Men clad in sarashi white cloth compete bravely throughout the town, while elaborately decorated yatai floats are paraded around as if a magnificent historical picture scroll unfolded.
The Furukawa Festival offers two contrasting atmospheres: dynamic and tranquil. Driven by a desire to make as many people as possible discover the joy of this festival, the Hida Furukawa Festival Exhibition Hall was created.
Here, visitors can experience the culture that has been developed along with the festival by the participants, those who support and look after them, and all other people living in Furukawa.
You should join in the festival inside this building.
In the Okoshi-Daiko (rousing drum), half-naked men clad in sarashi white cloth carry around a frame-mounted turret on which a large drum is perched, shouting out and making the rounds of Hida’s Furukawa town.
The stars of this event are the men beating the large drum on the turret. The role of drum beater is a once-in-a-lifetime honor and what every shrine parishioner yearns for. The event kicks off with several hundred men singing a celebratory song in chorus. Immediately after that, a fierce offensive and defensive battle begins surrounding the Okoshi-Daiko, and the festival heats up at once.
The yatai floats of the Furukawa Festival are acclaimed as the height of Hida craftsmanship.
Its beauty has resulted from the perfect fusion of the cultures of Eastern and Western Japan. The yatai brought in from Edo were enhanced by the highly skilled craftsmen of Hida, and with the addition of karakuri ningyo (mechanical marionettes) from Kyoto evolved into a distinctive form of art centered on elaborately decorated yatai floats.
The way the yatai floats are paraded around is as if a historical picture scroll unfolded. In the Yomatsuri event held after nightfall, each float is paraded with its paper lanterns lit, creating an ambience of quiet and elegant beauty in contrast to its daytime liveliness.
Those who participate in the Furukawa Festival, those who support them, those who watch them…
In the town of Furukawa, there are people who carry on the tradition of the festival in their respective roles and positions.
With the help of matsuribito or festival lovers, this journal introduces the Furukawa Festival and the charm of the culture created through the festival.
Journal Vol.10
Flower Shop Itabashi
It’s a bit of a problem that men are preoccupied with preparations for the festival, spending too much time socializing. But we support them as we acknowledge that they have a firm belief in what they are doing.
Journal Vol.9
Makoto Amaki (Chief Priest, Ketawakamiya Shrine)
The spirit of ujiko (shrine parishioners) is not something that can be described by one word.
Journal Vol.8
Junji Mishima (三嶋和ろうそく店 ７代目)
年を重ねたら裃をつけて神様行列や屋台警護。
いつまでも現役です。
Journal Vol.7
Masanori and Masami Nishino (Nishino Seizaisho)
It was a big challenge in which the Suzaku group’s capability to fulfill its responsibilities was tested.
I felt a lot of pressure.
Journal Vol.6
Kazuo Tanaka (Farmer)
Sometimes you slip on the snow and almost fall off the turret
Journal Vol.5
Yukio Koma (Glass Museum Koma)
The Furukawa Festival is famed for the Okoshi-Daiko, which is No.1 in Japan. Two young men straddling the giant drum, one facing forward and the other backward at the front and rear ends of the drum just like Ryomen Sukuna, a two-faced mythical specter, solemnly beat the drum. Today, you can’t see anything like this anywhere but here.
Journal Vol.4
Yohei Suganuma and Kazuki Numata (Members of the Seiryu-tai group’s youth team)
The time is changing.
Some women may want to take part in the Okoshi-Daiko (rousing drum) event.
Journal Vol.4
Yohei Suganuma and Kazuki Numata (Members of the Seiryu-tai group’s youth team)
This is a small town.
Even so, if it were not for the Furukawa Festival, we wouldn’t have become such close friends.
Journal Vol.3
Chiyoko Kamigahira (Okami, Ozekiya Ryokan)
Not even once in the past 70 years, have I gone to hang around on the days of the festival.
Journal Vol.2
Osami Mozumi (Calligrapher Seison Mozumi)
The new era name “Reiwa” readily penetrated into the hearts and minds of Japanese people.
The force of the brush just gave a bit of push to it.
Journal Vol.1
Junya Tsuzuku (Mayor of Hida City)
On the days of the festival, I am reminded of the hierarchy of the town with the mikoshi (portable shrine) at the top.
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