[Miyagi Prefecture] Recommended Tohoku Six Prefecture Autumn Festival ``Miyagi Edition'', the majesty of the Date family and the music that fills the city that colors Miyagi's autumn

Speaking of Miyagi Prefecture's big autumn festivals, the annual festival at Osaki Hachimangu Shrine, the 620,000 koku guardian of the Sendai domain, is famous.

In addition, the Masamune Festival on Mt. Iwate, where the founder of the domain, Date Masamune, was based before the establishment of Sendai, is also known as an autumn tradition.

In addition, the Jazz Festival, where a variety of music, mainly jazz, is played on street corner stages set up at various locations around Jozenji Street, is also enjoyed as a festival that colors Sendai's autumn.

When does the "Autumn Festival" start and end?

According to the calendar, the ``Ritshu'' of the 24 solar terms runs from August 7th to the day before the ``Risshu'' of November 7th, and if this is applied to Tohoku, it would be the end of the summer festivals held in various places in early August. It's autumn.

This article introduces festivals held from August 7th to November as ``Autumn Festivals'' according to the calendar.

What is the definition of festival?

The definition of "matsuri" listed on Wikipedia is "the act (ritual) of worshiping the gods, Buddha, and ancestors for the purpose of gratitude, prayer, or solace."

On the other hand, there are ``music festivals'' and ``harvest festivals,'' which are different from the festivals held at shrines and other shrines, which have a long history and tradition, and these events where you can enjoy music and taste are also considered festivals in a broader sense.

In this article, we will introduce not only festivals but also autumn festivals that you can enjoy visiting, such as music festivals and gourmet festivals.

Osaki Hachiman Shrine Annual Festival (Yawata, Aoba Ward, Sendai City: September 1st to 17th)

The Gongen-style shrine building built by Date Masamune in 1607 (Keicho 12) has been designated as a national treasure.

At the regular festival, there will be performances of Noh Kagura, which is associated with the Date family, and Yabusame rituals, which have a 400-year tradition, as well as the big mikoshi parade that will be held on the 17th.

The solemn and splendid procession, which is attended by about 500 people, is like watching a gorgeous picture scroll depicting the majesty of the Sendai domain.

The impressive Yabusame you want to see right in front of your eyes!

Yabusame is a Shinto ritual in which three archers aim at three targets three times and shoot arrows a total of nine times.

When shooting an arrow, the horse's reins are released from the hand, so the horse and archer must work together as one, and when the arrow hits the target, the audience erupts in cheers and cheers.

Be sure to experience the exhilarating feeling of seeing a large horse disappear right in front of you and being hit by an arrow.

Click here for the 2024 annual festival schedule

• 9/1 (Friday): Torii Festival (Sanno Torii) 16:00
• 9/10 (Sun): Donto Road Hachiman Suzaku Dance (precincts)
• 9/14 (Thursday): Offering ceremony (main shrine) 15:00 / Noh Kagura performance (kagura hall) 18:30
• 9/15 (Friday): Regular festival (main shrine) 10:00
• 9/16 (Sat): Folk performing arts competition (Kawamae Deer Dance, Kawamae Kenbu, Sanuma Deer Dance, Wasedani Deer Dance), Chibikko Festival
• 9/17 (Sun): Shinko Festival (mikoshi tour around town)/Yasubime ritual

Osaki Hachimangu Shrine＜Information＞

• Name: Osaki Hachiman Shrine Annual Festival
• September 1st to September 17th every year
• Venue: Osaki Hachiman Shrine, 4-6-1 Yawata, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture
• Phone number: 022-234-3606
• Visiting hours: 9:00-17:00 (Admission to the national treasure shrine is free)
• URL: Osaki Hachiman Shrine official website

Google Map　

Triangle aburage is a must-try after visiting Osaki Hachimangu Shrine

Although it is located in the same Aoba Ward as Hachimangu Shrine, it takes about 40 minutes by car, but you can try the Sankaku Aburage from Jogi Tofu Shop, which was founded in 1890 and is located on the approach to the Nyorai Nyorai (Gokurakuzan Saihoji Temple). Please try it once.

When you taste the hot, thick, freshly fried tofu made with soybeans and natural bittern tofu as a Buddhist vegetarian dish, seasoned with soy sauce and shichimi garlic, the crispy aroma on the outside and the delicious flavor of the soybeans will fill your mouth.

The soy milk, which can be drunk hot in the winter and iced in the summer, is also popular, and it's always crowded because Sandwich Man, a comedian from Sendai, introduced it on a TV show.

Triangle aburage＜Information＞

• Store name: Definition Tofu Store
• Location: 1-2 Okura Shitamichi, Aoba Ward, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture
• Business hours: Thursday-Monday 9:00-16:00
• Closed: Wednesday, Thursday
• URL: Definition Tofu Shop Official Website

Google Map

Masamune Festival (Iwadeyama, Osaki City: September 8th)

Iwadeyama Castle was the residence of Date Masamune, the founder of the Sendai clan, before he built Sendai Aoba Castle.

The Masamune Festival began in 1964 when the "Masamune Peace Statue" was moved from the Sendai Castle ruins to the Iwadeyama Castle ruins.

