Iwafune festival Niigata

[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO TOP . ]
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Iwafune Taisai 岩船大祭 Great Festival at Iwafune

***** Location: Niigata
***** Season: October
***** Category: Observance

*****************************
Explanation

- quote -
Iwafune Festival is held in order to pray for safety at sea, a bountiful catch and for good business. It is a dynamic festival befitting to the fishery town of Iwafune in Murakami City, Niigata Prefecture. It is designated as a prefecture’s intangible Cultural property.

The festival starts with the beats of Saki-daiko (the leading drum) at midnight on October 19. Then Saki-daiko goes around the route of the parade three times in the early morning to purify the way of the god’s excursion.

The shrine deity is loaded onto the magnificent vermillion multi-lacquered Ofune-sama (boat) at the shrine gate and carried to the Otorii Gate accompanied by Mikoshi, Tamayari and the float carrying a sacred horse. When the parade gets to the torii gate, Ofune-sama is loaded onto “Ofune-yatai (the Ship float),” which is joined by eight other floats called “Shagiri.”

Then the parade led by Ofune-sama Shagiri goes through the town accompanied by ohayashi festival music and the festival folksong, “Kiyari-bushi.” The Shagiri parade continues until late at night when the deity of the shrine finally carried onto the back mountain behind the shrine. The round voices of Kiyari-bushi singers echo through the town filled with autumn colors.
- source : nippon-kichi.jp/article -



Iwafune Jinja　岩舟神社 Shrine Iwafune
新潟県村上市岩船三日市 / Iwafune mikkaichi, Murakami-shi
岩船大祭は、神様が「石の舟」でこの地にお越しになったという伝説に由来する、石船（いわふね）神社の例祭。また、「舟囲い」とも謂われ、その年の海の恵み・山の恵み・あらゆる生業（なりわい）に感謝する、この地方の一年を締めくくる秋祭りです。

さすがに圏域の玄関口として栄えてきた港町の祭りと思わせるのは、行列の先頭を行く『御舟屋台』。拝殿から大鳥居まで若衆に担がれ参道の階段を下り、屋台に移される「御舟」は、漆（うるし）を何度も重ねて朱色に塗った豪華なもの。

人々があげ申す「木遣り唄」に合わせ、玉槍、御神輿、おしゃぎり屋台（9台）が町中を練り歩く勇壮なこのお祭りは、たくさんの提灯の明かりに揺られながら、去りゆく季節を惜しむかのように「ともやま」行事が終わる夜おそくまで続きます。

A traditional ceremony is held in Iwafune Shrine as a part of this festival. After this, the Oshagiri Yatai floats decorated with Tsuishu and Tsuikoku (kinds of lacquer) are carried around the town. The parade is led by the Ohunesama (boat) on the Dashi float, a common feature of a port town.
- reference source : murakami.lg.jp/site/kanko/iwafune-taisai -




Sarutahiko 猿田彦 is part of the parade.



. Sarutahiko no Ookami 猿田彦大神
the Great Deity Sarutahiko .
Sarutahiko is the ancestor of the Tengu.



*****************************
Related words

***** . OBSERVANCES – AUTUMN SAIJIKI .


. Amulets and Talismans from Japan .　

BACK : Top of this Saijiki

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
- #iwafune #niigata -
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::