periodthe route of the procession changes every day. This is because, as mentioned earlier, it is a shrine festival in which the portable shrine of Okami Shrine is carried to Chojayama Shinra Shrine.

Link:VISIT HACHINOHE – Hachinohe Sansha Taisai Festival | Event Schedule

Eve of the festival (July 31st)

The Eve Festival, as its name suggests, is the eve of the festival. There are no paraded floats, but instead, more than 20 floats are displayed simultaneously in the Civic Square in front of Hachinohe City Hall and in the city center, with the music of each group playing here and there. The dazzling spectacle is so spectacular that it has been registered as a "Japanese Night View Heritage."

Link:Japan Night View Heritage: Hachinohe Sansha Taisai

Passage (August 1st)

After a Shinto ritual and departure ceremony is held at Omi Shrine with the participation of the priests of the three shrines and other related parties, a procession of portable shrines and floats from each shrine begins during the day (around 3:00 p.m.) and into the evening

Following the example of the shrine festival in which the portable shrine of Omi Shrine is carried to Chojayama Silla Shrine, the procession departs from near Omi Shrine (currently in front of Hachinohe City Hall) and travels along the main streets of the city towards Chojayama

Chunichi (August 2nd)

Originally, this was the day when the chief priest of Omi Shrine would arrive at Mt. Choja and perform the annual festival. Now, a horse-riding ball game called Kagami-ryu Kiba-dakyu, which began in 1827, is dedicated to the festival

This classic sport, also known as "Oriental Polo," involves horseback riders picking up balls with sticks and throwing them into the goal gate. The parade then begins at Mikkamachi Intersection and loops around the city's main streets at night (from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM)

Return (August 3rd)

Since this is the day when the portable shrine procession of Omi Shrine returns to Omi Shrine after the festival at Chojayama Silla Shrine, the procession runs from daytime (around 3 p.m.) through the evening, departing from Chojayama (currently starting from near Kajimachi), making a circuit of the city center, and heading to Omi Shrine

After-party (August 4th)

As with the eve of the festival, there will be no parade of floats, but instead, floats will be displayed in the Civic Square in front of Hachinohe City Hall and in the city center

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Matrix contents

In addition to the portable shrine processions and floats of each shrine, the procession also features a variety of local performing arts

• Horyo Kagura: This is a traditional Horyo Kagura dance passed down at Okami Shrine, and it is a Gongen dance performed with a lion's head called "Gongen-sama".
• Toramai (Tiger Dance): This dance is widely distributed along the Pacific coast of Tohoku and is passed down as a belief related to fire prevention and safe voyages.
• Daikagura: A form of performing art that originated from lion dances and became associated with the faith of Ise Grand Shrine and Atsuta Shrine.
• Komaodori (horse dance): This is a performing art distributed in the Sanpachi-Kamikita and northern Iwate prefecture regions, which are horse breeding areas. It is a dance in which a model of a horse is attached to the dancer's body and they dance in a leaping motion.
• The Sasanoha Odori (Bamboo Leaf Dance): This dance disappeared from the Hachinohe Sansha Taisai festival during the Meiji era, but was revived in the Heisei era based on historical documents and other records.
• Tekomai: Dressed in traditional costumes, they walk at the front of the float procession, tapping their canes.
• Hanayatai (華屋台): It is said that these floats, carried by geishas from the Konakano and Same districts of Hachinohe City, which flourished as geisha districts, have been participating in processions since the Meiji era.

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summary

The Hachinohe Sansha Festival has evolved from a shrine festival into a major festival representing the region. The gorgeous floats, which are different from Aomori City's Nebuta, are definitely worth seeing!

Hachinohe Sansha Festival <Information>

• Name: Hachinohe Sansha Festival
• Event period: July 31st to August 4th every year
• Location: Hachinohe city center, Aomori Prefecture
• Official URL:VISIT HACHINOHE – Learn about the Hachinohe Sansha Taisai Festival

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