Group / Company :  芝山町

This festival has been held since the late Edo period to pray for perfect health, safety (prevention of fire and thief), and a good harvest. The day of the festival is called “Nabe Kakezu (“do not put a pot on the fire”).” On this day, people do not light fires in their homes, and instead they visit another family that has been assigned the responsibility of preparing the “Sacred meal.” Men’s and Women’s Shinmotsu (objects offered to the deity) are placed on the altar, and a Lion Dance performance is held to pray for health; the Lion provides newly-married women with a Shinmotsu before the meal to pray that she will have many children. Children start gathering plants that can be used for thatching one month in advance, make a framework with bamboo, and then insert the thatching plants into the framework to build a hut in the shrine. During the festival, the shrine takes on the role of a castle, and a battle is held, with the children setting fire to the hut and throwing radishes to prevent the priests from coming in through the shrine entrance. After that, a ritual of celebration is carried out in front of the god. This is also called the “Daikon (radish) Festival,” and is renowned as one of Japan’s most extraordinary festivals. It is held on December 14 every year.

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