The cherry blossom-viewing season, which began with Kawazu cherry blossoms reaching their peak in early March, has ended, and the season of wisteria, the city flower of Kurashiki City, has arrived.
At Achi Shrine in the Bikan Historical Area, the annual Fujimi no Kai is held to enjoy “Achi Wisteria,” an Akebono wisteria designated a Natural Monument by Okayama Prefecture.
This year (2024), Fujimi no Kai was held over two days, Saturday, April 20, and Sunday, April 21, a little earlier than usual.
It has been six months since I moved to Kurashiki as a Community Revitalization Cooperator in December 2023. I took part in Fujimi no Kai on the 21st to see the wisteria blossoms I had been looking forward to for so long.
The information provided was current when this article was published in April 2024. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What is Fujimi no Kai?
Fujimi no Kai was held for two days, Saturday, April 20, and Sunday, April 21, 2024, at Achi Shrine in the Bikan Historical Area of Kurashiki.
Visitors could admire Achi Wisteria on the grounds of Achi Shrine while enjoying a tea gathering beneath the wisteria trellis and watching performances on the Noh stage.
See the images below for details of the program.
The venue
The spring kobudo festival was scheduled to begin on the Noh stage at 11 a.m. on Sunday, April 21, so I headed to Achi Shrine in time for the start.
It was a cloudy day with occasional light rain, but the program went ahead as scheduled. People were constantly gathered in front of the Noh stage and wisteria trellis, and many were taking photos and videos with cameras and smartphones.
Performances
When I arrived at the Noh stage, the spring kobudo festival by the Nisshinkan Dojo was just beginning.
Performers took turns demonstrating their skills with Japanese swords.
May dolls were displayed on the Noh stage, and they looked well suited to the powerful demonstrations.
Next, three women dressed in armor appeared, each holding an arquebus.
It was my first time seeing a real arquebus, so I watched from near the front to get a good look.
With a shout, the arquebus fired with a “bang.” I was startled as a powerful vibration reverberated through my body.
After a short break, a ceremony to dress someone in juni-hitoe began at 1 p.m.
This “ofuku-age” refers to dressing a person in juni-hitoe.
The shrine maiden from Achi Shrine played the role of the person being dressed that day. Dressing was handled by Mariko Kimono Culture Academy. The demonstration took about 30 minutes, with explanations of juni-hitoe and how it is put on, along with interesting facts about the garment.
The setting of NHK’s 2024 historical drama Hikaru Kimi e was also the Heian period, when juni-hitoe was at its height, so the explanations of kimono types and dressing techniques, using characters from the drama as examples, were very easy to understand.
Juni-hitoe weighs over 15 kg in total, and the shrine maiden playing the role of the person being dressed remarked, “It’s heavy.”
Each performance was a rare opportunity to see authentic traditional performing arts up close.
Craft workshop and spring sword exhibition
A craft workshop was held in the Ema Hall on the way from the Noh stage to the wisteria trellis, while the Third Spring Sword Exhibition was held in the Prayer Hall.
The Aoe district of Kurashiki City is also known as a home of swordmaking, and many famous swords were once made in Okayama Prefecture.
That day, visitors could see Japanese swords up close, handle a life-size wooden replica of a “National Treasure sword,” and watch a demonstration of mei-kiri, the engraving of a sword’s signature. This area was also very lively.
Achi Wisteria
When we arrived at the wisteria trellis, Achi Wisteria welcomed us, as if it had bloomed just in time for Fujimi no Kai.
The wisteria flowers, in a soft, gentle hue, were breathtaking.
This Achi Wisteria is a variety called Akebono Fuji, with a tree age of 300 to 500 years. In 1956, it was designated a Natural Monument of Okayama Prefecture, making it a wisteria with a long and distinguished history.
Under the wisteria trellis, there were performances of Western instruments, including the kokyu, as well as a tea service.
The tea sweet was Fujito Manju, a Kurashiki specialty.
As we enjoyed matcha and Fujito Manju, generously filled with sweet bean paste and distinguished by a faint aroma of amazake, we took our time savoring Achi Wisteria.
From the Writer
Although the Fujimi no Kai was held with occasional light rain, the rain did not intensify before the program ended, and everything concluded safely.
This historic festival lets visitors experience up close the traditional performing arts passed down through the streets of Kurashiki and enjoy Achi Wisteria. I felt that it is an event I hope will continue to be held in Kurashiki for years to come.
I hear that the wisteria around Kurashiki City will be coming into its best viewing season soon.
I, too, would like to continue strolling around town with my camera in hand, looking for wisteria trellises.
Articles about Achi Shrine
Fujimi no Kai Information
| Name | Fujimi no Kai |
|---|---|
| Dates | April 20 (Sat.) and 21 (Sun.), 2024, 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. |
| Location | 12-1 Honmachi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Admission (tax included) | Free |
| Website | Achi Shrine |
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