お熊甲祭 Okuma-kabuto-matsuri Okuma Kabuto Festival
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Okuma Kabuto Festival is held at Kuma Kabuto Arakashihiko Shrine, or popularly called Kuma Kabuto Shrine in Nakajima Town, Nanao City, Ishikawa Pref. It is designated as a national Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property. As the festival is held on September 20 every year, it is also called “Hatsuka Matsuri (festival on the 20th).” On the festival day, Mikoshi (portable shrines) and banners from 19 suesha (branch) shrines in the surrounding area converge on Kuma Kabuto Shrine, led by Sarutahiko Okami (a Shinto deity) and accompanied by the sound of Japanese bells and drums. Then with the Mikoshi from the main shrine at the head of the parade, the shrines are carried to Kamohara, which is about 700 m away from the shrine, where the shrine carriers violently dance around until 5:00 in the evening, rising up or tilting down the banners. The highlight of the festival is the gallant “Shimada Kuzushi,” in which the banners with a length of over 20 m are quickly tilted near the ground with the shout encouragement of “YASAKA!” The golden shrines and cardinal red banners against the glow of the sunset make a fine spectacle.
- address
- Miyanomae, Nakajima-machi, Nanao, Ishikawa Prefecture 929-2225
- phone
- 0767-53-8424