Ebie Hikiyama Festival

About this event

Held every year on Autumn Equinox Day, the Ebie Hikiyama Festival is renowned for its karakuri mechanical puppets. They are called 'Karako Asobi' in Higashimachi, 'Karako Kensui Kaiten (Dengurigaeshi)' in Nakamachi, and 'Karasaru Doji' in Nishimachi. In particular, 'Karasaru Doji' demonstrates remarkable skill by walking, running, and instantly transforming between the faces of a child and a monkey using the manipulation of 22 silk threads. The gorgeous and magnificent floats (hikiyama) are the pride of the local community, preserving scrolls of craft art where master craftsmen competed. The 3 hikiyama floats presented by parishioners for the autumn festival of Ebie Kamo Shrine originate from the tutelary shrine faith of farmers and fishermen praying for abundant harvests and bountiful catches. During the mid-Edo to Meiji periods when coastal fishing prospered and Kitamaebune ship trading and migrant work thrived, the hikiyama were created in the 3 districts of Ebie (Higashimachi, Nakamachi, Nishimachi). The structure and festival music (hayashi) of the floats show significant influence from nearby Hojozu. Highlights include the valiant sight of young men wearing twisted headbands and happi coats chanting spiritedly 'Iyasa, Iyasa,' and making the wheels creak as they turn the floats at street corners. In addition to the adorable movements of the karakuri puppets, the 'Hikiyama Kiyari' chants performed in the parking lot of the Ebie Community Center are also a must-see. These were originally net-hauling work songs from fishermen and mast-raising work songs from Benzaisen cargo ships, and the work songs from the late Meiji period have been passed down as hikiyama kiyari.

Venue

Ebie Matsuri Museum

1085 Ebie, Imizu, Toyama 933-0233