Japanese Summer Festival with 200 Years of History (Wano Jugoya Matsuri) [4K]

Japanese Summer Festival with 200 Years of History (Wano Jugoya Matsuri) [4K]

Located in Nishikan Ward, Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture, is Wano Sansha Shrine, and the annual Wano Jugoya Festival features grass fireworks made from bamboo tubes. This festival, with a history dating back to the Edo period, is characterized by spectacular fireworks, with sparks shooting up from bamboo tubes filled with gunpowder amid the accompaniment of flutes and drums. In the evening, the area becomes even more lively with food stalls and street vendors. It is unusual to see a gorgeous Miwa-torii-style torii gate corresponding to the three enshrined deities. The plaques on the shrine’s front are inscribed, from left to right, with the words “Hie-no-Omikami,” “Hachiman-Dai-Jingu,” and “Kumano–Omikami.” Bou-tsukai (stick fighters), a group of boys under the age of 15, also perform an essential votive performance at the festival. As the mikoshi (portable shrine) is carried through the shrine, the attendant acts as a decoy, leading the way. Bou-Tsukai is currently designated as an intangible cultural property of Niigata City (quoted from the official website). It is said to have originated when the head priest of the local Fukuseiji Temple, a martial arts master, took local children to the Mineyama domain, which was focusing on swordsmanship at the time, to teach them. The main ritual of the festival, the portable shrine procession, is about to begin. Before the mikoshi procession begins, lion-faced kagura perform a dance to drive away evil spirits in all four directions, praying for good health and safety. The portable shrine procession has finally begun. At the front, children using sticks demonstrate their skills. In the past, it was customary to build a brand new, plain wooden mikoshi for the festival and then demolish it overnight. However, due to the enormous construction costs, the then-general manager of the shrine purchased the current mikoshi from Kyoto at the end of the Edo period. Then, in the afternoon of the evening festival (the first day of the festival), the portable shrine procession began, departing from the upper shrine (Sansha Shrine), spending the night at the lower shrine (Sumiyoshi Shrine), and returning to the upper shrine the next day. Today, the portable shrine procession is completed in one day. In the past, many people would gather along the route taken by the mikoshi, bowing their heads and offering coins to the procession, which was said to have a status equivalent to 100,000 koku. Although some adaptations have been made to modern times, this traditional Shinto ritual remains intact to this day. It’s extremely hot today. They’re really working hard to carry out the event. It’s truly wonderful to be able to witness a traditional Japanese event at the moments. But Super HOT!!!! Personally, I love the sound of the flutes; they evoke summer. Cool! The mikoshi is coming!! The daytime event has come to an end. As darkness falls, head to Sansha Shrine for the grass fireworks (shikake hanabi). Japanese lanterns are a symbol of summer festivals and add a touch of elegance to the event. We arrived the Sansha Shrine! During the summer festival, Sansha Shrine is lined with a variety of vendors, including takoyaki (octopus balls). It’s hot outside, so I decided to have shaved ice. I think each one was around 300 yen. Delicious! The grass fireworks (shikakehanabi) are about to begin. The sounds of cicadas add a touch of elegance to the shrine at night. “Jugoya matsuri” The Wano Jugoya Matsuri(the 15th night festival) is famous for its grass fireworks. Local fireworks makers fill bamboo tubes with gunpowder and set off handheld grass fireworks one after another, showering themselves with sparks. This grass firework is created by a master pyrotechnician who has been making fireworks for half a century and is known as a true “fireworks man.” They cut the bamboo tubes themselves, carefully select only the usable parts, and finish them with great care. (Quoted from the official website) In addition to handheld grass fireworks, they also handle fireworks that create a waterfall-like effect with sparks falling like rain, as well as fireworks floats that cross ropes while shooting out sparks. The sparks flying up in front of your eyes and dancing in the night sky are a seasonal tradition that makes you feel the end of summer along with the climax of the festival. For me, It’s been about 20 years since I last came to see this. Hanabi-otoko is setting off ‘shikake’ fireworks. “Iwamuro Onsen” “Hayakawa Setsubi” It’s the Waterwalls fireworks display. “JA”? “urban house” “Suehiro Seika” “o-wa-ri”(the end)

Japanese Summer Festival with 200 Years of History (Wano Jugoya Matsuri) [4K]

#日本文化を世界に広めよう

Experience the vibrant energy of Japan’s summer festivals at shrines with mesmerizing grass fireworks, children’s stick-wielding, Kagura dance, portable shrine processions, and taiko and flute performances (hanabibayashi). This video showcases traditional events, the excitement, and lively spirit of children and Japanese culture. Enjoy an immersive virtual tour of a Japanese summer festival as people celebrate.

Timestamps
0:00 Intro
0:45 Sansha Shrine
3:35 Children’s stick-wielding,
5:43 Kaguramai
8:13 Portable shrine processions
15:12 The night at Jugoya Matsuri
19:47 Kusahanabi & Shikake Hanabi
34:11 Ending

[Places where we stopped]
◎The 15th Night Festival – https://niigata-kankou.or.jp/event/44189

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