Oho Hachimangu Shrine Tabanka Festival (Torch Festival / Winter Melon Festival)

About this event

Held annually on the first Saturday of September at Oho Hachimangu Shrine in Shimotsuma City, Ibaraki Prefecture, the "Tabanka Festival" is an unusual festival with a history spanning over 600 years. It is a traditional Shinto ritual recreating the legend where a fire that broke out in 1370 during the Kamakura period at Kenryoin, the head priest's residence of Ohoji Temple, was extinguished by beating the flames with tatami mats and pot lids. It is also referred to as the "Torch Festival" or the "Winter Melon Festival." The festival highlight occurs when young parishioners dressed in white ceremonial robes energetically throw tatami mats, pot lids, and kawarake (unglazed clay earthenware) placed before the deity in front of the worship hall, and spectators pick up the earthenware. It is said that picking up a kawarake protects against illness. Next, two large torches in front of the worship hall are lit, and the young parishioners slam the tatami mats and pot lids forcefully against the stone pavement. It is said the name "Tabanka Festival" comes from the reverberating "batan, batan" sound made during this action. The sight of parishioners beating tatami mats to extinguish raging torch flames, as well as young parishioners carrying torches lit from the main torches running through the shrine grounds and scattering sparks boldly, is breathtaking. Being showered with sparks is believed to ward off misfortune, attracting large crowds. The festival lasts about one hour, and the sound of the shrine's traditional Hachiman Taiko drums elevates the heroic atmosphere.

Venue

Oho Hachimangu Shrine

667 Oho, Shimotsuma, Ibaraki 304-0022