Ikuoka Shrine Children's Gohan-shiki

About this event

Designated as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Nikko City, the "Children's Gohan-shiki" is a unique ritual praying for good health and a bountiful harvest. Elementary and junior high school students dressed as yamabushi (mountain ascetics) and gouriki (mountain porters) appear, and to the signals of conch shells and drums, force mountain-high heaps of rice upon adults known as shinyaku with powerful spoken chants. Following that, in the ritual of "Gohan-shoku ni Annai-mon," the betto (head priest) feeds taro to shrine parishioners dressed in white robes as Tarobo and Jirobo by holding it to their mouths. Furthermore, in the "Harukoma-shiki" ritual, two parishioners ride bamboo stilts and run around inside the worship hall. Handed down since ancient times, this festival is a traditional ceremony that deeply reflects local culture.

Venue

Ikuoka Shrine

186-2 Shichiri, Nikko, Tochigi 321-1423