This festival is the summer festival of the Tsurugi area of Monzen-machi, Wajima City, which is known for Koto-ga-hama Beach, where there is “singing sand”. The festival is called “Osayo Festival,” after the tragic love story of Osayo and Shigezo, and “Shinko-sai Festival” because the deity in the portable shrine visits people’s homes to bring them happiness.
On the day of the festival, the portable shrine, kiriko floats and lion dance members parade around the town. The portable shrine and kiriko are raised when they come close to the eaves of houses with hangings and lanterns decorated with the residents’ family crest, while moving right and left to the rhythm of loud shouts.
After parading around the town, the portable shrine arrives in front of the shrine at around 10 o’clock at night. Accompanied by the music of gongs and drums, the portable shrine and kiriko dance wildly. When a young man jumps up to the portable shrine and takes the Chinese phoenix (representative of a divine spirit) from the top of the portable shrine, the festival reaches its climax. The man who picks up the Chinese phoenix is 25 years old, which is an unlucky age. When he accomplishes the task smoothly, the spectators praise him, shouting “Good job”.
One of the distinctive features of Tsurugi Hachiman Shrine Festival is a lion dance performance. In front of the shrine, a long-nosed goblin appears riding on a lion. The goblin kills the lion, and the portable shrine returns to the shrine as the finale of the festival.
Due to a lack of performers, the lion dance has not been carried out for the past few years. It is hoped that the lion dance will resume in the future.
●Parade with a portable shrine, kiriko and a lion dance.
●Raising of the portable shrine and kiriko above the carriers heads.
●Lion-killing performance in front of the shrine.
Day: 3rd Saturday and Sunday of July (weekend before Marine Day)
Location: Tsurugi area of Monzen-machi, Wajima City
Google Map
Inquiries: Wajima City Tourism Section (Tel: 0768-23-1146)