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When it comes to festivals in Akita, the Akita Kanto Festival , but there are also many fascinating autumn festivals held all over the city.
, we will introduce three festivals that have been designated as Important Intangible Folk Cultural Properties by the nation
When does the Autumn Festival start and end?
The Hanawa Bayashi food stall that has been converted into "Antora" at Kazuno Roadside Station. Source: Akita Prefecture Official Tourism Site [Akita Fan]
According to the calendar, autumn runs from August 7th, the beginning of autumn, to the day before November 7th, the beginning of winter, according to the 24 solar terms. If we apply this to the Tohoku region, the end of the summer festivals held in various places in early August marks the arrival of autumn
In this article, we will refer to the period from August 7th onwards as "autumn" according to the calendar, and festivals held after that date as "autumn festivals."
What is the definition of a festival?
Omagari's fireworks "Autumn Chapter" is also a festival in its own way. Source: Akita Prefecture Official Tourism Site [Akita Fan]
The definition of "festival" on Wikipedia is "an act (ritual) of worshiping gods, Buddhas, and ancestors for the purpose of gratitude, prayer, and consolation."
On the other hand, there are also "music festivals" and "harvest festivals" that are different from traditional religious festivals, and events where people enjoy music and local cuisine are also generally considered to be "festivals" in a broad sense
Nishimonai Bon Dance (Ugo Town: August 16th to 18th)
Panoramic view of the Bon Odori festival venue. Source: Akita Prefecture Official Tourism Site [Akita Fan]
the Nishimonai of Ugo Town , and the melancholic yet lively music and the graceful and supple dancing create a fantastical atmosphere.
one of Japan's three major Bon dances along with Tokushima's Awa Odori and Gifu's Gujo Odori , and is a nationally designated Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property, and was registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2022 (Reiwa 4).
There are various theories about its origins, but the most popular is that it is a combination of a dance to pray for a good harvest started by ascetic monks over 700 years ago and a dance for the dead commemorating the Onodera clan that perished during the Warring States period, resulting in the Bon Odori we know today
A unique costume that hides the dancer's face
Source: Wikipedia File name: Nishimonai Bon Odori.jpg Photographer: Rufiyaa
The costumes of the dancers are said to represent the appearance of the dead, and they dance with their faces hidden by hoods or half-moon shaped straw hats
Akita Obako is rumored to have many beautiful women, but this may make them seem even more mysteriously beautiful
Hikozo hood and indigo dyed yukata
Underage girls wear a long black cloth with eye holes called a Hikozu-kin, and a small-dyed tenugui hand towel as a headband to hold it in place .
The indigo dyed yukata, with its distinctive red cuffs, is worn with a red or yellow cloth called "shigoki" wrapped around the waist. Men also typically wear an indigo dyed yukata and a hikozo hood, but some also wear a straw hat
Hemlock costume and woven hat
Adult women also wear straw hats pulled down over their heads to hide their faces, and dance in costumes called hanui
The rule is that the cuffs and hem of the hem must be made of the same patterned fabric and be arranged symmetrically. Some hem stitches are passed down from generation to generation within a family, and being able to wear them is considered proof that one has been recognized as an adult
Nishimonai Bon Odori Festival music and dance
Ohayashi Hall Source: Wikipedia File name: Nishimonai Bon Odori 20190817d.jpg Photographer: Sukucha
The ohayashi is composed of , and punsand jinku
The second floor of Bon Odori Hall in the center of town the beating of a drum , the dancers gather together in a large circle and dance around the bonfire.
There are two types of dance. In the "Ondo" dance, which has comical lyrics similar to the "Japanese rap" Akita Ondo, the dancers dance gracefully with their fingers bent gracefully, creating a striking contrast
The other "Ganke" is a fast-paced, mournful "jinku" sung, and the dancers, holding the sashes with their index fingers raised and spinning gracefully, have a melancholic quality to them
Nishimonai Bon Odori Dance <Information>
Name: Nishimonai Bon Dance
Event period: August 16th to 18th every year (19:30-22:30, until 23:00 on the 18th only)
Nishimonai soba noodles are served cold even in winter
Nishimonai Soba Source: Akita Prefecture Official Tourism Site [Akita Fan]
This soba has a firm texture and is made with funori seaweed as a binder, and is served at seven soba restaurants in the town, including Yasuke Soba-ya
This soba is served cold, with a cold broth poured over it, to make it easier to swallow, even in the cold season
Hanawa Bayashi (Hanawa, Kazuno City: August 19th-20th)
A food stall running through the town of Kazuno. Source: Akita Prefecture Official Tourism Site [Akita Fan]
Hanawa Bayashi , which is handed down in Hanawa, Kazuno City, formerly part of the Morioka domain, one of Japan's three major musical accompaniments , alongside Tokyo's Kanda Bayashi and Kyoto's Gion Bayashi .
This is a time-honored autumn festival that is said to have been held as the festival music for Kou Inari Shrine since the shrine was founded in 1204 (the first year of the Genkyu era)
12 musical tunes played by 10 floats
The floats move along while playing traditional music. Source: Akita Prefecture Official Tourism Site [Akita Fan]
Ten gorgeous and unique floats take to the streets, playing 12 traditional pieces: Honbayashi, Nihontaki, Ugenkyo, Kakko, Kiribayashi, Yaguruma, Yoshiwara Koshiki, Kenbayashi, Fujita, Gion, Oikomi, and Shagiri
" Koshinuke Yatai ," have no bottom, and the musicians inside the float walk along with the dancers' movements while playing.
