50th Jugoya-san Giant Tug-of-War

About this event

The "Jugoya-san Giant Tug-of-War" is a local autumn festival in Kurume City held every year on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. Held to pray for bountiful harvests and good health, it is designated as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Kurume City. It is said that tug-of-war contests on the night of the full moon have been conducted by the parishioners of Ise Amaterasu Mioya Shrine (commonly known as Oishi Shrine) since around the early Edo period, about 400 years ago. There is also a legend that epidemics spread in years when the tug-of-war was not held, making it a cherished event to pray for good health and bumper crops. The shape of the giant rope is also believed to represent the form of a snake, and it is said to be a ceremony to appease the Chikugo River. On the day of the festival, starting with a Shinto ritual and opening ceremony, the event proceeds through neighborhood tours of the small rope and giant rope districts, carrying the small rope, the small rope tug-of-war, and the Oishi Hugging contest divided into children's and adults' divisions, finally leading up to the giant tug-of-war. The festival's climax, the giant tug-of-war, features the sight of local residents uniting to pull the rope with great strength.

Venue

Oishi Shrine (Ise Amaterasu Mioya Shrine)

132 Oishimachi, Kurume, Fukuoka 830-0049