The chagu-chagu horses, a tradition in early summer in Iwate, are a march of farm horses wearing gorgeous orthotics!

Every June, a festival that can be considered a tradition in early summer in Iwate Prefecture is held in Takizawa and Morioka.

The name of this festival is sometimes called " the cutest festival in Japan" in some places . What exactly is cute? Here's the full story of this festival!

What is Chagu Chagu Horse?

Chagu Chagu Umako is a festival held every second Saturday in June in Takizawa City and Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture.

A group of farm horses dressed in glittering equipment marched over the approximately 14km journey from Onikoshi Sozen Shrine in Takizawa City to Morioka Hachiman Shrine in Morioka City.

The festival was selected in 1978 as an "intangible folk cultural property that should be taken to record and other measures," and in 1996 the sound of the bell was also selected as one of the "100 Japanese Soundscapes to Keep" by the Agency for the Environment.

The sound of the 700 bells on this horse's outfit, large and small, is heard as "Chaguchagu," and it is said that the origin of the name "Chaguchagu."

The southern region has long been a famous horse production area along with horses.

It is well known that well-built horses live in the current Aomori prefecture and Iwate prefectures, and the Nanbu clan, who joined this area from the southern province of Kai (now Nanbu-cho, Minamikoma-gun, Yamanashi Prefecture), improved the horses from Kai and horses from this area, creating large "Nambu-holes" brand horse today , and became popular among countries.

The southern horse is said to have now become extinct due to interbreeding, but the life of the southern region that was with the horse the Nanbu Branch House "Hachimanuma" that is passed down around Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture .

Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT

Nanbu Bevelers are the unique residence of the Nanbu Domain, who was well aware of the importance of horses [Iwate Prefecture]

https://jp.neft.asia/archives/10445

``Magari-ya'' is a unique and humane residence built for people to live together with a stable inside the house. In the north of the Kanto region, especially in Iwate Prefecture, during the Edo period many unique curved houses called ``Nanbu Magariya'' were built. ``Old Kawamae Shime House'' Built in the late Edo period. "Tono Furusato Village" Image provided by: Iwate Prefectural Tourism Association Horses are kept in the main house, which stays warm all day long even in the cold and snowy winters.There are old folk houses with L-shaped thatched roofs remaining throughout the Tohoku region. It is called ``Magariya,'' and its name may change slightly depending on the region, such as Magariya, Magariya, Magariya, Magariya, Magariya, Magariya...

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Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT

Hachiman Horse - A lucky local toy that is one of Japan's three major pieces and is passed down in the southern horse production area [Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture]

https://jp.neft.asia/archives/39105

In the past, horses were inseparable from people's lives, such as farming, war, and transportation. There are many excellent horse production areas in the Tohoku region, and their appearance is naturally reflected in traditional crafts from various regions. Yawatauma is one of them, and is a local toy that is counted as one of the "three greatest pieces in Japan" along with Miharukoma in Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture and Kinoshitakoma in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture. What is Hachimanuma? The southern region, including Hachinohe city, Hachinohe city, which had been an excellent horse production area since ancient times, was once known as Nukanobugun, and by the beginning of the Nara period it was already recognized by the imperial court as a production area for excellent horses. The time passed, and the Kamakura period was the Kamakura administration and the Oshu Fujiwara clan...

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The origin of the chagh horse

As a result, in the current area of ​​Takizawa City, the Tango Festival (May 5th), which is associated with horses, are now visiting the horse guardian deities, Somae Shrine and Komagata Shrine, to pray for the good health of their beloved horses.

This the "Osozen Pilgrimage" and became established, and as horses gradually began to dress up in small-sized outfits when they visited the shrine, the prototype of "Chagu Chagu Umako".

The events that were created after His Imperial Palace visited the prefecture

In 1930, when His Imperial Palace, who was famous for his horse lover at the time, visited Iwate Prefecture, he formed a horse-line after visiting Onikoshi Somae Shrine in Takizawa City, marched to Morioka Hachimangu Shrine, where he showed off his horses at the Kamizen Baba, which earned a great reputation among local residents.

