Hazu Sawano Shrine Festival - Sacred Boat Ritual (Mifune Shinji)

About this event

The Mifune Shinji (Sacred Boat Ritual) handed down at Iizu Sawano Shrine is a special ritual held during the annual festival in mid-September to pray for maritime safety and business prosperity. In the Meiji period, following the development of Sagara Port, it began independently from the Mifune Shinji of Oe Hachimangu Shrine. The sacred boats used in the ritual are elaborate 1/10-scale replicas of Edo-period cargo vessels—the Higaki Kaisen and Taru Kaisen—measuring about 2 meters in total length. Carried by young men known as 'Funawaka', the sacred boats lead the procession; swaying violently back and forth to boat songs (funauta) while alternatingly raising the bow and stern, the movement depicts cargo ships overcoming rough waves on the open sea. Featuring parade floats and processions, this valiant festival is one of the liveliest in the surrounding area and is designated as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of the prefecture.

Venue

Iizu Sawano Shrine

1000-1 Hazu, Makinohara, Shizuoka 421-0523