Station Front Event which starts every night at around 8pm , when each town float gathers in the square in front of JR Kazuno Hanawa Station and performs a musical accompaniment competition while playing their own traditional music.
Food stalls gathered at an event in front of the station. Source: Akita Prefecture Official Tourism Site [Akita Fan]
Local performing arts such as "Machi Odori" are also performed at the event, and the excitement reaches its peak. Even after the event ends at around 9 p.m., the excitement continues as the food stalls continue to operate until the morning
What is a "town boundary greeting"?
Each town Diplomacy DepartmentDiplomacy " written on it , and negotiations are held between the diplomatic departments as the floats pass through other towns.
It is usually peaceful, with floats from other towns allowed to pass seeing them off as they leave the town, but on rare occasions negotiations become strained and " fighting floats " break out, with music battles and floats clashing with each other.
Hanawa Bayashi <Information>
Name: Hanawa Bayashi
Event period: August 19th to 20th every year
Location: Hanawa, Kazuno City, Akita Prefecture
Contact: Hanawa Bayashi Festival Committee Secretariat
Source: Akita Prefecture Official Tourism Site [Akita Fan]
the Akita specialty " Kiritanpo, " is a B-class gourmet dish that boasts "Kazuno Hormone," which is pork intestines, tripe, hearts, and other offal marinated in a sweet miso and soy sauce-based sauce and simmered in a Jingisukan pot .
Put the offal and a large amount of cabbage and tofu in a pot and heat it over the fire. Scoop up the sauce that seeps out with a spoon and pour it over the top while simmering. The flavor will soak into the cabbage and tofu, and you won't be able to stop drinking beer or eating rice
In Kazuno, Hormone Kouraku and Hana Chidori are considered the two best, and there are several other restaurants in the Hanawa area. Hormone Kouraku also has stores in Morioka and other areas, and you can also order it for takeout or online.
Kakunodate Festival Yama Event (Kakunodate, Senboku City: September 7th to 9th)
Yamabuttsuke Source: Akita Prefecture Official Tourism Site [Akita Fan]
a city known for its samurai residences and cherry blossoms , and has been designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
The floats are paraded in local areas called cho-nai, and the highlight is Yamabuttsuke
However, since this Yamabutsuke does not always occur, a tourist Yamabutsuke event will be held on the 8th, the middle day of the festival
In addition to the floats, large floats are also displayed in front of the Shinmei Shrine torii gate, in front of Yakushido, at the intersection in Tatemachi, Shimoshinmachi, and in the square in front of the station
Floats and their attendants
The floats rising up due to a fierce collision. Source: Wikipedia file Kakunodate maturi 2008a.jpg. Photographer: Soica2001 (talk)
When parading floats decorated with warrior dolls and kabuki dolls, the floats that have left the shrine are called shitariyamaagariyama " (upward floats) that are heading to the shrine when they meet.
, diplomatic negotiations by negotiators from the organizing organization, known as the Hariban within the Chochi , make it less likely that a Yamabutsuke
The festival music changes depending on the state of the floats
the Oyamabayashi (decorative festival music), Yosebayashi (drum accompaniment), Ascending Yamabayashi , Roadside bayashi (descending Yamabayashi), Descending Wisteria , Carrier bayashi , and Kagura bayashi , indicates the state of the float's movement and are played constantly during the procession.
There are many different schools of these tasteful musical accompaniments, and each district has its own subtle differences that you can enjoy
Akita Obaako Hand Dance
Hand dancing on the float stage. Source: Akita Prefecture Official Tourism Site [Akita Fan]
perform a synchronized " Te Odori
The performed to the accompaniment of music is a highlight of the festival alongside Yamabutsuke
Kakunodate Festival Mountain Events <Information>
Name: Kakunodate Festival Mountain Event
Event period: September 7th to 9th every year
Location: Kakunodate, Senboku City, Akita Prefecture
For inquiries, please contact: Semboku City Tourist Information Center "Kakunodate Ekimaekura"
The Satake Kita family, lords of Kakunodate Castle, would grill and enjoy ducks and pheasants caught through falconry and other means on the spot
It has been revived in modern times as a chicken dish called " Okaribayaki ," grilled with sansho miso, and is served in restaurants around the town as Kakunodate's new soul food.
Akita's autumn festivals are full of things to see, but the locations mentioned above have few accommodations and reservations are difficult to get, so if you want to enjoy them at your own pace, you'll need to make your reservations early
However, sightseeing tours are planned for festivals that are popular nationwide, such as the Nishimonai Bon Odori festival
Although your freedom at the destination may be somewhat limited, we recommend using these services if it is difficult to make reservations individually
Autumn Festival Series of the Six Tohoku Prefectures
I'm a former Edokko man who loves Morioka and the six Tohoku prefectures, and I also love history, food, travel, sports, alcohol, and singing. I'll be introducing you to the interesting, delicious, and great things about Tohoku!
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