Kuse Festival (Danjiri)

About this event

This is a valiant festival held every autumn in the Kuse district of Maniwa City, Okayama Prefecture. The festival's biggest highlight is the 'Danjiri Kenka' (fighting floats), where danjiri floats violently collide with each other, divided into 4 shrines of the Kami-gumi (upper group) and 5 shrines of the Shimo-gumi (lower group), fought under a 13-minute time limit per match. Dominance is judged by the orientation of the floats, and the sight of them swerving dynamically to slam into the opponent's side is full of thrills. On the day before the festival, the 'Yoi Matsuri' (eve festival) takes place, where 9 danjiri gather at JR Kuse Station to welcome returning visitors and announce the start of the festival with town-touring music of drums and fire bells. In addition, the 'Gosha Gosairei' features five portable shrines (mikoshi) that have performed sacred rites at Wakaou Shrine of Asahi Shrine parading along the Old Izumo Kaido road accompanied by 9 attendant danjiri, and the 'Danjiri Gosairei' features 9 danjiri overtaking the five shrines' mikoshi to parade through the city, where children take part in 'kashi-maki' (sweets scattering). The event takes place around the Chugoku Bank Kuse Branch and the area in front of Kuse Station, accessible on foot from JR Kuse Station. Free parking is also available.

Venue

Chugoku Bank Kuse Branch

2848-1 Kuse, Maniwa, Okayama 719-3201