Okitsu Hachimangu Shrine Grand Festival

About this event

A gallant festival with over 400 years of history held every year on October 15 in Okitsu, Shimanto Town, Kochi Prefecture. It is also designated as an intangible cultural property of Kochi Prefecture. The greatest highlight of the festival is the clash between the miyabune boat carried by fishermen and the mikoshi (portable shrine) carried by farmers. It is said that if the miyabune hits the mikoshi, there will be a bountiful catch of fish, and if the mikoshi is placed on top of the miyabune, there will be a bountiful harvest. Deeply connected to the Hata-Nakamura Ichijo clan who ruled Okitsu during the Sengoku period, this Shinto ritual comforts and thanks the enshrined deity while praying for good health, bountiful grain harvests, business prosperity, and rich catches for the shrine parishioners. Traditional performing arts such as Ryukyuba and Hanatori-odori are also presented.

Venue

Okitsu

Okitsu, Shimanto, Takaoka District, Kochi