About this event
A festival held at Aso Shrine and Kokuzo Shrine to give thanks for the autumn harvest. During the Shinto ritual, in addition to sacred offerings of rice, sake, salt, water, kagami mochi, fish, seaweed, and vegetables, the first ears of harvested rice and red bean rice (sekihan) are offered. Following the ritual, "Gwan no Sumo" is dedicated on a sumo ring set up within the shrine grounds, followed by yabusame (horseback archery) dedicated along the side approach by the "Aso Shrine Yabusame Archery Association." Before the Meiji period, a Hojoe (ritual release of living beings) was held at Aso Shrine on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, but was renamed "Tami Shinji" following the Shinto-Buddhism separation order in the first year of Meiji. While there was once a portable shrine procession (shinko), only the Shinto rituals are held today.
Official website (Japanese) ↗Venue
Kokuzo Shrine
2110 Teno, Ichinomiyamachi, Aso, Kumamoto 869-2601
Open in Google Maps ↗