Kawana no Mando Festival

About this event

The "Kawana no Mando" will be held at Kawana Port in Ito City, Shizuoka Prefecture, from Saturday, October 17, to Sunday, October 18, 2026. This traditional event originates from an old custom where Kawana fishermen swung "mando" lanterns as a contest of strength. During the autumn festival, three mando from the three neighborhoods of Kawana (Koura, Miyamachi, and Higashicho) appear and are dedicated before the Kawana Mishima Shrine. A mando resembles an elaborately decorated, large version of the "matoi" standards used by Edo-era firefighters and weighs approximately 60 kg. It is a spectacular sight as participants parade through the town swinging the mando, which has weights and ornaments mounted atop a 3-meter pole, praying for safety at sea and a bountiful catch. While it is said that people once carried mando weighing as much as 110 kg, in modern times importance is placed on swinging them beautifully, and dropping one is considered taboo. Festival floats (dashi) from the neighborhoods parade before and behind the mando to add excitement, and the portable shrine (mikoshi) of Mishima Shrine also parades through parish neighborhoods before descending to the beach (ohamasagari) to pray for maritime safety and large catches.

Venue

Kawana Irukahama Beach

1004 Kawana, Ito, Shizuoka 414-0044