Mozu Hachimangu Autumn Festival (Tsukimi Festival)

About this event

The Mozu Hachimangu Autumn Festival is held around the 15th day of the 8th lunar month during the mid-autumn harvest moon, which is why it is also called the Tsukimi Festival (Moon Viewing Festival), and it has long been cherished by the people of Sakai and Senshu. This festival is held to pray for a bountiful harvest as the rice ripens, combining the Hachimangu shrine's traditional Hojoe (ritual release of living creatures) with customs celebrating the full moon into an annual shrine festival. While the shrine's formal Shinto rituals take place on the harvest moon (the 15th day of the 8th lunar month), the heroic and magnificent futon daiko dedication processions are held on the surrounding weekend. In 2026 (Reiwa 8), it will be held on Saturday, September 26, and Sunday, September 27. The futon daiko is named after its appearance, featuring what resembles five stacked crimson cushions (futon) perched atop a pedestal that houses a large drum. The pedestal containing the drum is adorned with solemn carvings, while the futon section is richly decorated with gold cords and large and small tassels. During the procession, it reaches a height of about 4 meters, weighs around 2 tons, and is carried by approximately 60 to 70 people. As the futon daiko from each of the nine parishioner neighborhoods enter the shrine grounds one by one and parade for an hour each, the shrine precinct is filled with the crowd's energy. Weighing about 2 tons and reaching a height of about 4 meters during the procession, the futon daiko are heroic and overwhelmingly powerful. The solemn pedestal carvings and the gorgeous ornamentation on the futon section are also major highlights. The Hojo Festival (children's ceremonial procession) is also held.

Venue

Mozu Hachimangu Shrine

5-706 Mozuakahata-cho, Kita-ku, Sakai, Osaka 591-8037