This is a festival where you can enjoy Sengoku picture scrolls unfolding in the town of Iwadeyama, also known as ``Little Kyoto.''

A procession of cavalry and armored warriors reminiscent of Sengoku picture scrolls

The highlight of this festival is the procession of mounted warriors and armored warriors dressed as Masamune Date's vassals, including Katakura Kojuro and Date Shigezane, parading through the streets of Iwadeyama.

This is a reenactment of the story of a heroic warrior who led 3,000 soldiers from Iwadeyama Castle in 1592, on orders from Toyotomi Hideyoshi to send troops to the Korean Peninsula (Bunroku no Eki). You can see it up close.

Masamune Festival＜Information＞

• Name: Masamune Festival
• Event period: Sunday, September 8, 2024
• Venue: Iwateyama-cho, Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture
• Contact: Osaki City Iwadeyama General Branch Regional Promotion Division
• Phone number: 0229-72-1211
• URL: Masamune Festival Executive Committee Official Website

A local dish unique to Iwadeyama: “Kimippanashi-don”

Unlike ordinary frozen tofu that is simply exposed to the cold and dried, frozen tofu from the Iwadeyama region is frozen, aged, tofu that is soaked in water, thawed, squeezed out, and frozen again, making it soft and easy to eat.

locally known as `` Zumippanashi '', is deep-fried like a cutlet and topped with beaten egg and soup stock, giving it a soft and juicy taste, and can be enjoyed not only in this area but also in places like Naruko Onsen.

Frozen rice bowl＜Information＞

• URL: Tamatsukuri Chamber of Commerce Official Website

Jozenji Street Jazz Festival (Aoba Ward, Sendai City: September 7th to 8th)

This jazz festival, which will be held for the 33rd time in 2024, will be held at "L Park Sendai (commonly known as 141)", which was built in 1987 (Showa 62) on Jozenji Street in Kotodai Park in Sendai City. It started with a live jazz concert.

After that, this live concert became an annual event and was held until 1990 (Heisei 2), and from 1991 (Heisei 3), it began to be held on outdoor stages on street corners, mainly on Jozenji Street, as it is now. I did.

The event was renamed the Jozenji Street Jazz Festival (JSF), and as the number of stages and performing groups increased, genres of music other than jazz began to be featured.

In 2019, it was Japan's largest music festival, attracting more than 700,000 people, but it was canceled in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, and when it resumed in 2022, the audience was around 200,000, so we hope to see more excitement in 2024. It is expected.

Music genres that can be selected by area and stage

The eve and main festival will be held over two days, and in 2024 there will be stages at approximately 30 locations, including Jozenji Dori, Kotodai Park, Ichibancho, Nishi Park, Aoba Dori, and the Sendai Station West Exit Pedestrian Deck. It will be installed.

Each stage is divided into big band, blues, fusion, gospel, soul, R&B, Japanese instruments, etc., and the style is to move around and enjoy it according to your taste.

A music festival by citizens for citizens

In addition to subsidies and corporate sponsorship from the City of Sendai, the performing bands cover the operating costs, and the festival is run with donations and donations from citizens who visit the venue on the day, but funds are running low and fundraising efforts are not being carried out. I am.

A major feature of the Jozenji Street Jazz Festival is that it is a music festival handmade by Sendai residents, run entirely by volunteers, and that you can listen to any stage for free.

Jozenji Street Jazz Festival <Information>

• Name: Jozenji Street Jazz Festival 2024
• Event period: September 7th (Saturday) to September 8th (Sunday), 2024
• Venue: Aoba Ward, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture (around Jozenji Street)
• Contact: Jozenji Street Jazz Festival Association (public corporation)
• Phone number: 022-722-7382 (Weekdays 10:00-18:00)
• URL: Jozenji Street Jazz Festival Association Official Website

Hamburger from Hosoya Sandwich, a B-class gourmet restaurant in Kokubuncho near Jozenji Street

Sendai is famous for ``zunda'' and ``beef tongue,'' but in Kokubun-cho, near Jozenji-dori, it started serving Japan's oldest hamburger stores that have them .

Hosoya Sandwich located in the center of Kokubuncho , is a simple hamburger with a 100% Japanese beef patty tossed with homemade sauce and mayonnaise, and thinly sliced ​​onions sandwiched between a bun.

You can take out the hamburgers, so it's a good idea to grab a bite and enjoy the live performance.

Hosoya Sandwich <Information>

• Name: Hosoya Sandwich
• Address: Ouchi Kin'eido Ouchi Building 1F, 2-10-7 Kokubuncho, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture
• Phone number: 022-223-9228
• Business hours: 11:30-22:30
• No regular holiday

Google Map

summary

In addition to the fall festivals introduced here, Miyagi Prefecture's fall festivals include Tome Autumn Festival , the Deer Antler Cutting Festival , and the Kurano-machi Murata Hotei Festival

You can also enjoy a variety of festivals in October, including the Sendai Classical Festival the Michinoku YOSAKOI Festival , a YOSAKOI-style festival held in various locations