Keya Wind-Stopping Sumo Festival

About this event

The 'Keya Kaze-dome Sumo' (Wind-Stopping Sumo), held every year on September 1 at the Ooso Shrine Sumo Ring in Shima-Keya, Itoshima City, Fukuoka Prefecture, is a traditional Shinto ritual held in conjunction with the Hassaku Festival (August 1 of the lunar calendar). This festival aims to prevent strong winds caused by typhoons and to pray for a bountiful harvest. The highlight of the festival is the ceremonial ring entrance (dohyo-iri) of infant boys who have reached their first Hassaku, wearing decorative aprons (kesho-mawashi) and red-and-white headbands, carried by young sumo wrestlers. This adorable ring entrance is a prayer for the healthy growth of the children. In addition, local elementary school students and adults also perform dedicatory sumo wearing mawashi loincloths, passing down the local traditional culture. This sacred ceremony lets you feel the deep connection between the nature of Itoshima City and the lives of its people.

Venue

Ooso Shrine Sumo Ring

675 Shima-Keya, Itoshima, Fukuoka 819-1335