Tsugu Hana Matsuri Festival

About this event

Held in Tsugu, Shitara Town, the "Tsugu Hana Matsuri" is a traditional festival said to have been introduced by shugenja (ascetic practitioners) from Kumano at the end of the Kamakura period. Held annually on January 2 at the dance stage of Shiratori Shrine, sacred nighttime rituals are performed throughout the night to pray for the expulsion of evil spirits, bountiful harvests, and village prosperity. The festival unfolds accompanied by the chant of "Tehohe, Tehohe," beginning with the "Bachi no Mai" and concluding with the "Shizume no Mai," featuring 24 major performance acts and 39 minor performance acts of dance and ritual dedication. It has been designated a National Important Intangible Cultural Property and is passed down as a precious cultural heritage deeply rooted in the region. At the festival's climax, the "Yamamioni" (demon) appears, followed by the lively tempo of the "Yubayashi" dance, continuing until the next morning. This festival is a powerful yet mystical traditional event imbued with the wishes of local residents.

Venue

Shiratori Shrine

1 Tsugushiratori, Shitara, Kitashitara District, Aichi 441-2601