Therefore, from the following year onwards, the event will be held from Onikoshi Sozen Shrine to Morioka Hachimangu Shrine, and this is said to have been the birth of the current "chagu chagu horse-colour" form of visiting Onikoshi Sozen Shrine, marching, and visiting Morioka Hachimangu Shrine.

"Chug Chagu Horse Photo Session" will be held the day before the festival」

The day before the festival, a photoshoot of "Chagu Chagu Umako" will be held at Onikoshi Somae Shrine, the departure point.

There are horse tunics dressed in the day's outfits all over the shrine grounds, allowing you to freely take photos.

The festival format on the day is like going to a marathon or relay race along the road to watch marathons and relay races, so if you want to take your time watching the horses, it is recommended to go to the photoshoot the day before. You can take a commemorative photo to get close to the horse's eyes.

However, if you approach a horse from behind, there is a risk of being kicked up with your hind legs, so if you are approaching the horse, make sure to approach it from the front!

A program for the chagrin horse photo shoot. The content and time may change depending on the year, but for 2025 it was as shown in the photo above.

About 10 horses attended the photo shoot that day.

The horses you see up close are incredible! It's bigger than the racehorses you would normally imagine, and has incredibly thick legs...

You can also take a closer look at the glamorous orthotics.

Some of them also have a smaller pony horse.

The horses set out for a mini parade.

The previous day's mini parade will be held twice, morning and afternoon.

The day of the "Chagu Chagu Horse" is bustling with many spectators

It takes about 14km from Onikoshi Somae Shrine in Takizawa City to Morioka Hachimangu Shrine in Morioka City. It's not a distance that I can't walk, but I wasn't quite confident, so I decided to wait for the arrival of Umako in Morioka City.

As the scheduled time approaches, the number of spectators gradually began to increase along the roadside, and before you know it, both sides were filled with spectators. The photo below is taken while following the approximately 2km journey from Odori to Morioka Hachimangu Shrine.

A line of chagu chagu horses has reached the main street in Morioka City. There were many spectators along the road.

Seven executive horses will be leading the way. The mayors of Takizawa and Morioka are riding them.

The intersection approaches Iwate Park (Morioka Castle Ruins Park) from Odori. The foal snuggles up close to his parent horse is cute.

The horses pass through in front of Sakurayama Shrine.

Just before approaching the bridge inside. There are no interruptions to spectators along the road.

The approach (Hachiman-dori) continues beyond Sakamachi Shopping Street and into Morioka Hachimangu Shrine.

If you take a camp near the Morioka Hachiman Shrine Otorii gate, you can catch a march of chaku-chaku horses from the front.

The shut-ins and attendants also waved along the road with refreshing smiles throughout. I don't show any fatigue from walking the 14km journey.

Mako also looked somewhat proud of the cheers of many spectators.

Finally, instead of passing through the large torii gate at Morioka Hachiman Shrine, we deviate aside, and enter the shrine grounds from the front of the approach to Kasamori Inari Shrine, and the march ends. There were also many people overflowing with the finish line.

As it is a process, the event is similar to how you go to watch marathons or relay races along the road, and if you imagine a normal festival and go and see it, it may end in no time and be taken away, but the majestic figure of the horse, dressed in cute, glittering orthodontic equipment, is definitely worth a visit! I think so.

This is a festival that you should definitely try and see at least once if you have the opportunity. If you want to take your time to watch the horses, we recommend going to the chagu-chagu horses photo shoot the day before!

Chagu Chagu Horse <Information>

• Name: Chagu Chagu Horse
• Date: The second Saturday of June every year
• March route: Approximately 14km from Onikoshi Somae Shrine in Takizawa City to Morioka Hachimangu Shrine in Morioka City
• Official URL: https://chaguuma.com/