13th Anji-kun Hometown Festival

About this event

The 13th Anji-kun Hometown Festival will be held in Shirataki, Engaru Town, Okhotsk. Starring the Shirataki Geopark mascot 'Anji-kun', the event is packed with local flavor, including Bon Odori dancing, a fireworks display, YOSAKOI dance performances, and a corn-peeling speed contest. Visitors can also enjoy gourmet foods made with the legendary 'Shirataki Jaga' potatoes. In addition, the Engaru Town Center for Archaeological Operations adjacent to the festival venue will offer free admission to view National Treasure artifacts excavated from the Hokkaido Shirataki ruins during the event period. Named after 'Anji', the Ainu word for obsidian, the mascot Anji-kun conveys the charm of Shirataki Geopark. Highlights include the adult costume Bon Odori dance and the YOSAKOI dance performance featuring Anji-kun's younger sister, Princess Kokemomo. The festival, which began in 2002 as the 'Sanyu no Sato Festival', was renamed in 2014 to its current form. The scheduled program includes Pote-golf, children's Bon Odori dancing, fireworks display, Hirayama Taiko drumming, a corn-peeling speed contest, a performance by the Self-Defense Forces band, children's game tournaments, YOSAKOI dance performances, a tractor-pulling competition, a fun lottery drawing, and mochi and candy scattering.

Venue

Engaru Town Hall Shirataki General Branch

138-1 Shirataki, Engaru-cho, Mombetsu-gun, Hokkaido 099-0111