[Miyagi Prefecture] Enjoy winter in Miyagi! 3 recommended winter festivals!

Even in Tohoku, Miyagi has relatively warm winters with little snow, and several winter festivals where you can enjoy the world of snow and ice are held in areas with heavy snowfall, such as Mt. Kurikoma and Miyagi Zao.

Many events involve lighting up the city with illuminations, and bright illumination projects are actively held in various places, including the ``Pageant of Lights'' in Sendai.

In this article, we will introduce two representative illuminations in Miyagi Prefecture, as well as a historical Raihoshin event that is comparable to Akita Prefecture's ``Oga Namahage''.

SENDAI Pageant of Light (Sendai City)

Sendai's Jozenji Street, where the Jazz Festival is held in the summer, is lined with 115 zelkova trees, and in the winter, these zelkova trees are lit with approximately 450,000 LEDs.

This is the 39th time this season has been held as Sendai's winter tradition, creating a fantastical scene where the rows of withered zelkova trees look as if they are sprouting glowing leaves and flowers.

The illumination will be lit from the front of Sendai Civic Hall on Jozenji-dori to the Kokubuncho-dori intersection, and the median strip of Jozenji-dori will become a tunnel of light.

Sendai Media Arc along the street , where the illuminations are reflected in the glass, creating a fantastical space with an indescribable brilliance.

This year, the lights will be lit every night for 20 days from December 6th (Friday) to December 25th (Wednesday).

Crowdfunding to support the pageant of light

This event has become a winter tradition in Sendai, but its continued existence is in doubt due to financial difficulties due to a decrease in corporate sponsorship.

There was a problem in that the Christmas market at Kotodai Park, which was a source of funds, could not be held due to the rebuilding of the city hall, but it has been decided that it will be held at Nishikicho Park in 2024.

However, due to the effects of soaring prices, it remains unclear whether the event will be held in the future, and the executive committee is therefore conducting crowdfunding to raise funds for the event.

SENDAI Pageant of Light <Information>

• Name: 2024 SENDAI Pageant of Light
• Event period: December 6th (Friday) to December 25th (Wednesday), 2024 (Reiwa 6)
• Lighting hours: Monday to Thursday 19:00 to 22:00, Friday and Saturday 18:00 to 22:00, Sunday 18:00 to 21:00
  *From 18:00 on the 24th (Tuesday) and 25th (Wednesday) 22:00
• Venue: Jozenji-dori (in front of Sendai Civic Hall - Kokubuncho-dori)
• Contact: SENDAI Pageant of Light Executive Committee
• Phone number: 022-261-6515
• URL: 2024 SENDAI Pageant of Light Official Website

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Kodanarie avenue (Yamamoto Town)

This year marks the 13th anniversary of the illuminations, which were started by the people of Yamamoto Town, which suffered major tsunami damage, starting the year after the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011.

The handmade illuminations that take advantage of the topography of Kodaira Rural Park were created after more than half a year of consideration by residents and volunteers, and you can enjoy a different design every year.

In hopes of restoring the spirits of Yamamoto Town and its residents, the colorful illuminations made up of 200,000 LED bulbs are lit all over the park, giving it a kind and warm feel that calms the soul.

What is the origin of the name Kodanarie?

" Kodanarie " is a coined word that combines "commitment" to handmade products, "Koda" from the place name "Kodaira", and "Narie" from the Italian word Luminarie (illumination).

In the winter of 2024, it will be held at Kodaira Rural Park in Yamamoto Town from December 7th (Saturday) to December 29th (Sunday), and the lights will be lit from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays during this period.

Kodanarie avenue <Information>

• Name: 2024 Kodanarie avenue
• Event period: Held only on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from December 7th (Saturday) to December 29th (Sunday), 2024 (Reiwa 6)
• Venue: Kodaira Rural Park (18-1 Kodaira Tate, Yamamoto-cho, Watari-gun, Miyagi Prefecture)
• Contact: Kodanarie Executive Committee
• Phone number: 070-2020-5701
• Contact: Yamamoto Town Commerce, Tourism and Exchange Division (Weekdays 8:30-17:15)
• Phone number: 0223-36-9837
• URL: Yamamoto Town tourism site “Yamamotoiro”

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Mizukaburi of the Yone River (Tome City)

In contrast to the two illuminations we introduced, this one is a midwinter folk event that has been passed down in the Itsukamachi area of ​​Yonekawa, Towa-cho, Tome City for over 800 years.

Like Oga's Namahage, this festival is registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage as Kamigami event: Gods in disguise and costumes

Every year in February, on the day of the first cow, the men of the area dress up in the ``mizukaburi'' (mizukaburi) costume, which is believed to be the god of fire, and sprinkle water on the roofs of houses. I'm going to do a hiboshi.

The men wrapped straw ``shimenawa'' around their bare waists and shoulders, wore straw sandals, and covered their heads with ``wakka'' that held the ``head'' in place. Paint.

What is “mizukaburi”? What do you do?

On the morning of February's First Ushi (Thursday, February 6th in 2025), men gather at the Sugawara family, which has run a ` `Mizukaburi Inn '' for generations in the Itsukamachi area, and set out dressed in ``Mizukaburi.''

From the inn, they pray to put out the fire at Akiba Daigongen in the precincts of Horinzan Daijiji Temple, then visit the Suwamori Daiji Temple ruins and pray again to put out the fire, and then go out into town to pray to put out the fire at each house.

Mizukaburi water from pails prepared in front of the houses onto the roofs of the houses, and the householders pull out the straw that the ``Mizukaburi'' attaches to their holders and use it as a talisman to keep fires at bay. .

The ``mizukaburi'' are easy prey not only for adults but also for children who are looking for charms, and by the time they finish making their way around town, they are almost completely naked.

The "mizukaburi" who had been divided into several groups and went around the town visited the Yawata Shrine and Wakakusa Shrine in the north of the town, and returned to their inns while holding fires.

Apart from the ``Mizukaburi'', a ``Fire Man'' wearing a black monk's robe and a white ``Hyottoko'' mask, and a pair dressed as women and wearing a white ``Okame'' mask wander around the town. *From around 9:20 in the video

The ``Fire Man'' walks while ringing a bell, and the ``Okame'' carries a balance pole with a bucket attached to it, and the bucket is used by the residents to put their blessings in.

These two people are also said to be visiting gods who bring good fortune to the places they visit, and ``Fire Man'', like ``Mizukaburi'', is an incarnation of the god of fire, and ``Okame'' is said to be its companion.

Tohoku Rokken trivia media: NEFT

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Mizukuri of the Yone River <Information>

• Name: Mizukaburi of Yonekawa
• Date: Thursday, February 6, 2025 (Reiwa 7) 8:00-12:00
• Venue: Horinzan Daijiji Temple (56 Yonekawacho Shimo, Towacho, Tome City, Miyagi Prefecture), Yonekawacho
• Contact: Tome City Board of Education, Cultural Properties and Cultural Promotion Division
• Phone number: 0220-34-2332
• URL: Tome City official website

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summary

The ``SENDAI Pageant of Lights'' attracts a lot of people and Jozenji Street gets very crowded, so be sure to watch your step when walking and take good care of your belongings.

Also, please note that "Godanarie" is only open on weekend nights from Friday to Sunday.

Furthermore, the ``Yonekawa Mizukaburi'' event starts early in the morning and ends around noon, so if you want to see it, we recommend arriving at the site by around 10am.

Also, if you get too close to the queue, you will be exposed to the water that the ``mizukaburi'' sprays on your house, so it's a good idea to keep your distance and watch.