Anzumi Shrine Grand Kagami Mochi Dedication Ceremony

About this event

At Anzumi Shrine in Takanezawa Town, Tochigi Prefecture, the annual year-end ritual Grand Kagami Mochi Dedication Ceremony, which has continued since 1982 (Showa 57), will be held. In gratitude for abundant harvests, a giant kagami mochi weighing approximately 500 kg (a 3-tier stack with diameters of 100, 80, and 60 cm) made from 8 bales of glutinous rice will be dedicated. Described as the largest in Japan, gagaku court music plays throughout the shrine grounds after dedication, and visitors can also watch the dedication of maiden sacred dances (miko-mai). The dedicated grand kagami mochi remains on display until January 20, and is distributed to worshippers as blessed rice cakes during Setsubun on February 3. The sight of the giant kagami mochi being transported on a forklift driven by a Shinto priest has attracted attention as a unique scene. Widely featured in various media as a year-end hallmark, this ritual is also recommended for early New Year prayers (sakisakimairi).

Venue

Anzumi Shrine

2313 Kamitakanezawa, Takanezawa-machi, Shioya-gun, Tochigi 329-1224