[Entire story]Annual Events of Shimomurakamo Shrine

Lots of shrine rituals inherited in the Shimomurakamo Shrine, Imizu City, are associated with the fact that a manor of the Kamomioya Shrine in Kyoto (the Shimogamo Shrine) was established here in 1090, during the Heian Period (794-1192).
On May 4th, the annual spring festival is held in this shrine, in which "yansanma (thought to be a corruption of the word 'yabusame')" is conducted. This yabusame is said to be the most similar to the style exercised during the Heian Period, among all the types inherited in about 120 areas nationwide. In the "Otaue-sai (Rice Planting Festival)" held in the beginning of every June, Zizania latifolia is mowed to make dolls, the enshrined deity "Tamayorihime no Mikoto" is invited to the rest house in the shrine, and the shrine rituals are conducted. In the tentative rice field in front of the rest house, the priest acts as if he were planting rice, in the manner called "kotai-ue (going backward while planting)," which has been passed down since the Heian Period. "Chigo-mai (child dancing)" starts out after the end of the bon season in August. They choose 4 boys aged between 10 and 11, and the boys begin to practice the dance. On September 4th, this dance is dedicated on the special stage. A total of 9 dance programs last as long as 3 hours.
"Buri-wake (Yellow Tail Sharing)" takes place during the "new year celebration festival" in New Year holidays. Salted yellow tails dedicated to the shrine are cut into pieces after the shrine ritual and distributed to all the parishioners' households. It's said to symbolize the idea of "both god and people eating together."
◆Entire story: 91 minutes
Imizu City , Toyama
Related category: Festival Art
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