[Held on Sat., 9/26 and Sun., 9/27] Miyasuji Monogatari ~Chapter Nine~ ～ Enjoy an autumn festival set at Soja Shrine and the shopping district

Miyasujisuji, a street that evokes the history of Soja City, runs from Bicchu-no-kuni Soja-gu Shrine to Soja Shopping Street.

To bring back the bustle of the former Soja Shopping Street, the event “Miyasujimonogatari: Chapter Nine” will be held along Miyasujisuji on Saturday, September 26, and Sunday, September 27, 2026.

We spoke with the organizers about this year’s event, its ninth edition, and what to look forward to.

What is Miyasujimonogatari?

Miyasujimonogatari began in 2016 with the aim of holding a festival to enliven Soja Shopping Street, centered around Bicchu-no-kuni Soja-gu Shrine (hereafter, “Soja-gu Shrine”).

Alongside food and drink vendors, there are shops selling accessories, clothing, and other goods, as well as a corner where visitors can try traditional games in an atmosphere reminiscent of old-fashioned festival stalls.

The main stage, Culture Center, and Machikado Local History Museum will host dance performances, band performances, calligraphy performances, and more.

At the 2025 event, around 25,000 people attended, including many visitors from outside Soja City, and the event is said to be gaining recognition year by year.

See the images below for details.

Interview with three members of the Miyasujimonogatari Organizing Committee

We spoke about Miyasujimonogatari with Akira Matsumoto, chair of the organizing committee; Katsuhiko Akiyama, chair of the General Affairs Subcommittee; and Kensaku Suzuki, vice chair of the General Affairs Subcommittee.

How Miyasujimonogatari began

What inspired you to start Miyasujimonogatari?

Matsumoto (titles omitted)

Miyasujimonogatari began with the desire to create another festival centered around Soja-gu Shrine.

Soja City’s civic festival originally began at Soja-gu Shrine. Later, the venue moved to roads in the urban area around Soja City Hall, and then to the grounds along the Takahashi River, moving farther away from Soja-gu Shrine and the shopping street.

Against this backdrop, we came to want to restore the vitality of the former Soja Shopping Street and bring it back to life. Along with that desire, we also wanted to create a place where local children could showcase their dancing, performances, and other talents. These aspirations gave rise to Miyasujimonogatari.

This is the ninth event. Is there a theme this year?

Akiyama (titles omitted)

The next event will be the milestone tenth edition, so we see this year as a stepping stone toward that.

We also have new stage performances planned this time.

Highlights of Miyasujimonogatari: Chapter Nine

What are some highlights of the stage performances?

Akiyama

The main stage at Soja-gu Shrine will feature a marching band of preschool children, performances by the Soja High School and Soja Minami High School wind ensembles, calligraphy performances, and performances by dance teams from Soja City.

There will also be a group dance and a performance by Bitchu Ura Daiko.

The group dance is open to audience members who want to join in. Last year, around 150 people danced together inside Soja-gu Shrine, and the moment the whole venue came together was truly memorable.

How many vendors are expected this year?

Matsumoto

There will be more than last year, with 54 vendors expected.

Akiyama

Food and drink vendors make up the majority, but there will also be shops selling accessories and clothing, as well as vendors offering workshops where visitors can enjoy kids’ nail art, yukata dressing, and photography. There will also be a corner for traditional games reminiscent of festival stalls.

Are there any vendors participating for the first time?

Akiyama

This time, we have vendors coming from other prefectures.

Recently, more people from other prefectures have come to know about Miyasujimonogatari. We can feel that it is attracting attention, and that makes us happy.

Could you tell us about the classic-car parade and display?

Akiyama

At 9 a.m. on Sunday the 27th, a parade of classic cars will travel along the shopping street. Seeing classic cars—rarely seen in everyday life—driving together is popular with children as well as adults.

You can enjoy the parade from anywhere along the shopping street, but if you want to take photos, we recommend the area around Machikado Local History Museum or the Culture Center.

Why they continue Miyasujimonogatari

What motivates you to continue Miyasujimonogatari, and what has made it possible to keep going?

Matsumoto

Our biggest motivation is seeing the children’s happy faces. When we see the children performing and the visitors enjoying themselves, we feel glad that we have kept going.

We also hear comments like, “Thank you for creating a place for us to perform” and “That was fun,” and those words encourage us, too.

Suzuki (titles omitted)

The group dance has grown bigger with each event, which makes me happy.

What changes would you like to see among local residents and participants?

Akiyama

We would be happy if Miyasujimonogatari could become an opportunity for people to connect with one another.

The festival can lead to new connections, give people the chance to perform on a big stage, or bring people together again after a long time apart. It can also be a chance to see people you don’t often get to meet.

We hope people will enjoy Miyasujimonogatari as a place where these kinds of encounters and reunions can happen.

What do you like about Miyasujimonogatari?

Akiyama

Miyasujimonogatari itself is like a child to us. It grows little by little with each event, and every time we make improvements because we want to make it even better than the last one.

New challenges arise as the event continues, but we address them one by one and carry what we learn into the next edition.

This is the ninth event, and the next will be the tenth. We’re looking forward to seeing how it grows from here.

Finally, do you have a message for our readers?

Akiyama

Miyasujimonogatari is an event that people of all ages and genders can enjoy, from children to adults. The shopping street stretches a long way from west to east, so we hope you’ll walk from one end to the other and enjoy it.

There are all kinds of events on the main stage, and many food and merchandise vendors along the shopping street. There will also be a tea gathering and street performances, so we hope you’ll take a break and enjoy the atmosphere of Soja-gu Shrine and the shopping street.

There’s plenty to see, so please enjoy Miyasujimonogatari as you walk around the venue.

From the Writer

We learned that Miyasujimonogatari is more than just a festival: it has gradually grown into a place where children can perform and people can meet and reconnect.

In 2026, it reaches its ninth edition, with the tenth just around the corner. Miyasujimonogatari has grown into an even better event with each edition, created together with the local community.

There’s plenty for everyone, from children to adults, to enjoy, including stage performances, food, shopping, traditional games, and a classic-car parade.

Why not stroll around Soja-gu Shrine and the shopping street and enjoy the atmosphere of the venue and the connections between people as well?

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