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The autumn festivals in the northern part of Iwate Prefecture are characterized by the large number of festivals in which colorfully decorated floats with warrior dolls and decorative curtains parade through the town
In addition, when the floats are paraded, local children always play musical accompaniment, allowing you to enjoy performances that reflect the individuality of each region
In this article, we will introduce three autumn festivals in northern Iwate Prefecture: Morioka, Hanamaki, and Kuji, as well as the local B-grade gourmet food
When does the Autumn Festival start and end?
Morioka Autumn Festival In front of the Iwate Bank Red Brick Building Source: Tohoku Tourism and Travel Information Site Travel Tohoku
In the calendar, the beginning of autumn, one of the 24 solar terms, runs from August 7th to the day before the beginning of winter on November 7th. If we apply this to the Tohoku region, autumn begins at the end of the summer festivals held in various places in early August
In this article, we will introduce festivals that take place according to the calendar, from August 7th to November, as "Autumn Festivals."
What is the definition of a festival?
Deer Dance Source: Iwate Prefecture Official Tourism Site Iwate Travel
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 festivals at shrines and other places with history and tradition, and these events where people enjoy music and food are also considered festivals in a broad sense
Morioka Autumn Festival (Morioka City: September 12th to 16th)
Morioka floats passing through the ruins of Morioka Castle. Source: Tohoku Tourism and Travel Information Site, Travel Tohoku
The annual festival of Morioka Hachiman Shrine, the main shrine of Morioka, is a festival that colors the autumn of Morioka. Gorgeous floats are paraded through the city accompanied by music, and Shinto rituals such as yabusame are also held
It is said that this festival began on September 14, 1709 (the 6th year of the Hoei era), when townspeople donated elaborate emblems called chojirushi to Morioka Hachimangu Shrine to celebrate the completion of the town's construction by the Nanbu clan, and then paraded around the castle town for three days
Iwate Prefecture has many festivals where elegant floats carrying dolls of warriors, kabuki actors, and other figures are paraded around, and these are sometimes collectively referred to as Nambu-ryu elegant floats " or " Morioka floats
The decorations on the front of the float are called " Furyu " and feature powerful, masculine themes such as famous scenes from Kabuki and history, while the back, called Mikaeshi carries puppets with feminine themes such as Fuji Musume
There are several small drums at the front of the float and several large drums at the rear, and the drummers ride on the float to beat them
The floats operated by each fire brigade (firefighter group) are pulled by around 200 people through Morioka city, accompanied by music accompanied by drums and unique chants of Yare yare
Morioka float dance performance
The floats that parade through the city often stop, and at this time songs set to the tune of "Nanbukiyari" are sung to thank the stores and individuals that have made donations .
The content of the Ondo explains the dolls on the floats and is sung in a 7-7-7-5 verse
As the festival approaches, the sounds of fire brigade personnel practicing their songs and music can be heard throughout the city, becoming one of Morioka's autumn traditions
What to see at the Morioka Autumn Festival?
Joint parade of Morioka floats (Saien Street) Source: Tohoku tourism and travel information site, Travel Tohoku
This year's autumn festival will see nine floats parade through Morioka city
Morioka City has 25 performing groups, including 19 fire departments and six clubs, but only a few groups participate every year, and some only participate once every three or five years, so this year there will be nine floats
The floats will be paraded through each neighborhood from the 14th to the 16th, and on the afternoon of the 14th they will be paraded from Hachiman Shrine to Hachimanmachi Street, and on the 15th they will be paraded together as part of the " Dashi Emaki Parade " at Morioka Castle Ruins Park and Odori Shopping Street.
The spectacular joint parade of nine floats in a line is a must-see
Additionally, on the 16th, a spectacular Yabusame (horseback archery) event will be held at the riding grounds within the grounds of Hachiman Shrine, which is also a highlight of the event
Morioka Autumn Festival <Information>
Name: Morioka Autumn Festival (Morioka Hachiman Shrine Annual Festival)
Event period: September 12th to 16th every year (Thursday to Sunday in 2024)
Location: Morioka City (Morioka Hachiman Shrine, main street, and other locations within the city)
For inquiries (float operation, etc.): Morioka Tourism and Convention Association
Phone number: 019-621-8800 (weekdays 9:00-17:00, excluding the second Tuesday of each month)
What is Hittsumi, the soul food of Iwate Prefecture residents?
Source: Iwate Prefecture Official Tourism Site Iwate Travel
The dish is made by tearing up kneaded wheat flour lumps by hand, putting them in a pot filled with soy sauce-flavored broth, and simmering them with chicken and vegetables.It is similar to the so-called "suiton" but has a firmer texture
In the northern part of Iwate Prefecture and in Morioka City , it is commonly called Hittsumi it is sometimes called Hatto
Not only do the size, shape, and hardness of the chunks, as well as the ingredients and seasonings used, vary by region, but there are also differences between the restaurants and ordinary households that serve it, making it a unique local dish that allows you to enjoy a variety of flavors
Hanamaki Festival (Hanamaki City: September 13th to 15th)
Hanamaki Festival Float Parade Source: Tohoku Tourism and Travel Information Site, Travel Tohoku
The annual festival of Toriyazaki Shrine, the main shrine of Hanamaki, is an autumn festival where you can enjoy a gorgeous float parade that is different from the Morioka floats and a portable shrine parade that has been certified by the Guinness World Records
Kagura Gongen Dance PerformanceDance Performance , which are performed along the parade route, are also popular highlights.
