Festival

Rakuno-ji Temple Dedicatory Sumo

Japanese name:櫟野寺奉納相撲

📅 Sun, Oct 18, 2026

📍 Koka, Shiga

About this event

This is a traditional dedicatory sumo wrestling event held at Rakuno-ji Temple in Koka City, Shiga Prefecture. The event is said to have originated 1,200 years ago when Seii Taishogun Sakanoue no Tamuramaro dedicated sumo in gratitude after successfully subduing bandits in the Suzuka Mountains through the divine protection of Rakuno-ji Temple's Kannon. Held as part of the autumn festival, elementary school students energetically wrestle on the ring within the temple grounds following a memorial service in the main hall. It is a community-rooted cultural event praying for the healthy growth of children and peace in the region.

Official website (Japanese) ↗

Venue

Fukushosan Rakuno-ji Temple

1377 Rakuno, Koka-cho, Koka, Shiga 520-3412

Open in Google Maps ↗