On the final night, the festival reaches its climax as floats and portable shrines are freely paraded around the festival square, followed by a sanbonjime (large-legged clap) by all participants and fireworks
The elegant floats that Kenji Miyazawa was deeply involved in
Illuminated floats Source: Iwate Prefecture Official Tourism Site Iwate Travel
The 12 floats made by local citizens are designed to resemble flower arrangements, and the "Furyu" floats at the front, like the others, feature warriors and famous scenes from Kabuki, while the "Mikaeri" floats at the rear are said to be decorated with motifs based on the fairy tales of Miyazawa Kenji
The floats are lit up at night by acetylene gas lamps, rather than incandescent bulbs, and the flickering flames enhance the beauty of the float decorations
What is Hanamaki Hayashi?
and there are two types: marching music played during the parade of floats, stopping music , which was temporarily discontinued but was revived in 1974 (Showa 49)
Hanamaki Bayashi Dance Parade involves dancing to this music , is open to the public, and about three practice sessions for the entire group and for beginners are held before the festival.
The world's largest portable shrine parade
Hanamaki once had many sake breweries, and it is said that the young workers would make portable shrines out of sake barrels and carry them while drinking sake. The unique way the shrines are carried, with people zigzagging and spinning around, is said to be a vestige of this tradition
In 2015, 114 mikoshi (portable shrines), including children's mikoshi, participated in the festival, earning it a Guinness World Record for "More than 100 mikoshi displayed in one location for more than five minutes."
Groups such as shopping districts and companies, mainly mikoshi enthusiasts, participate with their own mikoshi, and the Hanamaki Chamber of Commerce and Industry publicly solicits participating groups every year
Hanamaki Festival <Information>
Name: Hanamaki Festival
Event period: Every year from the second Friday to Sunday of September, from September 13th to September 15th in 2024
Location: Kamimachi Festival Square, etc
For inquiries, please contact the Hanamaki Festival Executive Committee Secretariat (Tourism Division)
Hanamaki Burger aims to be Hanamaki's B-class gourmet food
The Hanamaki Burger, which was created in 2008 (Heisei 20), is a healthy burger made with a patty made from okara and konjac instead of meat, sandwiched between buns baked in Hanamaki, along with vegetables from Hanamaki
The conditions for a burger to be called " Hanamaki Burgerthat it must use more than the specified amount of ingredients produced in Hanamaki , be cooked in Hanamaki City , and be made in collaboration with four or more companies in Hanamaki City .
This local healthy burger, packed with vegetables, is now attracting attention as Hanamaki's new B-grade gourmet food
Kuji Autumn Festival (Kuji City: September 19th to 22nd)
The gathered floats Source: Tohoku Tourism and Travel Information Site, Travel Tohoku
The festival is said to have originated over 650 years ago, and is a festival where handmade floats parade through the city of Kuji as a tri-shrine festival for Daijingu Shrine, Akiha Shrine, and Tatsumiyama Shrine
The floats are paraded down the city's main street on Otori " ( Otori") day and the "OkaeriChu" day " Nanyadoyara " is held.
The 19th is also known as the "eve of the festival," when floats and portable shrines are paraded through the square in front of Kuji Station, and you can enjoy a competitive performance of float music
Eight elaborately crafted floats by the float group
The elegance of the floats Source: Iwate Prefecture Official Tourism Site Iwate Travel
In the past, the floats were borrowed from the Sansha Festival in Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture, but in recent years, float groups have begun to make their own floats, giving the festival a different feel from both the Morioka and Hanamaki floats
The floats are on permanent display at the Kuji Yamase Dofukan Roadside Station
Kuji Autumn Festival <Information>
Name: Kuji Autumn Festival
Event period: Friday, September 20th to Sunday, September 22nd, 2024 (Pre-event on September 19th)
Location: Kuji city center and other locations
For inquiries, please contact the Kuji Autumn Festival Executive Committee (Kuji City Tourism and Products Association)
Mamebu soup Source: Iwate Prefecture Official Tourism Site Iwate Travel
Mamebu a wheat flour dumpling filled with walnut and brown sugar paste , is a traditional local dish from Yamagata Town, a mountain town that has since merged with Kuji City. It is simmered in a broth made from kelp and dried sardines along with vegetables and fried tofu.
the NHK morning drama " Amachan " as a food that is "sweet and salty, and you can't tell if it's a side dish or a snack," and is now known as Kuji's B-grade gourmet food.
The floats pulled around at the autumn festivals of Morioka, Hanamaki, and Kuji introduced in this article each have their own unique charm, and this can be clearly seen by visiting all three autumn festivals and comparing them
What they all have in common is that they are not made by specialized craftsmen like Aomori's Nebuta, but are handmade by members of the groups that operate the floats
Why not come and see up close these gorgeous floats, which are made on a limited budget by carefully reusing dolls and decorations?
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!
